Top Gun (1986)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers:

Ehud Yonay (article)
Jim Cash (written by) ...

Release Date:

16 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

From the Producers of Beverly Hills Cop and Flashdance [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

The macho students of an elite US Flying school for advanced fighter pilots compete to be best in the class, and one romances the teacher.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Flying | Fighter Pilot | F 14 Fighter Jet | Item Thrown Into Water To Honor Family Or Friend

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 22	8:00 PM	OXYGEN
Wed. July 22	10:30 PM	OXYGEN

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell
Kelly McGillis	...	Charlotte 'Charlie' Blackwood
Val Kilmer	...	Lt. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky
Anthony Edwards	...	Lt. JG Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw
Tom Skerritt	...	Cmdr. Mike 'Viper' Metcalf
Michael Ironside	...	Lt. Cmdr. Rick 'Jester' Heatherly
John Stockwell	...	Lt. Bill 'Cougar' Cortell
Barry Tubb	...	Lt. JG Leonard 'Wolfman' Wolfe
Rick Rossovich	...	Lt. JG Ron 'Slider' Kerner
Tim Robbins	...	Lt. JG Sam 'Merlin' Wells
Clarence Gilyard Jr.	...	Sundown
Whip Hubley	...	Lt. Rick 'Hollywood' Neven
James Tolkan	...	Cmdr. Tom 'Stinger' Jordan
Meg Ryan	...	Carol Bradshaw
Adrian Pasdar	...	Chipper

Also Known As:

Top Guns (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

UK:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | Brazil:Livre | India:U | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1986) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles in the t.v. series "ER" (1994). Edwards: Dr. Mark Greene, Ironside: Dr. William "Wild Willy" Swift, Rossovich: Dr. John "Tag" Taglieri

Goofs:

Factual errors: During both the training missions and dogfight scenes, the sound effects for the targeting system and the radar/missile warning are nearly identical. In reality, those two sounds would be completely different so as to give the pilot no doubt as to what's going on (as evidenced when Maverick appears confused when he hears a "lock on" tone when Jester "kills" him while Maverick's chasing Viper).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Flight Captain: [spoken as flight captain walks into control room]
[said to first controller on his left while hand is placed on controllers shoulder]
Flight Captain: Good morning Scott

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (2007) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Lead Me On

Polished and heartfelt

Top Gun is undoubtedly one of my favourite films, and one of those that has the ability to keep enthralling you even while watching for the tenth time. Director Tony Scott was chosen after the producers saw his work in advertising, and true to their judgement he has produced a visual masterpiece. It looks simply gorgeous, and the live action sequences have never been bettered. If there is one flaw in the film it is that it is somewhat shallow, with all of the people behind the film (and Tom Cruise) rather better at making visual spectaculars than an engaging story. However the story does work well in drawing you into the world of Maverick and his fellow naval aviators, Cruise forms an excellent rapport with Anthony Edwards as Goose, and the dialogue is snappy and eminently quotable. Everyone has at some stage used Maverick's line - "I couls tell you, but then I'd have to kill you", and the cover of the Righteous Brothers is unforgettable. The film is backed by one of the best soundtracks of the decade, and a very strong supporting cast. In my opinion, the film succeeds in everything it sets out to achieve. A cracking script, a gripping story, and simply stunning aerial photography. You have to see this film.