Don't Think. 5 / 5
Released in UK Cinemas: 25th May 2022
Directed by Joseph Kosinski.
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
In 1986, the original Top Gun inspired a generation of avid aviators and beach volleyball players to follow their need for speed and now after many delays, Top Gun: Maverick finally arrives to do it all over again with new technology to help fully immerse the audience in the high octane world of the thunderous jet engines.
Since the pandemic, I don't think there has been a film that has utilised the big screen experience as well as Top Gun: Maverick. You can see every ounce of energy and skill the cast and crew put into making this an immersive experience, seating the audience directly in the cockpit with the actors as they flew for real to create exhilarating action sequences that will go on to cement this as the very definition of a blockbuster. All of this is led by one of cinema's biggest advocates.
Tom Cruise might be the last great movie star. He's a man with many quirks but you cannot doubt for a moment his commitment and dedication to the art of filmmaking; consistently pushing the boundaries to continue giving audiences experiences they've never had. His collaboration with director Joseph Kosinski hits all the emotional story beats while matching the intense aerial sequences with clear and expert camerawork with countless shots that leave you wondering how what you are witnessing is even possible.
With a final act that will go down in the history books, Maverick gives Top Gun the narrative and structure that the original was missing, engrossing the audience in the stress and the thrill of the adrenaline-fuelled story.
Leaving me grinning from ear to ear, it’s a movie that makes you excited about movies - the exhilaration of the big screen, the buzz you feel walking out, the joy of sharing with friends, and the anticipation of doing it all over again. A breathtaking treat for the senses.
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