Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie for the Top Gun series (2022) - Watch the trailer on YouTube
video © Paramount Pictures Corporation (Viacom)
Article updated: 2022.11.07
The Top Gun 2: Maverick (2022) is an aircraft action / military drama film. The movie was reviewed by Kadmon.
Product: Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie for the Top Gun series (2022)
Original title: Top Gun: Maverick
Series: Top Gun
Previous entries in the series: Top Gun, movie (1986)
Setting: contemporary alternate / fantasy Earth
Product type: Film, Genre: aircraft action / military drama, Style: action, aircraft action, drama, military drama, romantic drama
Release: Premiere: 2022.05.18 (Cannes Film Festival), Release: 2022.05.21
Reviewer: Kadmon, Type: Male, 40s, Preferences: Immersive, logical story, consistent setting, prefers surprises to spoilers, prefers establishing elements before referencing them
Watched: very recent (2022.02), first time
Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)
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This is my review of Top Gun 2: Maverick, a aircraft action / military drama movie for the Top Gun series from 2022. It's about an old aviator trying to teach the next generation. The Top Gun 2: Maverick film is interesting, I recommend it.
Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie for the Top Gun series (2022)
image © Paramount Pictures Corporation (Viacom)
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Review (spoiler-free) - Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie (2022)
I knew that there's a sequel to Top Gun (1986), and while I liked that film, I was afraid to watch it. When I got a free ticket for any movie, the rest of the choices looked questionable, and I remembered that the Critical Drinker recommended Maverick, so I hoped for the best, and gave this a try, without watching the trailer.
I watched the movie in Hungarian, but I assume the dubbing gave a similar experience to the original.
The Top Gun 2: Maverick movie is about an old aviator trying to teach the next generation.
The story is acceptable. It contains enough elements from the first Top Gun, but works fine as a stand-alone film. The consistency is okay. There are character arcs for the main characters. I didn't find major logical problems.
The cinematography is great, the scenes are interesting visually. The characters look distinct enough. The action looks good, and it's easy to follow.
We don't really get to know the characters, even the main protagonists. Their portrayal by the actors is fine.
The music (by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe) is great, it fits the movie perfectly.
Compared to Top Gun (1986), I still prefer that film, but I've felt that this movie is better in its technical and dramatic aspects.
Top Gun 2: Maverick is an interesting aircraft action / military drama, that I think any kind of audience could enjoy.
My experience
I was satisfied with Top Gun 2: Maverick (2022). I happen to like stories with well-thought, interesting plots, and Top Gun 2: Maverick delivered just that.
Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points). Top Gun 2: Maverick is a well-made film, with a well-written story.
Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points). Top Gun 2: Maverick is interesting, I liked it.
Rewatchability: Average. If you liked it for the first time, you'll probably like to watch it multiple times, but I think it's mostly the surprise of the story that makes you feel interested.
Chance of watching it again: There's a chance. Now that I know the story, there's probably no need to watch it again, but I liked it enough that I might watch it in the right circumstances.
Chance of watching a sequel: High. I'd sure watch it.
Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie for the Top Gun series (2022)
image © Paramount Pictures Corporation (Viacom)
Will you enjoy this?
If you like aircraft action movies, you will love Top Gun 2: Maverick.
If you like military drama movies, you might like Top Gun 2: Maverick.
If you'd like to get comedic moments in your movies, Top Gun 2: Maverick will disappoint you, as it's mostly serious.
If you enjoyed Top Gun (1986), you might be interested in this story.
If you prefer visuals over story, I think this film is enjoyable even with the sounds turned off.
If you hate elements of romance, be prepared there's a trace amount of that in Top Gun: Maverick.
If you hate depiction of violence, you should probably avoid this movie. And any other military action movie.
Do you need to see the first film to enjoy this?
There's enough explanation that you'll understand what's going on without seeing the first film.
I don't recommend to watch Top Gun before this movie, as you'll probably appreciate Maverick as a stand alone film better. The original Top Gun has a more engaging story, and Maverick pales in comparison. Also, the constant references to the first movie might get you out of immersion.
Although I've seen Top Gun, I didn't remember it as clearly, so I enjoyed Maverick a lot. I've watched Top Gun after watching this movie, and I also enjoyed Top Gun, so this reverse watching order might help your experience. (Also, watching Hot Shots! might add to all of this, if you like comedy.)
Watching for plot points
If you are interested in military action, especially aircraft action stories, I think it's worth watching the Top Gun 2: Maverick movie for the plot points.
