"Top Gun" (1986)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm finally going to be able to watch the sequel soon, so I decided to re-watch the original Top Gun because, you know, after seeing it more than a dozen times I just had to refresh my memory in case I forgot something. Plus, Bell and Fiona had never seen it before.

Pete Mitchell (a.k.a. Maverick) and his best friend and wingman, Nick Bradshaw (a.k.a. Goose), are admitted to the Naval Fighter Weapons School where the best of the best train to hone their skills as fighter pilots. Maverick's journey to grow as a pilot and as a person is set in motion.

There are some movies that I used to love and now when I watch them I ask myself, "What was I thinking?"

Top Gun is a rare exception. I still love this movie as much as I did the first time I watched it. I love movies that move me and make me feel something. This one does that in every way possible. It isn't about being the best, but it is about doing our own personal best. It's about love, loss, friendship, letting go, and moving on while still remembering those we've lost along the way. It's about leaving our ego behind so we can face what's in front of us. "Top Gun" makes me smile, laugh, cry, and reflect. It reminds me that in order to move on, I must let go.

The musical score accompanies the story with perfection. The movie wouldn't be as impactful without the soundtrack. The action scenes are engaging and purposeful. The movie is so good overall that some of the cheesy dialogue on the ground and the occasional foul language (I'm certain nowadays this would be rated PG-13, not PG) doesn't even bother me. There is also just the right amount of Hallmark-ish romance. The love story is there and I felt it, but it doesn't distract the viewer from the overall meaning of the movie.

I have some thoughts about the directions in which the sequel can go and I'm excited to see how it plays out. I've heard and read from so many people that the sequel is even better than the first movie, which is rare. Clearly, I loved the first one and it will be a tough act to follow. Stay tuned in the next few weeks for my follow-up review!