Gerald Puse

Outstanding blockbuster film that exceeds expectations! The original Top Gun (1986) is a seminal classic and defining film of the 1980s. After rewatching it to prepare myself for the sequel, I was reminded why Tom Cruise was on the cusp of superstardom at the time. His look, charisma, onscreen presence and acting talent were all on full display in his portrayal of Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell. Fast forward 36 years later, where he has fully realised his potential and consistently delivered strong performances and hits across multiple decades becoming the one of the biggest box office draws ever in Hollywood. He is also responsible for delivering one of the biggest film franchises in cinema history outside of the MCU with the Mission Impossible Series, he returns for a long overdue sequel to the film that catapulted him to the Superstar he is. Returning as Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, Tom Cruise hits all the right notes and comes full circle in his emotional delivery of a character that has seen his journey from being a young cocky upstart (which he identifies with when seeing the young top gun pilots) to the seasoned veteran that refuses to let time and age kill his rebellious spirit. A poignant line seen in the film trailer is when his admiral played by Ed Harris remarks "your kind is headed for extinction", to which Maverick replies, "maybe so sir, but not today". This sentiment defines the tone for the rest of the film and the ride that your are in for! Top Gun Maverick nails the right level of nostalgia that nods to the original and evolves it enough to make it relevant and appealing to new audiences today, similar to why audiences resonated with the Cobra Kai series as an evolution of the Karate Kid canon. The characters, the casting, the directing, callbacks to the original and building on the Top Gun film legacy, this film reminds you what a cinema experience is all about. Taking you on a journey full of excitement, joy, thrills, drama and heart warming moments with characters that you truly care about. This is a blockbuster film we didn't know we needed but one we all deserve! I cannot recommend this film enough. 5 out of 5 stars.