Should you watch this on your own screen at home, or is it worth going to the cinema?
The visuals definitely look better if you watch it in cinema.
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Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie for the Top Gun series (2022)
image © Paramount Pictures Corporation (Viacom)
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Review with spoilers - Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie (2022)
I liked the Top Gun 2: Maverick movie. It works great as a stand alone movie, and it's a fine sequel for Top Gun (1986). Although there are plenty of repeats and references to the first movie, practically rearranging scenes from that, it still makes a good story out of that. Compared to Star Wars Ep7: The Force Awakens (2015), a movie with a very similar approach, that film was just a bunch of random scenes put together in a haphazard style. The Maverick film shows that this formula of making a sequel can be approached in a manner that works.
Cover
The cover of the movie is okay, it doesn't say much, but it doesn't spoil the movie.
The trailer
The trailer is surprisingly good. It shows you glimpses of what you'll get, but it doesn't show any twists that could spoil your experience.
Promise of the first scene
A pilot lives his every day life, going on a test flight, when he is informed that the project is going to be shut down. I don't know where will they take the story, he'll either fight for it, or has to let it go, and find something other to get occupied with.
Execution: He both fought for it, then had to find something else to get occupied with, so I'm satisfied with the promise.
Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie for the Top Gun series (2022)
image © Paramount Pictures Corporation (Viacom)
Plot summary / Synopsis
An old fighter pilot (Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell) is flying as a test pilot for a prototype fighter plane. The project is about to be shut down, as the army wants to spend the funding on drone warfare research instead, because they couldn't make the prototype fly at Mach 10. The old pilot gets in the plane against orders, and makes a flight, reaching Mach 10. This allows the project to continue, but he is expelled for disobedience.
The old pilot is called back to act as an instructor to train a couple of new pilots to complete a difficult mission. They have to fly low in a valley, that has missile turrets on the tops, then fly inside a dormant volcano, take out a bunker with one bomb, than hit the same location with another bomb to penetrate into the laboratory below. The enemy has a jamming system that makes newer US planes unable to work properly. The mission is so dangerous that the command expects some casualties among those who will take part.
The old pilot meets the team (Miles Teller as Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Glen Powell as Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Monica Barbaro as Natasha "Phoenix" Trace, Lewis Pullman as Robert "Bob" Floyd, and some others). One of the young pilots (Rooster) is the son of his former radar operator (Nick "Goose" Bradshaw), whom he knew since his childhood, and when the mother of the son asked him to stop the son from getting into the Academy, he obeyed her request. The young pilot is still angry at the old pilot for this.
The old pilot trains them to work as a team. Despite their reluctance, he shows the others that the objective can be done within the mission parameters.
In the mean time he gets together with the female owner (Jennifer Connelly as Penelope "Penny" Benjamin) of the local bar.
The old pilot meets with his former teammate, who is now a high ranking officer (Val Kilmer as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky), but has a deadly illness. He soon dies because of that.
The old pilot leads the attack on an enemy objective (told to be a uranium enrichment plant). The old pilot sacrifices his plane to save the son of the dead radar operator. Then the son of the dead radar operator flies back to save the old pilot. They steal an old plane so both of them could escape. When they are threatened by enemy fighters, another young pilot arrives to save them. They are successful, and all of them come back alive. The son of the dead radar operator reconciles with the old pilot.
In the end it looks like the old pilot will settle down with the female bar owner.
The setting
Contemporary alternate / fantasy Earth, 2019.
This world has technology to reach Mach 10 with manned aircrafts.
Plot points of interests
The were a couple of changes to the setting and characters.
New characters
Hangman: An aviator.
Rooster: The son of Goose. He is now an aviator, like his father was.
Changes to characters
Iceman: He is a high ranking officer. He dies of cancer during the movie.
Maverick: He is more humble than his previous self. He is ready to sacrifice himself to save others. He still disregards orders if he doesn't agree with them. He still didn't get over the death of his partner, Goose.
Characters killed
Iceman: He dies of cancer.
Technology
Experimental aircraft: Able to reach Mach 10,3, while having a pilot on board.
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Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie for the Top Gun series (2022)
image © Paramount Pictures Corporation (Viacom)
Analysis of the story - Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie (2022)
I mostly liked the story, I didn't find problems that would have prevented me from enjoying Top Gun 2: Maverick.
The message of the story
I'm not sure there's one.
The structure of the story
The scenes of the Top Gun 2: Maverick film are mostly played in sequence, following the same storyline. There are some flashbacks, showing scenes from Top Gun.
