CELEBRATING ‘TOP GUN’ DAY WITH SEVEN REASONS WE LOVE IT
Unlike most of America, I didn’t see the 1986 Top Gun until the sequel was making its way to our cinemas. When finally I did watch it, I “got” the excitement for the film though probably couldn’t relate to its cultural impact at the time of its release. Since today, May 13 is Top Gun Day, it seems the ideal day to celebrate it with seven reasons we love it.
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CELEBRATING ‘TOP GUN’ DAY WITH SEVEN REASONS WE LOVE IT. Celebrating the fabulous #TopGun movies with #TomCruise. All of which we do for #TopGunDay… just because! Share on XAccording to one description of the day, this day is annually on May 13, and was founded in 2009. It’s a day celebrating the film directed by Tony Scott, which was in turn inspired by “an article published in California magazine in 1983.” Both Top Gun and its sequel Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise as an aviator. The 1986 film also features Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, and Tom Skerritt. According to this same writeup, the film “received mixed reviews from critics. But its effects, aerial stunts, and action sequences were lauded, as was the acting of Cruise and McGillis. It was the general public that gave it the largest amount of love, and it became a huge commercial success. Its popularity has continued since its release. It was selected to be part of the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 2015.”
The film, and its sequel, are the kind of good entertainment many moviegoers want. Perhaps not a film about aviators, but a film that makes us feel something while keeping its head above water as an exciting or entertaining film, yes that is the kind of film most look for. Let’s celebrate this duo on Top Gun day with ten reasons we love it.
TOP GUN DAY: SEVEN REASONS we love IT
THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE
These films, if they are nothing else to viewers, are enormously entertaining. From the high-flying adventure to the thriller scenes of these pilots trying to accomplish impossible feats, the entertainment is off the charts. Viewer ratings and reviews seem to back this with these films getting high average ratings. Both films have an average of 4.8 (out of 5) with 90%+ of ratings being five-star (the original) and nearly 90% for the sequel on places like Prime Video.
THE EXCITEMENT
A viewer cannot deny that these films have high levels of excitement! Perhaps in part because we get to play “passenger” with some of the best pilots. There is a “spirit” to these films that I think cinema today, and for the last number of years, is missing. It has heart and determination, and though not everything is always happy, the films still manage to be uplifting.
THE HERO
Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is easily a favorite hero. Is he perfect? No, but then no character is. At the end of the day, hot-headed or not, he’s a cool guy we love to root for and want to see find a happy end for whatever he wants his life to be.
THE HEROINES
They may not have much screen time or be characters we know quite as well as the pilots, but we do love the heroines, too. In the 1986 version we meet Kelly Gillis’ Charlie, an instructor at the school. She’s cool and effortless and we love her. Same goes for the 2022 heroine in that she also “feels” very effortless. Jennifer Connelly’s single mum Penny is another character we like and cheer for. She knows what she wants and is able to communicate that.
THE NEW PILOTS
In Top Gun: Maverick, there is an entirely new group of aviators and they’re such fun. Of course, some will rub people the wrong way because they aren’t “acceptable” for modern culture, but I find them all interesting and unique. Their scenes together are fun, though of course, some of the conversation or actions do slip into jealousy (their field is highly competitive), and yet, at the end of the day, I think there is growth and respect for most of them.
THE TALENT
Both films have tremendous talent. The original and sequel both have Tom Cruise, and then the OG also has Val Kilmer. The sequel also has an impressive lineup, most of whom are up and comer and in demand stars of today, including Glen Powell, Miles Teller, Lewis Pullman, Monica Barbaro and also Jennifer Connelly, a talent we know well. The stacked cast makes the quality of the 2022 sequel (which has a plus 8 of 10 user rating average) all the more compelling.
THE QUOTES and BANTER
The banter is surprisingly hilarious in this. Even in an aftermath scene (from the 2022 sequel) where two characters almost die, the banter is fun and lighthearted.
CELEBRATE by…
- Discover a Fictional Novel about a Pilot
- Playing Volleyball
- Looking through the Aviation Memories of a Grandparent or Parent
- Read all the fun Trivia
- Read the original Magazine Inspiration Article
- Spending the day with an Aviator (if you have one in your life)
- Visiting an Aviation Museum
- Watching Top Gun or (and!) Top Gun: Maverick
Stream, at publication, Top Gun (1986) on Paramount+ or Prime Video, Top Gun: Maverick on Paramount+; or digitally purchase both films on places like Prime Video
Photos: Alamy
What will you be doing on Top Gun Day or what are your ten reasons we love it’ lists? What do you like or dislike about the films? Comment all of your thoughts down below! Let’s chat.
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