My Cultural Diet

Back in 5th grade, I was absolutely convinced that I was going to be a fighter pilot when I grew up. I was obsessed with military aircraft, read everything I could about them, and loved going to the Offutt Air Show to watch the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds tear up the sky. Needless to say, my dad pulling me out of school one day so I could see Top Gun in the theater ranks as a top-tier childhood memory. So when my son asked if I’d watch it with him, what else could I say but “Yes”? It’s been awhile since I’ve watched Top Gun, and its flaws are readily apparent, starting with the great liberties it takes while depicting naval aviators and military regulations. (In the real world, I’m pretty sure Maverick would’ve been dishonorably discharged before he ever climbed into a cockpit.) But when Tom Cruise’s cocky, million-dollar smile lights up the screen and his F-14 Tomcat takes to the skies, I’m all in. Tony Scott’s advertising background served him well here; Top Gun still looks amazing, even forty years after its original release. Obviously, the main focus is the numerous aerial sequences. However, Scott and cinematographer Jeffrey L. Kimball’s frequent use of soft lighting imbues the movie with a dream-like quality that only adds to the nostalgia.

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