There's no single viewpoint character.
It has the usual arc of the dramatic structure - introduction, action, resolution. There's a framing structure - it starts with Maverick in a hangar alone, maintaining his plane, and ends in the same place with his new friend, Rooster, helping him with the repairs.
Fan-service
Although there are plenty of moments of fan-service in the Top Gun 2: Maverick movie, I felt that the creators managed to blend those in organically.
Scenes and elements from previous works:
Hot Shots! (1991)
- A mistake caused the death of an aviator, and this leads to antagonism between characters. Mailman died, and Kent Gregory (Mailman's son) blames Topper (due to his father, Buzz) in Hot Shots!. Goose died, and Rooster blames Maverick in Maverick.
Star Wars Ep 6: A New Hope (1977)
- The young protagonist wants to be a pilot, because his father was a pilot, who died in a previous war. Luke's father in Star Wars, Rooster's father in Maverick.
- The mentor was a friend of the young protagonist's father, who looks after the son of his former friend from a distance. Kenobi looks after Luke in Star Wars, Maverick looks after Rooster in Maverick.
- The mentor sacrifices himself to save the young protagonist. Kenobi in Star Wars, Maverick in Maverick. Both of them return later, Kenobi as a ghost, while Maverick gets saved.
- The pilots have to make a trench run, keeping a low altitude, because there are turrets on the top.
- A pilot uses his senses instead of the targeting system to achieve the perfect hit. Luke in Star Wars.
- A pilot is doomed to be shot be an ominous enemy fighter, when an ally arrives unexpectedly to save him. Han Solo saves Luke in Star Wars, while Rooster saves Maverick, then Hangman saves both Rooster and Maverick in Maverick.
Top Gun (1986)
- The use of music.
- The opening text.
- Fighters taking off from an aircraft carrier. F-14s from the USS Enterprise in Top Gun, F-18s from the USS Lincoln in Maverick.
- Taking Top Gun lessons in a hangar.
- The protagonist couldn't go to the Academy. Maverick due to an unspecified reason due to his father in Top Gun, Rooster due to Maverick in Maverick.
- The father of the protagonist was a pilot, who died in service. The protagonist now wants to prove himself.
- The protagonist sings in a bar. The protagonist is singing the same song (Great Balls of Fire) that his deceased father did in Top Gun.
- The students do something embarrassing to a teacher in a bar. Maverick tried to hit on Charlie in Top Gun, while Hangman threw out Maverick in Maverick.
- A rival of the protagonist constantly chews on something. Iceman on chewing gum in Top Gun, Hangman on a toothpick in Maverick.
- Maverick rides the motorcycle beside a fighter plane.
- Young people play sports on the beach, in minimal clothing. Beach ball in Top Gun, dogfight football in Maverick.
- Maverick flies upside down above a fighter plane.
- The Top Gun trainer was with the father of the protagonist on their final flight. Viper in Top Gun, Maverick in Maverick.
- The Top Gun trainer uses the sun against the pilots. Jester in Top Gun, Maverick in Maverick.
- A student leaves their wingman to chase the trainer, only to get shot down. Maverick in Top Gun, Hangman in Maverick.
- Maverick tells 'Talk to me, Goose' multiple times. He was talking to Goose in Top Gun, he talks to his memory in Maverick.
- One of the aviators get a burial.
- A fighter jet has to be guided back to the base.
- A fighter gets in the jetwash of a friendly fighter, causing flameout in both engines.
- Maverick flies an F-14. A high tech brand new one in Top Gun, a 30 years old piece of junk in Maverick.
- There's some problem with the ejection seat of an F-14.
- Maverick flies dangerously close the tower of the aircraft carrier.
- Maverick seems to settle down in the end. With Charlie in Top Gun, with Penny in Maverick.
Things I liked
Problematic elements
Starting the attack: When they start their attack, they realise there's still two enemy fighters in the air. How come they didn't notice this earlier? I'd assume they have satellite view of the area, so they could just count the number of planes that take off.
Sequel to Top Gun: The character arc of Maverick seemed quite final at the end of Top Gun - he learnt to be responsible, established a lasting connection to a partner, was able to let go of the guilt about the dead of Goose, and became an instructor instead of being a hotshot flyboy. All of this has been forgotten by the beginning of the sequel - he is irresponsible, a loner, brooding about Goose, and a hotshot flyboy again. This is the same mistake they did with Han Solo in Star Wars Ep7: The Force Awakens (2015), or with Peter Parker in Spider-Man: One More Day (2007). It feels like the writers didn't know what to do with the character, so they've done a reset on his character arc.
