Remake Battle: Vol. 3 - Top Gun

Some things just seem impossible to happen. Too much time has passed. No story seems relevant or good enough. Interest levels are low. Sometimes it seems completely out of the question for a movie that you want to be made. But in today’s Holywood, original ideas are a scarcity, and remakes and reboots and distant sequels are greenlight like the lights on a Christmas tree. They have become a dime a dozen, cheap and not done properly; almost none of them can stand against their predecessors. Top Gun: Maverick is not a cheap sequel. Love, care, and effort was put into this Paramount Pictures passion project. So much so that in my mind it has breached the threshold of the original Top Gun, and I think it is time to play the comparison game again (despite warnings from a certain politician about that).

Let’s break down the rules again. I will compare Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick in the following categories: casting & performance, story & themes, production value (sets, setting, costumes, and makeup), cinematography, and rewatchability. I will give both movies a score out of 20 for each category, with a total score of maximum score of 100 points. In the event of a tie during the final tally, I will default to the original winning because they were there first.

Without further ado let’s get into this dogfight between a 1980s classic and a 2020s blockbuster smash!

***

Top Gun vs. Top Gun: Maverick

Years Released:
Original - 1986
Sequel - 2022

Stars:
Original - Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis, Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins
Remake - Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly, Monica Barbaro, Danny Ramirez, Jay Ellis, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer

Directors:
Original - Tony Scott
Remake - Joseph Kosinski

***

Casting & Performance

• One of the great parts this new Top Gun entry is how strong the is from the leads down to the lesser roles. Unsurpisingly, Tom Cruise delivers again as Pete Mitchell. Emerging into stardom are talents like Miles Teller and Glen Powell, who each have a lot to offer; not to mention other flyboy newbies like Monica Barbaro, Danny Ramirez, Jay Ellsi, and Lewis Pullman. With seasoned veterans like Jon Hamm, Ed Harris, and Jennifer Connelly to round out the cast, it is very well balanced. However one of the few issues here is just how many characters and stories that have to be balanced. While none of them are poorly written or acted, there is just too much going on. With the original movie, we really only had a few characters to focus on Maverick, Goose, Iceman, and Charlotte. Particularly the chemistry between Cruise and Anthony Edwards makes them a great duo. They really seem like they have been lifelong friends who have been serving for years together. Similarly, Val Kilmer’s performance is completely iconic as the arrogant but ultimately heroic Iceman. Finally with supporters like Tim Robbins and Meg Ryan, we have a strong team to put in front of the camera.

  • Advantage: Original (18-15)

Story & Themes

• If movies about the US military are anything, they are most certainly propaganda for the branches. Both Top Gun movies fall victim of this trap. Using their large budgets and action sequences to show off the power of the United States, these movies might as well be commercials for recruiters to use on 17 and 18-year-old kids. But both movies share positive themes of redemption. Maverick has to make up for past mistakes in both the original and the sequel movies. While he never really grows out of being a cocky stone-cold, stick jockey behavior, Captain Mitchell’s courageous actions on his missions redeems him. Where the sequel adds to this is adding in the story of Rooster (Teller), Goose’s son who has joined the Air Force to follow in his father’s footsteps. While his story is more about bringing up the family name, his overcoming of the fear and burden he carries from his father’s death makes for an interesting pair with Maverick’s journey. Creatively, both stories are fairly even to me as well. Focusing on training in the first couple of acts and then a big mission at the end, they are very similar. I do appreciate the extra long final combat sequence in Maverick. For that reason I’m going to give the second entry a slight edge.

  • Advantage: Sequel (15-13)

Production Value

• Not to be too much of a spoiler, but I cannot in good conscience give this category to the original. While I admire the sequences and think the 80s sets and technology were great for their time, the sequel absolutely blows it out of the water. The brilliantly choreographed and set combat and training sequences are on another plane of excellence. It would like asking George Mikan to guard Shaquille O’Neal. Sure, Mikan was great for his time, but he is going to get bullied. The modern technology allows for thrilling scenes that keep audiences on the edge of their seats. In particular the first and final flights in Maverick perfectly capture the thrills that this franchise is going for. Again, respect is due to the original, but the sequel is just fastly better.

  • Advantage: Sequel (18-13)

Cinematography

• Tagging along with what was said earlier, Maverick outclasses the original in capturing the combat sequences. The original did well for the time, but a lot of the angles and shots were out of focus at times and it distracts from what is happening. Technologically, Maverick is just so far ahead that it almost seems unfair to compare the combat scenes. But, Maverick is a little lazy in some of the cinematography. Often times the mission briefs, training lectures, or even conversations between characters revert back to simple shot and reverse shot techniques. While this method is not bad by any means, it leaves a lot to be desired. But the angles and the shots in the first Top Gun for those non-combat scenes are fun and interesting. Particularly the beach volleyball scene and “Take My Breath Away” romance scene between Maverick and Charlie (Kelly McGillis) are standouts to me. Plus it has some intricate lighting at times that feels very natural. It’s a tie in this one for me.

  • Advantage: Tie (13-13)

Rewatchability

• Here’s where it gets tricky. I love Maverick and actually bought three movie tickets for it this year (the only movie I saw that many times in theaters this year). It was a fun experience being in theater with friends, family, and the general movie-going public. It really felt like the summer blockbuster was back after two-years of Covid-19. I plan to buy it on DVD and watch it plenty more times. But you don’t become a legend like the original Top Gun without being watched again and agin for decades. To stand the test of time like that is a huge credit to the cast and crew behind it. Got to give credit where it is due.

  • Advantage: Original (20-15)

Final Score: 77-76 for the Original Top Gun! While I still love Maverick, the OG has to get the slight edge here. Maybe with time Maverick will surpass the original, but we will have to wait a while on that.

Until I see another one.