The sequel is very similar to the 1986 flick in that it has the same strengths & weaknesses, however with the welcome difference in that its strengths are even better executed, and go on for longer...while its weaknesses are less jarring, and shorter!
The love angle this time is totally tacked on and almost entirely pointless, and it's played so anemically by both leads that we almost miss that graphic tongue-kissing from the first one (almost!). Furthermore, Jennifer Connelly's character is superbland. At least Kelly McGillis's Charlie had some 'character'. Thankfully these scenes are relatively short.
The personal-drama and camaraderie stuff is standard predictable fare we've seen a thousand times in other movies. Quietly effective at best, eye-rollingly simple at worst. It does pay to have seen the first Top Gun, to at least appreciate the more effective elements.
Now on to the good stuff, and the main reason we all watch this movie: the flight action! And it's even better than the first film. It's easier to follow, takes up more runtime, feels ambitious, well-shot & great sound. The main mission is clearly described & understood, so we really feel the tension as the team attempt it! The only negative I have is the usual for modern action films: the editor cuts too quick, we have hundreds of great shots but they're barely a second long...not enough time to really saviour the grand achievements of the camera crew.
The plot is good, and it ends well. Overall 8/10, superior to the 6/10 for 1986's Top Gun.
Watch Maverick on as big a screen as possible! I used the Meta Quest 3 headset, filling my entire field-of-view with the action (while zooming out for the other stuff). Highly-recommended, albeit rather solitary, way of watching movies.
The love angle this time is totally tacked on and almost entirely pointless, and it's played so anemically by both leads that we almost miss that graphic tongue-kissing from the first one (almost!). Furthermore, Jennifer Connelly's character is superbland. At least Kelly McGillis's Charlie had some 'character'. Thankfully these scenes are relatively short.
The personal-drama and camaraderie stuff is standard predictable fare we've seen a thousand times in other movies. Quietly effective at best, eye-rollingly simple at worst. It does pay to have seen the first Top Gun, to at least appreciate the more effective elements.
Now on to the good stuff, and the main reason we all watch this movie: the flight action! And it's even better than the first film. It's easier to follow, takes up more runtime, feels ambitious, well-shot & great sound. The main mission is clearly described & understood, so we really feel the tension as the team attempt it! The only negative I have is the usual for modern action films: the editor cuts too quick, we have hundreds of great shots but they're barely a second long...not enough time to really saviour the grand achievements of the camera crew.
The plot is good, and it ends well. Overall 8/10, superior to the 6/10 for 1986's Top Gun.
Watch Maverick on as big a screen as possible! I used the Meta Quest 3 headset, filling my entire field-of-view with the action (while zooming out for the other stuff). Highly-recommended, albeit rather solitary, way of watching movies.