Starring - Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards & Val Kilmer.
Running Time - 109 minutes
Rated - PG

I only saw this film for the first time when I was 20, which from what I have been told is far too late to be viewing such a classic. Although I’ve more than made up for it since then as I have lost count the amount of times I’ve seen it. The film doesn’t lose its class or its tackiness each time I watch it, and no doubt I will see it many more times in the future.

For those of you who have been living in a cave the past 21 years, this 1986 film features LT Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Cruise) as a young naval pilot. Maverick is aspiring to be the ‘best of the best’ and trains with the top 1% of all naval pilots at the fighter pilot school known as ‘Top Gun’. The film follows Mavericks highs and lows in his determination to rid his inner demons and become the fighter pilot he was destined to be.

The action sequences are brilliantly done, and although it is quite an old movie, the film possesses great special effects, this confirmed by its two Academy awards for Best Effects & Sound Effects Editing. Tom Cruise is masterful in his first blockbuster role, but for me Val Kilmer oozes arrogance and smoothness as LT Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky.

What elevates this film from good to great is the superb soundtrack. ‘Top Gun’ boasts some real classics that fit perfectly with the on screen entertainment. When I hear those first few chords of ‘Take My Breath Away’, the hairs on the back of my neck come straight to attention!

Be prepared to laugh, cheer, and certainly cry as this film has one of the most poignant scenes that has managed to bring the most hardened people to tears. This film probably costs nothing on DVD now, so join the rest of us and get yourself a copy - you can thank me later.

Best Bit: Maverick doing a 180° flip and giving an enemy pilot the ‘birdie’.

Rating: 5 out of 5, Great action, great soundtrack, great planes…great great great!!!