Mike Cariello

Very nostalgic from TG 1, even some of the iconic music is reused, and it works. Still some tough guy fighter pilot ego jousting, but all things considered it works. Mav is still the head-strong, go it alone guy in the beginning, but in the end it shows he indeed has a heart. He is a father figure to Rooster, Late dad Goose’s son turned fighter pilot who still blames Maverick for his fathers death. In the end, through thick and a lot of thin, as in ice, they work it out. Speaking of Ice MAN, he returns only he had a normal progression in rank over the 30+ years (unlike Mav) and looks after his former nemeses as a 3 star admiral. A nice moment between them also shows Mav has softened a bit over the years. And then there’s Penny, as in “Penny Benjamin, the admirals daughter” from the first movie who is only mentioned. She’s fully alive to take Mav’s heart for good. Best aerial scenes ever recorded for viewing. Using small IMAX quality cameras placed in and outside the cockpit, one gets a rare inside look at what it feels and looks like to fly under very high g loading. I know first hand having over 3,000 hrs in F-18 and F-16 jets. You can’t act or fake the forces on the body under 8-9 times normal body weight. Well done in this movie. All said, it’s as good as the first with better flying scenes. Enjoy, I know you will. Ratso