I still can’t believe that it’s been almost 36 years since I saw the awesome Top Gun from Tony Scott at the cinema, now we finally get a sequel that’s been worth the wait, I checked out Top Gun Maverick in IMAX and was blown away by its IMAX E.A.R. footage.
We step back onto the big screen after more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.”
Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.
Back in 1986 when I first saw the first film it blew me away, the opening sequence with that Top Gun theme from Harold Faltermeyer and the sound of the jets was amazing, now 36 years later it was like stepping back into my teen years.
Top Gun Maverick in IMAX opens up with a reworking of Faltermeyer’s theme and I had chills running down the back of my neck and then it happened, Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins booms out of the IMAX sound system and we are straight into the IMAX Expanded Aspect Ratio as the jets take off from a carrier, unlike 36 years ago the sound really makes you feel like you are on the carrier as the boom of the afterburners pounds through your chest and rumbles the seats with the power of the sound system, my hopes rocketed and excitement levels were about to explode.
Those of you that have seen and are fans of Top Gun (1986) will see a lot of the comparisons between the two movies and will love the moments that bring us flashbacks of the original movie, believe me when I say that there are many moments that will bring a tear to your eye, especially with mentions of Goose and much more, look out for a rather moving moment with Miles Teller bringing us a wonderful moment of Great Balls of Fire.
Unlike the 1986 movie that did seem to take the love interest a lot further Top Gun Maverick steps away from that and instead we are given a movie that really puts you on the edge of your seat with the Top Gun pilots as they train for their mission to do what only a pilot in the Top Gun programme could do. To take us on the ride of a lifetime we are treated to some amazing IMAX E.A.R. moments in the cockpit and if you think they look amazing then you would be right as the production team uses six, yes six, IMAX cameras in the cockpits for the flight sequences to bring us some intense and amazing cinematography that you will see in a film of this calibre.
After 36 years of waiting for Top Gun Maverick, it’s been worth the wait, I love that Tom Cruise has stepped back into the role of Maverick so easily and that it’s great to finally see where life went for the character after the 1986 movie and boy does he still have what it takes to bring us the character in some amazing action and heart-pounding sequences, I could feel the G-force myself with the fighter sequences, we also get a welcome and somewhat moving return of a much-loved actor, Val Kilmer reprises his role as IceMan in a scene that had me really choking up, especially after recently watching the documentary “VAL”. But wow it was so lovely to see Kilmer back on the big screen and let’s face it, it really wouldn’t be a Top Gun film without the IceMan, would it!
Top Gun Maverick in IMAX is certainly on my top list of films for 2022 so far, it’s packed with action, and amazing cinematography thanks to the IMAX crew that brings us some outstanding moments to take us into the Top Gun world, and the music is so reminiscent of the 1986 film, not only do we get the Top Gun Anthem but we get some true classics from the likes of David Bowie and of course Kenny Loggins. But what really stood out for me is that the soundtrack for the movie includes one of my all-time favourite movie composers, Hans Zimmer along with Harold Faltermeyer and Lady Gaga. The Lady Gaga track Hold My Hand is certainly a track that I stayed through credits to listen to.
Joseph Kosinski (Oblivion, TRON: Legacy) has brought us a film that is worthy and if not better than its predecessor, it has the feel of a well-deserved sequel and certainly shows that there is still lots more fun to have with the characters.
With Top Gun Maverick shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras it features nearly an hour of IMAX exclusive Expanded Aspect Ratio (EAR). Moviegoers will find themselves totally immersed in our 1.90:1 aspect ratio, which provides up to 26% more picture only in IMAX.
If you are looking for a summer blockbuster movie to check out then I recommended you check out Top Gun Maverick and go see it in the format it was shot in, IMAX. This is a film that has everything you may want from an enjoyable 2h 11m that feels like the afterburners have kicked in, you’ve jumped into overdrive and the time just flies by.
Let's Take You Back To The Danger Zone!
Movie title: Top Gun Maverick
Movie description: 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.
Date published: May 28, 2022
Country: UK
Duration: 2h 11m
Director(s): Joseph Kosinski
Actor(s): Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Val Kilmer
Genre: Action, Drama
Summary
Top Gun Maverick is THE movie to see this summer on the big screen, the IMAX filmed footage of which there is almost an hour of looks stunning and puts you right in the cockpit as we take a trip on the highway to the Danger Zone with Tom Cruise!
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
