Ace aviator Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his wisecracking best bud of a wingman Lt. (j.g.) Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) compete to the be the best of the best at the Navy’s prestigious fighter pilot training school nickname Top Gun. With the help of instructor Charlotte 'Charlie' Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) the hotshot military ace will learn to trust his instincts, hone his skills and maybe even overcome a devastating tragedy threatening to ruin his career for good.

CRITIQUE

Tony Scott’s 1986 smash hit Top Gun was one of the films that, for both better and for worse, helped redefine the summer blockbuster. It is a glossy, hyper-stylized thrill ride filled to the brim with attitude, visual wizardry and unabashed emotional cliché. This is pop entertainment at its leanest and meanest, and anyone hoping for anything remotely substantive should probably look elsewhere.

Don’t tell on me, but gosh darn it all if I don’t just love every single second of it. While there aren’t any surprises to be found here, this film is just so darn much fun I could really care less. I remember sitting in the theater as a youngster watching this with my dad wide-eyed and in virtual awe, everything about the film driving me borderline mad with girly giggly glee.

Twenty-two years later and lo and behold I still feel exactly the same way. It’s been less than a year since I had the pleasure to see this one again in the theater for the first time in a couple of decades (the surprisingly still in great shape 70mm print looking absolutely splendid up upon that gigantic Cinerama screen), and I remember sitting there with a large bag of popcorn and a Diet Coke grinning like a Cheshire cat.

But the movie works on a level beyond that of your basic run-of-the-mill guilty pleasure. Sure Jim Cash and Jack Epps, Jr.’s screenplay is this, but what 1980’s Jerry Bruckheimer/Don Simpson production do you ever recall being even somewhat substantive (and, no, Flashdance and Beverly Hills Cop – the latter still the best thing the duo ever produced – do not count)? No, this one is high-gloss processed cheese nothing more and certainly nothing less, and while that’s normally a very bad thing here it’s almost cause for celebration.

Seriously, everything about Top Gun is a blast. From Cruise’s star-making bravado, to McGillis’ sweetly sexy saunter, to Edwards’ soulful friend and soul mate, to Meg Ryan’s brief appearance as a bubbly wife looking fear straight in the eye, to Tom Skerrit’s steely-eyed sincerity barking out orders and advice (most times in equal measure), to Val Kilmer’s ice-cold demeanor as a frigid aerial warrior whose trust is hard to come by, all of this works far better than it really has any right to.

Credit must go to director Scott. While never quite rising to the level of his Oscar-nominated brother Ridley, when the man is on his game it almost goes without saying but he does these populist forms of whimsical Summer entertainments better than just about anyone. The film moves like lightening and goes down so smoothly you almost don’t realize you’re enjoying yourself until the thing’s just about over. Gosh darn it, but as far as I’m concerned this is one picture that just seems to get better with each passing year, and even though it’s not anything close to resembling high art it’s so much fun to watch I just don’t give a darn.

THE VIDEO

Holy frickin’ crap but does this movie look good. The 1.85:1 widescreen 1080p high definition transfer is just about perfect, and from the moment those M-16’s lit up their engines and stared flying off the aircraft carrier I literally squealed in delightful glee. As transfers go, this one is just about as good as Blu-ray gets.

THE AUDIO

Available audio tracks include English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, English 6.1 DTS, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and French Dolby Digital 5.1 with optional English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

As far as I can tell, there are no new extras on this disc that were not already issued on the 2006 standard definition special edition and the previously released HD disc. Thankfully, it’s all still pretty darn fantastic.

There is a solidly entertaining (if not especially informative) audio commentary with producer Bruckheimer, director Scott, writer Epps, Jr. and a collection of naval experts. Also included are some multi-angle storyboards with commentary from Scott, four Music Videos (including Berlin’s Oscar-winner classic “Take My Breath Away”), some TV Spots, a vintage Behind-the-Scenes featurette, a Survival Training guide and a collection of Tom Cruise Interviews.

As in the previous releases, however, the crème de la crème here is the six-part documentary Danger Zone: The Making of Top Gun. It’s a good one, and most of the major participants add their recollections as to how this one all came together. It’s a fascinating watch, and while it’s nowhere near as in-depth or as thorough as the ones to be found on films like Blade Runner or The Thing, it’s still good enough to warrant a look.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Top Gun is a movie I love. I really can’t put it any plainer than that. It is not the greatest picture of the 1980’s and it isn’t going to change a person’s life, but it is going to keep them entertained and as far as solidly crafted popcorn filmmaking goes that’s really all I’ve ever asked for. It doesn’t insult your intelligence and it doesn’t waste your time. Most of all, it’s one heck of a lot of fun, and I for one know that anytime I’m in the need for speed then there is virtually no other place I’d rather turn.

In a world where there just aren’t points for second place, for me Top Gun is head of its class and then some.