Top Gun: Maverick
Positive 👍
Alright, listen up, you slack-jawed, popcorn-munching moron, because I’m about to school you on why Top Gun: Maverick is an absolute cinematic masterpiece. This isn’t just some lazy, cash-grabbing nostalgia bait—no, this movie grabs you by the throat, shoves you into the cockpit, and blasts off at Mach 10 with an intensity that makes most modern action flicks look like a goddamn PowerPoint presentation.
1. The Story – A Nostalgic Yet Fresh Narrative Done Right
Sequels, especially decades-later ones, usually suck harder than a jet engine vacuuming a seagull, but Top Gun: Maverick defies the odds. It takes the original’s heart, cranks up the stakes, and somehow makes an emotionally compelling story about an aging pilot who's too badass for his own good. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Fucking Cruise, in peak form) is now a seasoned veteran, still a rebel, still pissing off authority figures, and still flying like he’s got a death wish. He’s called back to train a group of cocky young pilots for a near-impossible mission, one that’s so insanely difficult it makes the Death Star trench run look like parallel parking.
But what makes it brilliant? Emotion. It’s not just about dogfights and speed—it’s about legacy, loss, and redemption. Maverick is haunted by the ghost of Goose (his fallen best friend from the first film), and now he’s staring into the eyes of Rooster (Miles Teller), Goose’s son, who resents him. That’s real, gut-punch storytelling right there. The tension, the heartache, the weight of time pressing down on Maverick—it all makes the action mean something.
2. Tom Cruise – The Last True Movie Star
Tom Cruise isn’t a man. He’s a goddamn cinematic deity. While other so-called action stars rely on CGI and stunt doubles, Cruise is out here actually flying jets because he gives zero fucks about insurance policies or the laws of physics. This guy is a lunatic in the best way possible, and his commitment to practical effects makes every second of flight feel exhilarating. There’s no green-screen bullshit here—just raw, unfiltered, edge-of-your-seat aerial insanity.
Also, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that Cruise plays Maverick as a man struggling with time. He’s not an indestructible superhero; he’s an aging legend, clinging to the one thing he knows how to do. That vulnerability mixed with his undeniable badassery makes for one of his best performances ever.
3. The Aerial Sequences – Holy Shit, This Is How You Do Action
This is where Top Gun: Maverick obliterates 99% of modern action movies. The aerial combat scenes are nothing short of breathtaking. The IMAX cameras inside real F/A-18 Super Hornets put you in the cockpit, making every manoeuvre, every roll, every goddamn G-force squeeze feel visceral. You feel the speed, the pressure, the intensity. There’s no over-edited, shaky-cam bullshit—just crisp, clear, real flying. It’s so good it makes Marvel movies look like they were shot on a fucking Etch A Sketch.
And let’s talk about that mission. The final act is a non-stop adrenaline rush, structured like a ticking time bomb of perfection. When Maverick and his team pull off that mind-melting canyon run, dodging SAMs, squeezing through impossible turns, and making that death-defying climb, it’s chef’s kiss perfection. Every shot, every cut, every sound effect is crafted to make you feel like you’re in that jet, praying you don’t black out.
4. The Soundtrack – An Eargasm of Epic Proportions
Top Gun without a killer soundtrack would be like a jet without an engine—useless. Fortunately, Maverick delivers with an absolute banger of a score. The classic Danger Zone is back to melt your face off, Lady Gaga’s Hold My Hand hits with unexpected emotional weight, and Hans Zimmer, Harold Faltermeyer, and Lorne Balfe work their magic to give us a score that punches you right in the nostalgia while still feeling fresh as hell.
Also, the sound design in general? Unreal. The roar of the jets, the crackling radio chatter, the sheer violence of air combat—this film demands to be watched with the best sound system possible. If your speakers aren’t rattling, you’re doing it wrong.
5. The Supporting Cast – A Perfect Mix of New Blood and Old Legends
Miles Teller as Rooster? Perfect casting. He doesn’t just look like Goose’s son—he feels like him. The resentment, the determination, the struggle to live up to his father’s legacy—it all adds layers to his character.
Glen Powell as Hangman? Cocky as hell, but charismatic enough to make you both hate and love him.
Jennifer Connelly as Penny? A much-needed, well-written love interest who doesn’t feel shoehorned in.
Jon Hamm as the dickhead admiral? Fantastic, because every Top Gun movie needs a guy in a suit screaming about how much he hates Maverick.
And of course, Val Kilmer as Iceman—his presence is brief but powerful. That scene between him and Maverick? Devastatingly beautiful. A perfect way to honour his character and the legend that is Kilmer himself.
Final Verdict – An Unbeatable Cinematic Experience
Top Gun: Maverick isn’t just a great sequel. It’s not just a great action movie. It’s one of the best films of the last decade. It takes everything that made the original iconic and cranks it up to an 11, delivering a spectacle that is both technically mind-blowing and emotionally gripping. It’s proof that practical effects, well-crafted storytelling, and a fearless commitment to excellence can still exist in Hollywood.
