Two of our film reviewers recently caught the new eagerly awaited Top Gun sequel Maverick.
Here’s what they thought.
A sequel is a fraught thing. Expectations are high, with audiences hoping for the same thrill they got when watching the original, an experience almost impossible to replicate. Revisiting the same well can often only produce diminishing returns, and with so many examples of studios cashing in on nostalgia, relying on familiarity to be enough, there are plenty of reasons why returning to a classic as beloved as Top Gun should be a bad idea. There are many ways Top Gun: Maverick could fail. Instead, it succeeds as not only a worthy predecessor, but also a compelling experience in its own right.
After several delays due to the death of original director Tony Scott and the COVID-19 pandemic, this highly anticipated follow-up to the 1986 smash hit delivers on all fronts, in a genuinely incredible feat of blockbuster filmmaking. Top Gun: Maverick manages to take what was so special about the original and build upon it naturally. It raises the stakes without feeling forced, and while of course there’s plenty of spectacle, the script by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie focuses more on the development of Maverick’s character than his abilities. Is he still the Pete Mitchell we remember? Absolutely, but with the weight of the decades that have passed since we last saw him resting on his shoulders. Director Joseph Kosinski balances the thrills and spills of the aviation stunts with the heartfelt story of a man wrestling with his legacy.
Sarah Kwong
Verdict: Joyful 4.5 stars
While 30-plus years seems like quite a long time to make a sequel, especially by today’s standards. Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie’s screenplay make it clear they were waiting for just the right story, something that this film masters impeccably with Kosinski’s direction and Cruise’s performance.
The film has many call-backs to its predecessor, particularly in its opening sequence and in some of its more stunt-heavy scenes. There are even some flashback scenes thrown in for good measure. The film’s cinematographer, Claudio Miranda utilises warm yellow and orange that feel slightly retro and help evoke feelings of nostalgia. While Harold Faltermeyer and Hans Zimmer’s timeless scores help allude to the overall excitement and sense of adventure.
Clocking in at 131 minutes, Top Gun: Maverick may feel like it is going to be a slow burn at first. However, much like the hypersonic jets that are capable of travelling five times the speed of sound, Kosinski’s film is well-paced and will constantly have you on the edge of your seat.
Emily Schinella
Verdict: Thrilling 4.5 stars
More News
