I Watched Top Gun: Maverick and Here’s Why It Didn’t Wow Me Like Everyone Else

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Caution for Plot Details: The subsequent content might unveil some vital aspects of the storyline in Top Gun: Maverick. To avoid spoilers if you haven’t watched the highly anticipated sequel, I advise you to tread carefully as we embark on this discussion.

Recently, I attended a preview showing of the car racing movie titled “F1“, directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt. Critics have been raving about it as an “exhilarating experience”. Intrigued, I decided to watch Kosinski’s most famous work, “Top Gun: Maverick” for myself.

Indeed, you’ve understood correctly. To clarify, I wasn’t among the millions who helped break box office records for the 2022 Academy Award-winning blockbuster, primarily because I wasn’t eager to learn about Tom Cruise’s character’s life after the iconic ’80s film about an elite Naval pilot training program. That being said, I did give the movie a try, but there’s something I feel compelled to confess: I didn’t find it as exceptional as others claim. Let me elaborate…

Top Gun: Maverick Is A Technical Marvel

To start off, let’s talk about what I appreciated most in the movie “Top Gun: Maverick” – elements that many others love as well: the breathtaking camerawork and special effects. I have a soft spot for films that make use of practical special effects, considering how today’s Hollywood often overly relies on computer-generated imagery. In my opinion, this film isn’t just a notable addition to contemporary cinema history, but it’s almost like a small miracle.

Learning that the flight sequences in “Top Gun: Maverick” were genuinely executed by attaching cameras to real fighter jets, and that the cast trained extensively to perform their aerial scenes authentically, makes the already skillfully coordinated action all the more thrilling. This is why I found “F1” equally engaging, as it employs a similar filmmaking approach by mounting cameras on moving Formula One racing cars. I believe that Joseph Kosinski stands out among contemporary directors due to his commitment to creating authentic and immersive cinematic experiences.

I Think The Script Is Pretty Subpar

I share the view that “Maverick” and “F1” share a resemblance, as both offer stunning visuals, yet their narratives leave room for improvement. The sequel to the 1986 action movie “Top Gun,” titled “Maverick,” presents an engaging scenario: Maverick is tasked with training a new generation of pilots to accomplish an impossible mission, and it successfully escalates the tension far beyond the original film, particularly when Maverick and Rooster (played by Miles Teller) find themselves trapped behind enemy lines. However, I can’t help but feel that more attention could have been given to the overall screenplay as well.

I didn’t mind how Maverick reimagined classic moments, like Rooster playing “Great Balls of Fire” or substituting a beach football game for the volleyball match. Yet, there were aspects that bothered me, like the film’s overuse of tropes – such as Maverick frequently clashing with his superiors and his challenges in teaching a disrespectful young pilot (Rooster) – and the repetitive, corny dialogue reminiscent of numerous other movies.

As a cinephile, I found myself in agreement with most of its Oscar nominations, but I must confess that I was taken aback when the script – penned by none other than Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote Transformers: Age of Extinction – made it to the Best Adapted Screenplay category.

Reflecting on the situation, there’s a piece of me that wishes I had caught the stunning visual spectacle of “Top Gun: Maverick” while it was still showing in cinemas. Although I screened the movie (accessible via Paramount+) on a 150-inch screen in my home theater with an advanced sound system, I acknowledge that nothing quite compares to the authentic experience of watching it in theaters. Consequently, I aim to avoid repeating that oversight when “Top Gun 3” eventually premieres in movie theaters.

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2025-06-29 03:07