So if you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favour—strap in, shut the fuck up, and let Top Gun: Maverick take your breath away. 🫡
Negative 👎
Oh, Top Gun: Maverick—the movie that had people frothing at the mouth like it was the second coming of cinema itself. Let me tell you, this over-glorified, nostalgia-drenched propaganda flick is about as deep as a kiddie pool, and yet, somehow, it had critics and audiences acting like it cured cancer. So let’s break this down and explain why this film is absurdly overrated.
1. The Plot is Basic as Hell
Let’s not pretend this movie has some intricate, mind-blowing storyline. It’s literally just the "old guy proves he’s still relevant" trope slapped onto a carbon-copy of the first movie. Maverick is still Maverick—rebellious, cocky, and somehow still employed despite pulling more reckless stunts than a teenager trying to impress his high school crush. The film’s excuse for a story? “There’s a mission, it’s dangerous, let’s train some young hotshots, oh wait, Maverick is actually the best one, let’s send him instead.” That’s it. That’s the entire movie.
It’s predictable to the point where you could watch the first five minutes, go make a sandwich, take a nap, and come back for the last ten minutes without missing a single goddamn important plot point.
2. Nostalgia Bait to the MAX
Holy shit, does this movie milk nostalgia like it’s the only thing keeping it alive. The amount of "HEY REMEMBER THIS???" moments in this film is downright embarrassing. From the motorcycle shots, to the beach sports scene, to the excessive amount of call backs to Goose, the film is a nostalgia cash grab disguised as a sequel.
And the worst part? It worked. People ate that shit up like it was their first meal in weeks. "Oh my god, Maverick is back! Oh wow, look, they're playing Great Balls of Fire in a bar again! OH MY GOD, THE JACKET!!!" Yeah, no shit. It's a sequel to a 1986 movie, of course they're going to reuse the same imagery. That’s like praising a cover band for playing the hits.
3. Paper-Thin Character Development
Tell me, what does Rooster actually learn? Oh, that’s right—nothing. His whole arc is just "I hate Maverick because my dad died," and then, poof! By the end of the movie, he’s best friends with him again, because the plot says so. And let’s talk about Hangman—the guy was literally just "the asshole," and then at the end, he suddenly saves the day like the writers suddenly remembered they needed to redeem him.
Then there’s Penny, Maverick’s love interest, played by Jennifer Connelly. Oh, you forgot her name? Yeah, so did the script. She’s there to look pretty and remind us that Maverick needs to settle down, but she has the personality depth of a wet napkin.
The only character with anything remotely resembling emotional depth is Maverick himself, and even then, it’s just "old guy realizes he’s still cool." Wow, what a revelation. Someone give this film an Oscar.
4. The Villains Are a Joke
Who are they fighting? Nobody fucking knows. They’re some "generic evil country" that conveniently flies fifth-generation fighter jets and somehow still loses to a bunch of aging F/A-18 pilots. The entire conflict is so vague that it makes Call of Duty look like a nuanced geopolitical drama. The bad guys have no name, no personality, and no real reason to exist other than to get shot down.
"Oh, but it's about the pilots, not the enemies!" Yeah, well, guess what? A war movie without an actual threat is just a bunch of guys jerking each other off about how cool their planes are.
5. The Action is Good, But That’s All It Has
Okay, fine, I’ll admit it—the aerial combat is insanely well done. But when that’s the only thing a movie has going for it, it’s not a great film—it’s a great YouTube highlight reel. You don’t need to sit through two hours of painfully generic character moments just to see the cool flight sequences.
Also, let’s be honest—most of the movie isn't even about action. It’s training montages, people staring at each other dramatically, and Tom Cruise smirking like he knows something we don’t. It drags its feet so much that by the time we actually get to the final mission, you’ve already seen multiple training sequences that show you exactly how it’s going to play out. There’s zero tension.
6. It’s a Military Recruitment Ad, and You Fell for It
Oh, you thought this was just an innocent, fun movie? Think again. This is the most blatant U.S. Navy propaganda piece since the first Top Gun. You know why this movie exists? Because the Pentagon helped fund it, just like the original. They literally used this movie to increase recruitment. You’re watching two hours of Tom Cruise selling you the idea that being a Navy pilot is the coolest thing on Earth.
And people loved it—because they’re suckers for flashy jets, dramatic speeches, and that good ol’ American hero narrative. Meanwhile, in reality, actual pilots aren’t Maverick—they’re flying drones from an air-conditioned bunker in Nevada. But sure, let’s pretend it’s all about dogfights and heroism.
Conclusion: It's Good, But Not That Good
Look, I’m not saying Top Gun: Maverick is a bad movie. It’s entertaining as hell, the flight sequences are awesome, and Tom Cruise is still a charismatic maniac who somehow hasn’t aged in 30 years. But the amount of blind worship this movie got is ridiculous. It’s a shallow, predictable, nostalgia-fuelled, military-funded action flick that plays it safe at every turn.
Did it deserve to be the highest-grossing movie of the year? Hell no. Did it deserve a Best Picture nomination? Absolutely fucking not. It’s just Top Gun with shinier cameras. If that’s enough to impress people, then we’ve officially lowered our standards to "Hey look, it’s loud and fast, 10/10 masterpiece."
If you like it, fine. But if you think it’s one of the greatest films of all time, you might need to watch better movies.