Top Gun is back, this time given a 3D conversion one which hopes to take viewers more inside the ‘danger zone’ than ever before.

CRITIQUE

Here’s what I wrote about Top Gun ages ago when it first appeared on Blu-ray:

“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 much fun I could 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 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 thin, 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 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.

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 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 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 it’s just about over. Gosh darn it, but as far as I’m concerned Top Gun is one picture that just seems to get better with each passing year, and even though it isn’t anything close to resembling high art it’s so much fun to watch I just don’t give a darn.”

Nothing new to add other than, watching this again, I am sadly reminded just how big a loss Tony Scott’s passing was. While he didn’t make classic movies, he did make very, very entertaining ones, and over a quarter century later this one still ranks as one of director’s finest and most crowd-pleasing achievements.

THE VIDEO

Top Gun is presented on a dual-layer 50GB Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video with a 2.40:1/1080p transfer. For the first time it now also appears on a 50GB 3DBlu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video with its very own 2.40:1/1080p transfer.

The 2D disc is the same that was packaged back in August of 2011, so there’s nothing new to add on that front. The 3D Blu-ray, though? In a word, the 3D Blu-ray is nothing short of amazing. Quite frankly this is one of the best live-action 3D transfers, if not the very best, I have ever laid eyes on. While still not a fan of the format, praise must be given as Paramount has spared no expense making Top Gun a totally new immersive and energizing experience. Colors look sharp, clarity is astonishing and textures are alive and vibrant. In short, this 3D version of the movie took my breath away, and considering my longstanding vitriol towards the format my admitting that is truly something indeed.

THE AUDIO

These Blu-rays feature English DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 & Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtracks along with French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks and features optional English SDH, French, Portuguese and Spanish subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

All the extras are ported over from previous Blu-ray releases. There is nothing new included with this 3D edition of Top Gun.

For more on the extras, check out my review of the 2011 edition of the film.

FINAL THOUGHT

Top Gun is still great, and for 3D enthusiasts Paramount’s conversion is top of the line in all the ways that count. Highly recommended.