Inaccuracies: There were a couple of times where the scene looked fine from a dramatic point of view, but it was unrealistic:
- The Mach challenge: The Mach 10 seems very unrealistic. Current manned fighters fly at Mach 3. We couldn't even make an unmanned craft that could have reached Mach 10.
- Bombing backwards: As the laser guiding system doesn't work backward normally, they couldn't have used it to drop the bomb.
- Lone aircraft carrier: There are no escort ships in sight when they show the aircraft carrier.
- Lack of motorcycle helmet: He might be able to ride the motor without a helmet outside of the base (although the law requires it), but after passing the gate, he is required to wear one due to army regulations.
- Lack of aviator helmet: None of the aviators wear a proper helmet. Although this is probably done so we can see the faces of the actors.
Unanswered questions
- What have happened to Charlie, the love interest of Maverick at the end of the previous movie?
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Possibilities of improvement
- The Mach challenge: Change the dialogue and the counters to Mach 4. That would be believable, and the scene would work out the same.
- The raid: Add dialogue that they have limited resources, that's why they can only send two pairs of fighters. They also can't afford to take everything out with missiles. If they shoot missiles to take out the missile batteries, that would destabilise the terrain, and it's not guaranteed that it would destroy all of the defences, so they would still have to fly low, now with additional debris. They can't send a covering fighter wing that would take out the enemy fighters.
- The enemy fighters: Add dialogue that the enemy scrambles their detection systems, that's why they couldn't know about the two enemy fighters that were already in the air when the attack begins.
- Ejecting from the plane: Add dialogue when Rooster tries to eject, when Maverick remembers that they should have had removed the safety before getting into the plane.
- Bombing backwards: Add dialogue somewhere that the laser aiming pods have been modified to work in a 360 degree arc, to provide more flexibility for the bombers.
- Lone aircraft carrier: Add CGI ships to the scenes.
- Charlie: At least mention what happened to her, to give a conclusion to her story.
How it could have been better?
The whole movie would have worked better for me, if the main character was someone else instead of Maverick. We've seen his story in Top Gun, his character arc was complete. They could have grabbed any other actor from the Top Gun movie who is still active.
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How does it compare to the other works of the creators?
I haven't seen anything else from the works of the story writer (Justin Marks).
From the works of the story writer (Peter Craig), I've seen The Batman (2022), that was mediocre. Top Gun: Maverick was a lot better.
I haven't seen any other works of the script writer (Christopher McQuarrie), I've seen Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) and The Mummy (2017), that was mediocre, then Edge of Tomorrow (2014), that was good. Top Gun: Maverick was on par with Edge of Tomorrow.
I haven't seen any other works of the script writer (Ehren Kruger), I've seen Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), that were bad; Impostor (2001) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), that were mediocre; The Brothers Grimm (2005), that was watchable; The Ring (2002) and Ghost in the Shell (2017), that were good (although both of them were rewrites of Japanese originals). Top Gun: Maverick is probably the best story in his portfolio.
I haven't seen any other works of the script writer (Eric Warren Singer).
From the director (Joseph Kosinski), I've seen Tron: Legacy (2010) and Oblivion (2013), both of them were watchable. Top Gun: Maverick was a step up from those.
How does it compare to the first film in the series?
I don't really remember the original Top Gun, but I think Top Gun: Maverick as comparably good or even better than the predecessor.
Edit: I've watched Top Gun (1986) again, and I feel it has a slightly more engaging story, while Top Gun: Maverick has a better dramatic structure, and it's overall better in technical aspects.
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Behind the scenes
Thoughts about the reviews of others
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Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie for the Top Gun series (2022)
image © Paramount Pictures Corporation (Viacom)
Uses for the film - Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie (2022)
Plot
- Set in a contemporary setting.
- A group sets up a base to make munitions / parts for a weapon of mass destruction.
- A military group decides to destroy an enemy base, that's very hard to reach.
Scenes
Designs
Scenario ideas - Role-playing game scenario ideas
Scenario ideas - Wargame scenario ideas
Get to the objective in time: The attacker wants to destroy an objective that the defenders try to protect. The defender sets up the playing area, with the target objective in the middle, and a base with the defending forces inside. The defender chooses an edge that will be the entry zone of the attackers. The defender places either rough terrain or dangerous terrain between that edge and the target objective. The defender places a number of Stationary defences anywhere on the playing area. Before the first turn, the attacker is able to use ranged attacks (trebuchets, artillery, orbital bombardment) on the defender's base or the Stationary defences. Then, the attacker deploys their models on the entry zone. The attacker wins if they are able to destroy the target objective. The defender wins if the target objective is intact, and they still have more than half of their forces. It's a draw if the target objective is intact, but the defender lost more than half of their forces.
