36 years after Tony Scott's Top Gun (1986) Tom Cruise reprises his role as Naval air force pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Joseph Kosinski's sequel Top Gun Maverick.
After Maverick disobeys orders again he is sent back into the Top Gun program as an instructor to train the best Top Gun graduates to be prepared for a deadly mission. Maverick must face his past and his fears when he is confronted with training Lt. Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw (played by Miles Teller) the son of his best friend and co-pilot 'Goose' who died in an accident whilst Maverick was flying in the original film. Val Kilmer also reprises his role as 'Iceman', adding a sentimental and nostalgic feel to the film in the emotional moments between him and Maverick who were once competitors and are now close friends.
Even though the dialogue and plot could be cheesy at moments there is something charming about this film that compels audiences and allows us to become connected to these characters and the dangerous mission they are training for. What Kosinski did so well with this sequel is the connection and development between characters which allowed the audience to be invested in the story. Kosinski portrayed the importance and the dangers of the mission so well that the audience understands and cares for the characters and the mission.
When going into this film I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, but this blockbuster was surprisingly sincere and was devoted to telling a good story whilst having edge of the seat, gripping flight sequences. These intense, fast paced flight sequences were filmed with IMAX cameras that were placed in the cockpit of the jets bringing audiences amazing cinematography which really allows us to feel like we are a part of the training and mission.
This film is a beautiful testament to Tom Cruise with how much work he puts into his roles and films, and Joseph Kosinski perfectly continued the Top Gun story. I even think that Kosinski's continuation of the story makes the first film better and that is down to the depth of these characters.
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