A Top Gun sequel took Paramount 36 years to make. Given the original film was neither a critically acclaimed nor was a huge Box Office sensation it makes sense. Yet over the course of 36 years, fans around the world of different generations were drawn towards the film. Despite it being a main stream Hollywood film, the film has garnered a cult fan following. Following the tragic suicide of director Tony Scott, the chances of a sequel looked dimmed. However, Paramount pulled through this and assembled the old band back with a captain to the ship – Joseph Kosinski. After multiple delays and reshoots, the sequel titled Top Gun: Maverick finally released on 27th May 2022 and boy was it worth it.
Kosinski’s might just have delivered the best film of his career and the critics concur with me. Every critic that saw the film was blown away with what the sequel had accomplished. Off the bat Maverick beat the original in ratings and critical acclaim. For me, Top Gun: Maverick is the best film of the year, yet. It looks like its not just me or the critics. Even the masters of cinema are taken aback by Top Gun: Maverick. One of the most influential director and writer of the modern era – Quentin Tarantino who has two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay has called Top Gun: Maverick a cinematic masterpiece.
Top Gun: Maverick- Tarantino Explains Why the Film Works.
While talking to CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend podcast Quentin Tarantino expressed his love for the film and explained why it worked so well unlike other sequels. He said, “I f*cking love Top Gun: Maverick. I thought it was fantastic. I saw it at the theaters. That and [Steven] Spielberg’s West Side Story both provided a true cinematic spectacle, the kind that I’d almost thought that I wasn’t going to see anymore. It was fantastic.”
Tarantino appreciated the late Tony Scott who helmed the original 1986 film, “There was just this lovely, lovely aspect because I love both Tony Scott’s cinema so much, and I love Tony so much that that’s as close as we’re ever going to get to seeing one more Tony Scott movie, [Director Joseph Kosinski] did a great job. The respect and the love of Tony was in every frame. It was almost in every decision. It was consciously right there, but in this really cool way that was really respectful. And I think it was in every decision Tom [Cruise] made on the film.”
However, he couldn’t resist and mention the one caveat he did have with the sequel. He felt the reunion between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer was up to the mark. He addressed the issue in his own way. He said, “almost too cheap.” He then added, “But it absolutely works. It’s a bit like Charlie Chaplin dying on stage for the last scene of Limelight… but it fucking works. You’re waiting for it and the fucking scene delivers.“ Apart from this one issue he loves and adores the film. The entire team of Top Gun: Maverick would be over the moon right now.
Top Gun: Maverick’s craze wasn’t limited to just cinema enthusiasts, the audience too loved the film and went in hordes to watch on the big screen again and again. The sequel was made on the budget of $170 Million and it has grossed $1.3 Billion worldwide. It is the most successful film of the year and first one to cross the $1 Billion feat. I have heard not heard a negative thing about the film from a single soul yet. The film deserves all the accolades its getting.
Top Gun: Maverick is playing in theatres near you. The film will be available to buy or rent on 23rd August from streaming retailers. You can pre-order the film for $20 from Amazon Prime.
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