Here's a great review of my latest bluray purchase ($14.99 at Wal~Mart)
1986 was a huge year for many young adult males. At YMCA centers nation wide, the sauna talk revolved around the anticipation of what was rumored to be Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer's most risky films yet. The title alone, "Top Gun," sent many young men into a frenzy. The torch had been lit and millions wondered who had the "Top Gun." Most believed that Val would prove to be the manlier of men but Director Tony Scott kept his audience waiting and waiting in what could go down as the greatest theatrical tease of all time.
Meet Maverick AKA Pete Mitchell. His school boy looks contradict his bad boy and hot shot attitude. The way he handles his crotch rocket reveals to all that this young stud knows how to take someone for a ride. Then there is Tom Kazanski who goes by the call sign of Ice (Man). Make no doubt about it, the boy is ice cold. The setting is very promising as the two young men find themselves at a military training base full of well muscled men and hot showers. Amongst the temptations confronting a young and naive Maverick in both the locker room and showers enters a civilian analyst, Kelly McGillis (call sign Charlie). McGillis only adds to Maverick's confusion by tricking him into thinking he is straight. I am not sure where Scott was going with this one but clearly, he missed the landing.
The most upsetting thing about this film, is all of the lost potential. There was the volley ball game which should have been played in the nude, and also deep conversations between Maverick and Goose (Anthony Edwards) that never went beyond talking. Even Viper (Tom Skerritt) was denied his chance to prove his Top Gun potential while consoling Maverick who had just lost his life partner in a training exercise. Scott couldn't do better than a curious hand sliding across a sweaty Pete Mitchell. The real tragedy in "Top Gun" is that with new military guidelines which allow women into the armed services, Hollywood may have missed its chance at portraying a love story amongst male pilots. Even worse, we never do find out who has the "Top Gun."