Defender patrols: In the beginning there are a random number of defender patrol units in the area. They are more skilled, more numerous, or have more special abilities (for example flying) than the attacking units. Every turn, the defender rolls a d6, on a 1, another unit enters the playing area on one of the edges, except for the entry edge of the attacker.
Stationary defences: There are ranged attack units stationed / turrets deployed in places, so if the attackers wouldn't go through the rough terrain, they would be attacked. When they leave the objective, they get into their range, so the attackers can be targeted (unless they go back through the rough terrain).
Variant: Double hit (harder for the attacker): The target objective must be destroyed twice to achieve a complete victory.
Miniatures - 1/50-1/60 (28-32mm scale)
Aviators: Human-sized (S3) modern human soldiers in uniform.
Aviators in flight suit: Human-sized (S3) modern human aviators in flight suit.
Civilians: Human-sized (S3) modern (advanced) human female / male civilian.
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Similar stories - Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie (2022)
Movies
633 Squadron (1964): In a WW2 setting, a team of pilots have to fly in valleys, deep into the enemy territory, to be able to drop bombs to destroy a facility that houses weapons of mass destruction (a V2 fuel factory). They train for the mission for some time.
Star Wars Ep6: A New Hope (1977): In a futuristic setting, at the end of the story, a team of pilots (Rebels) have to fly very low in a trench to avoid the turrets, to be able to drop a bomb into the ventilation shaft of a facility that houses a weapon of mass destruction (the Death Star). The enemy pilots have their faces covered by black helmets.
The Dam Busters (1955): In a WW2 setting, a team of pilots have to fly very low, deep into the enemy territory, to be able to drop bombs to destroy dams that will cause the destruction of industrial facilities. They train for the mission for some time.
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Frequently asked questions - Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie (2022)
Is the Top Gun 2: Maverick film based on a book or comics?
No, as far as I know, Top Gun 2: Maverick is not based on either books or comics.
Is the Top Gun 2: Maverick film a remake or reboot?
No, the Top Gun 2: Maverick film is technically neither a remake nor a reboot, although you might consider it a soft reboot of Top Gun (1986).
Is there a post credit scene in Top Gun 2: Maverick? Does Top Gun 2: Maverick have end credit scenes? Does Top Gun 2: Maverick have a post credit scene?
No, there's no post credit scene in Top Gun 2: Maverick.
Where can I see Top Gun 2: Maverick? What is Top Gun 2: Maverick playing on? What streaming service is Top Gun 2: Maverick on? Where can I watch Top Gun 2: Maverick online? Is Top Gun 2: Maverick available on Netflix? Is Top Gun 2: Maverick on Amazon?
As of 2022.10.11, Top Gun 2: Maverick is available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Microsoft Movies, Paramount+, Vudu, YouTube.
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Resources - Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie (2022)
Official
Top Gun Movie: Official website.
https://twitter.com/topgunmovie
https://www.facebook.com/TopGunMovie/
https://www.instagram.com/topgunmovie
Information
IMDB: Top Gun: Maverick (2022): Database article.
WikiPedia: Top Gun: Maverick: Database article.
Letterboxd: Top Gun: Maverick 2022: Database article.
Rotten Tomatoes: Top Gun: Maverick 2022: Database article.
TVTropes: Film / Top Gun: Maverick: Database article.
Creation
: Concept art article / video.¤
Reviews with no spoilers - Top Gun 2: Maverick film (2022)
: Review article / video about the Top Gun 2: Maverick film with no spoilers.¤
Reviews with spoilers - Top Gun 2: Maverick film (2022)
Jay and Mike (for RedLetterMedia): Half in the Bag: Jurassic World Dominion, Thor: Love and Thunder, Top Gun: Maverick: Review video of the Top Gun: Maverick, with spoilers.¤
Analysis - Top Gun 2: Maverick movie (2022)
: Analysis article / video, explaining the finale of Top Gun 2: Maverick.¤
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Buying the product - Top Gun 2: Maverick, movie (2022)
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Have you seen the Top Gun 2: Maverick film for the Top Gun series? How do you like the movie? Would you recommend it to others? Do you know reviews or resources you'd like to add? What further thoughts do you have about it? Tell your opinion in the comments!
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