10 ways Tom Cruise’s top gun hasn’t aged well

Tom Cruise Top Gun has become a memorable and important film over the past 38 years, but there are still some weak parts of the plot. Top Gun is a fun, action-filled movie about a reckless Navy pilot named Maverick and his partner Gus, who attend the Top Gun Academy. The film has many famous montages, iconic songs, and Top Gun’s Infamous bad sex scene. Tom Cruise leads Top Gun’s Iconic cast as Maverick, along with Anthony Edwards as Goose, and Kelly McGillis as Maverick’s love interest and instructor, Charlie Blackwood.

Top Gun is highly quotable and revered as a classic 1980s movie. It got an even more successful sequel in 2022, Top Gun: Maverick. On a mere $15 million budget, Top Gun Earned $357.3 million at the box office. The film had a mediocre Rotten Tomatoes score, but many still think of it fondly. However, on rewatch 38 years later, there are some parts of the film that make no sense and haven’t aged.

10

The Nationless Enemy MiG pilots

The movie becomes timeless without real enemies

The final battle scene of Top Gun is set somewhere in the Indian Ocean, although no further details are included. Even in the briefing, the opponents are always referred to as “the enemy“Leave them nationally ambiguous. The film seems to be indifferent to the specific geopolitical reality of 1986Instead focusing on a cinematic and dramatic flight scene more than anything.

It could be argued that this is old well since the movie is not firmly fixed in a period or conflict. Even on Rewatch, the name opponents could be read as a variety of “haters.” The movie’s sequel does something vaguely similar, setting the final battle on an unknown foreign land. These movies are about American exceptionalismExplore the American planes and pilots instead of diving into real political issues. Overall, the choice could benefit the film, giving it a timeless.

9

The overuse of the film’s iconic songs

Some songs are played a little too many times in the film

in this film, Two main songs are played in various scenes throughout the filmdepending on what’s happening. Whenever there’s a cool flying scene, or Maverick accomplishes something dangerous, “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins plays. Whenever Maverick and Charlie have a scene together, whether it’s romantic or fighting, Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” plays. Both songs were singles written for the film by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder. The film also made significant use of the lyricless “Top Gun Anthem” by Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens.

Despite the success and popularity of the songs, the film relies too heavily on them. Both songs play at least three separate times in the movie, acting as musical themes. however, It can be distracting from the plot that the highly recognizable soundtrack plays for a significant part of essential scenes. Top Gun: Maverick Started with the same opening score, paying homage to its predecessor, but ended up using a different soundtrack for the rest of the film.

8

Maverick and Iceman’s new respect for each other makes no sense

They get over their differences surprisingly quickly

Maverick and Iceman spend most of the film at each other’s throats, Struggling to see eye to eye. Iceman doesn’t respect Maverick’s chaotic ways, and Maverick believes Iceman is just a buzzkill. Iceman even told Maverick outright that he didn’t like him because he was “Dangerous“and”Uncertain.” There is a reason for Iceman’s disapproval, even if Maverick refuses to believe it. Some believe that Iceman could have made an even better protagonist, being the superior pilot. However, since the movie is told from Maverick’s perspective, Iceman His attitude is seen as antagonistic.

However, at the end of the film, after Maverick has successfully worked with Iceman to defeat the enemy, there is a newfound sense of respect between the two. Iceman looks disapprovingly, and says, “You are still dangerous…you can be my wingman anytimeHe then smiles at Maverick as the two begin to get along. It seems to be a quick turnaround for both of them, as if all it was was the last challenge to bond them And help them overcome their differences. In the sequel, the two consider each other as old friends.

7

Top Gun’s Volleyball Game is the ultimate 1980s cringe

This scene doesn’t add much to the movie

Top GunThe infamous volleyball scene is famous for multiple reasons. Homeristic undertones among the pilots aside, the scene is an iconic display of masculine sports. The scene features Maverick and Goose playing mostly shirtless volleyball against Iceman and his partner, Slider. Many spikes, bumps, and attack maneuvers almost seem to mirror what the pilots do while flying.

However, this scene doesn’t add much to the plot of the movie and seems more unnecessary than anything. It is an homage to the attractive Top Gun actors, as well as the growing trend of clichéd training/sports montages In 1980s movies. The scene, which became synonymous with the film, was replicated in the sequel with a “Dogfight football” Game on the beach. It maintained many of the same undertones while becoming a little more progressive and honoring Cruz’s involvement in the original montage.

6

The romance story of Maverick and Charlie feels unnecessary after Top Gun: Maverick

They are no longer together despite the emotional investment

In the film, Maverick and his Top Gun instructor, Charlie, have an almost forced relationship. The romance is weird and borderline inappropriate, as Maverick begins dating his teacher while still in school. She puts aside her goals and morals to be with him. And although he rarely expresses it directly, the other people in the film can tell that he loves her. However, Maverick and Charlie are no longer together in the film’s sequel, and he has moved on.

