Top Gun Maverick

I went to see the Top Gun Maverick movie at the kino yesterday. As it turns out, it was the last day it was showing there, and I had timed it just right. I was reluctant to see this sequel to the original Top Gun, since it was the original movie that got me interested in the military, and made me choose to join the Air Force. I know, how does a movie about Navy aviators encourage me to joint the Air Force? Who knows, but it did.

I was originally against the idea, since I hate military films in general. They capture little if any realism as to how the military truly is. My experiences in the Air Force, especially the flying community, showed me how much a difference it is - a day and night difference. Pilots, especially fighter pilots, behave as if they can do no wrong, and are often times shielded from their irresponsible decisions that many other people, especially enlisted, would feel the full brunt, and for things far less. However, something in me decided to go reluctantly see the film. I figured I would give it a fair try, and if I left the movie theater with my intelligence insulted, then there was nothing to be upset about.

I was actually pleasantly surprised at how I enjoyed the film. Top Gun Maverick feels more like a love letter to the original film, and while it retains some of the original sentiment, feels more grounded and realistic, than portraying military aviators as being larger than life and untouchable. "Maverick" is a seasoned O-6 who has been somewhat a rogue pilot for the majority of his career, and despite having a track record that would put most of his peers to shame, he hasn't made it to the flag officer ranks (admiral). He works as a test pilot of sorts, but wrecks the plane he's working on, by pushing it past its limits. That's how he ends up at in San Diego, at Top Gun.

He teaches other Top Gun graduates how to improve their flying techniques, since they've been tasked for a top secret mission. They have to take out a nuclear enrichment complex which is underground, since the enemy is threatening nearby friendly forces. WHO the enemy is isn't clearly defined, and is left up to the imagination. All that is known is that it's going to be a nearly impossible bombing run, and they have to go through a zig-zag canyon in order to avoid enemy SAMs. It feels just like a mission out of the Ace Combat series.

You discover that Goose's son, Rooster, is a Top Gun graduate, and that he's upset with Maverick for red-lining his orders to the Naval Academy. Maverick had done so out of a promise to his mom, so that Rooster wouldn't suffer a similar fate that his dad did in the original. While Maverick never tells Rooster this, he offers other reasons.

They get the green light to go ahead with the mission, Rooster is Maverick's wingman, only he chickens out during the canyon run. He finds his courage, steps up as Maverick's wingman, only to get Maverick shot down. Rooster later comes to his rescue, also gets shot down, and they're both behind enemy lines. As it turns out, there's an F-14 Tomcat at the nearby enemy air base, that wasn't destroyed by the Tomahawk missile attack. Maverick and Rooster luckily get inside the aged relic, take off, only to face to enemy stealth aircraft. Maverick shoots one down, but has to rely on one of the cocky pilots - Hangman, to come save the day. Maverick and Rooster nose-land the F-14 on the carrier, and all is well.

While the movie didn't cock-stroke and otherwise ego massage the fighter pilot community like the first one did, there was hints of it. It didn't feel like that was the main focus this time around, which I guess made it more palatable. I left the movie theater somewhat entertained in the end.

Before I left to see the film, I brought out a book that I've had for ages - The Cutting Edge, by CJ "Heater" Heatley. (Image taken from the internet - my copy is in much better shape than this one). This book was originally published in 1986, and retailed for $100 at the time. Wow! It was a collection of photos that CJ Heatley had taken aboard his time on an aircraft carrier, to better illustrate a "day in the life of" the naval aviation community. This book had released shortly after Top Gun had premiered, and a friend of mine had a copy of it. I hung on to every page, looking at it for hours, when I borrowed it. There was no way I could afford such a book at the time. Luckily for me, years later in the early 90's, I found a copy for sale - $19.99. I believe it was the book store on base at RAF Bentwaters. I had always wanted a copy, so I picked it up. In retrospect I'm glad I did. So many memories and nostalgia surfaced as I opened the book again. I was reminded of my sophomore year at Pat Henry, and all the excitement that surrounded that summer at the time. Perhaps that's why I enjoyed the film? The San Diego scenes in the movie were great, adding to the nostalgia.

I wrapped up the evening by playing Rogue Aces on the Playstation 4. There was a trophy that I've been trying to earn, where you have to score at least 10 points in Survival mode without firing any bullets from your airplane. What it requires is for you to bunny hop from enemy plane to enemy play 5 different times, in order to get the trophy to pop. The name of the trophy, interestingly enough, is named "Maverick". It's interesting how little things like that appear, seemingly "coincidental".

I also decided to end things on a good note by scrolling on Facebook before going to bed. It turns out that yesterday was also Tom Cruise's birthday - 3 July. So I unknowingly saw his new movie on his birthday, adding to the over $1 Billion in ticket sales this movie has earned. The great part about the film is that there was no virtue signaling, no woke message or lecture - just simply an escape from everyday life and entertainment. This should send those assholes in Hollywood a loud a clear message what the public truly wants, if they're going to spend $15.00 to see a movie. Here's hoping they will learn and make more films that don't suck in the future.

Heh.