By: Anton Massopust III

“It’s not the plane – it’s the pilot.” – Maverick

In a sequel to the 1986 classic “Top Gun,” (starring Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, and Meg Ryan). Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise who reprises his role as Captain Pete “Maverick,” Mitchell, a fighter pilot who is one of the best in the world, but times are changing, and the technology is changing.

When Maverick pushes a new experimental aircraft to its absolute limits, he crashes. Instead of being dismissed by the Navy, an old friend (Val Kilmer reprises his role as Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky) requests that Maverick is sent back to Top Gun School to teach the best of the best for a special mission.

This mission is to destroy an enemy base where uranium is being stored before the uranium becomes completely activated and used for nuclear weapons. The enemy base is heavily fortified and heavily defended therefore only the best pilots can complete the mission. Maverick puts a group of new pilots including the son of his old radar intercept officer (RIO) Lt. (junior grade) Nick “Goose” Bradshaw whose call sign is “Rooster” (Miles Teller). Jennifer Connelly plays bartender and love interest for Maverick Penny Benjamin.

The movie is on a huge scale. If you have a big screen TV or see it in the theaters, you can appreciate it. You feel as if you are in the cockpit of the fighter jets. If you are younger than the generation that remembers Top Gun, I suggest you watch the first, and catch up with Maverick. The biggening of Top Gun: Maverick gives you a recap on what happened in the original movie.

We get to see a new generation of pilots and how things have changed. The best part of this movie is the dogfights and training of the Navy Pilots. Real Navy Pilots and real planes were used to film Top Gun: Maverick. It is not CGI. It is a great nostalgia trip back to the 1980’s. If you loved the original Top Gun, you’ll love this even more. We also get a special appearance by Val Kilmer. A lot of times sequels or remakes don’t work, but Top Gun: Maverick does. A definite “must see.”

Check out Anton’s podcast “Anton Knows” on Buzzsprout and IHeart Radio.