Top Gun dedicates a lot of screen time and emotional investment to the budding relationship between Maverick and Charlie. However, all this is thrown out the window when Charlie does not appear in the sequel, and Maverick is now interested in Penny, who is mentioned in the first film. There are many theories about why Maverick and Charlie broke up, however It seems that the relationship has just expired with timeMaking the build up of the first movie feel quite pointless.

5

They still let Maverick fly in the final battle

He gives little indication that he is ready to return to heaven

Although he is clearly still reeling from the death of his co-pilot, Goose, the leaders decide to send Maverick into the fight. They obviously believe that he is inherently a good pilot and will be able to snap back into action when put in a life-or-death situation. This is a wildly dangerous strategy, as there is no indication that Maverick is okay to fly. Before the mission, he arrived late for the ceremony, having spent weeks brooding with no mental health support.

They have reason to believe that Maverick still cares about flying, as he finally showed up to graduate and spent time trying to unpack his father’s death. However, there is no indication that he is ready to return to action. Especially since his behavior has been erratic since Gos’s passing, as Maverick carries a lot of guilt. Finally, just because Maverick no longer believes he’s to blame for Goose’s death doesn’t mean he won’t still be affected when he returns to the plane.

4

Maverick and Charlie’s overly cheesy romance

Their relationship feels forced

Not only is Maverick and Charlie’s relationship inappropriate since she’s his teacher, but it’s almost hard to watch. They were shown hanging out only a handful of times, but it seems that their relationship has escalated immensely each time. Maverick follows her on an unorthodox path, even after knowing she is his superior. This fact even seems to bother him, as he mentions her high level security clearance several times.

Charlie and Maverick are career-driven people who prioritize their passions above all else. They also have a shared sense of respect for each other’s work. However, they also often argue about Top Gun and Maverick’s MiG. However, it is clear that this is just an excuse to fight about the deeper underlying issues in their relationship. Due to their hardened nature, the romantic moments shown had to be incredibly soft to make up for the rest. This gets borderline cheesy because it has to be fed to the audience for them to believe they really like each other.

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3

The lack of representation in Top Gun

The caste is mainly white people

A known complaint of Top Gun is the lack of diversity in the program. Throughout the film, very few pilots of color are shown or given spoken lines. There are also no female trainees, with only two significant female characters in the movie (Charlie and Carole Bradshaw), both of whom are romantically attached to a male character. Goose’s wife, Carole, is mostly there to gossip with Charlie and flirt with her husband. Charlie, a high-minded scientist, is often reduced to Maverick’s support system in the film.

The sequel did what it could to remedy this, including more women and non-white characters. Seven of the 12 pilots in the sequel are people of color. However, both stories still revolve around a white male protagonist. The increased inclusion in the sequel helps reflect the growing diversity in the US. it. Armed forces. This also attracted a wide range of non-white viewers.

2

Maverick and Goose are sent to top gun despite their behavior

The two go to the elite academy even though they are reckless

In the opening scene, Maverick and Goose are shown disobeying orders and flying recklessly. They are even so dangerous they psych out their fellow pilot, Cougar. With Cougar gone, the duo are promoted to Top Gun and sent to become elite flyers. Their fellow Top Gun trainees also express doubts about their enrollment, even asking whose “Behind they have to kiss“To get to the academy.

Given their blatant disobedience to the rules, the Navy seems to encourage and promote the dangerous behaviors of Maverick and Goose. The military, which still encourages adherence to regulations and policy, would likely not be eager to send out their most reckless pilots. Although it may be easier for their boss now that they are out of his hair, These people would likely receive some form of punishment for their transgressions, not be promoted.

1

Maverick is selfish and makes it everyone’s problem

No one blames him for his actions

Maverick’s defiant attitude is often praised as he achieves results in his flying. However, most of his actions are really selfish, as he usually tries to prove a point without much consideration for others. He seems to have little respect for his superiors or authority, and has no qualms to show for it. He embraces danger, even at the expense of other team members, especially his flying partner Gus, who seems to have put up with Maverick’s carelessness.

Maverick’s biggest opponent at the Top Gun school is Iceman, who often criticizes Maverick for not following the rules. Eisman knows that the rules are necessary for safety, and there are many instances where he said that Maverick believes that he is unsafe. Fortunately, Maverick is a good enough pilot to be able to accomplish missions in his flying, Even if he does it in unorthodox ways. While the free spirit and reckless behavior make Top Gun Compelling, it’s stressful to watch, especially when considering the other characters involved.