The Annual "Top Gun" Thread

Jay Honeck

Jay Honeck

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Jay Honeck
Mary and I just finished watching a documentary on the making of "Top Gun", voted the best flying movie ever made at Oshkosh 2011.

Wow, the making of that movie was almost as disjointed as "Casablanca" -- a classic film that was literally shot without a scripted ending. Now that I know how much was added after the fact, and how the story was literally made up from chopped up pieces of film, and how a wildly random series of decisions resulted in an Oscar-winning, platinum-selling soundtrack, I will never watch the movie with the same eyes again.

God help me, I know every line of dialogue... :lol:
 
Was it the same documentary in the Director's Cut DVD?

I was amazed that the Director fronted his own money when they ran out of film (and budget) for shooting aviation scenes.

That and wacko Val Kilmer sequestering himself away from the rest of the cast during filming to build tension, so it'd be more believable on-screen.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Mary and I just finished watching a documentary on the making of "Top Gun", voted the best flying movie ever made at Oshkosh 2011.

Wow, the making of that movie was almost as disjointed as "Casablanca" -- a classic film that was literally shot without a scripted ending. Now that I know how much was added after the fact, and how the story was literally made up from chopped up pieces of film, and how a wildly random series of decisions resulted in an Oscar-winning, platinum-selling soundtrack, I will never watch the movie with the same eyes again.

God help me, I know every line of dialogue... :lol:
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The movie was in the theaters when my B-52 crew came off alert. We agreed to meet at the theater with our respective wives/girlfriends, but not both. We got a little wild in the theater and calling BS to some flight scenes.

My wife said, "never again". :nono:

I feel the need... The need for speed..

For a SAC trained warrior, that meant a move to the B-1!!
 
BillTIZ said:
The movie was in the theaters when my B-52 crew came off alert. We agreed to meet at the theater with our respective wives/girlfriends, but not both. We got a little wild in the theater and calling BS to some flight scenes.

My wife said, "never again". :nono:

I feel the need... The need for speed..

For a SAC trained warrior, that meant a move to the B-1!!
Click to expand...

Our "Movie Nights" in Iowa City were well attended by some VERY experienced pilots, and we showed Top Gun regularly. The movie was always universally panned as being an inaccurate depiction of ACM (and the technical adviser for the film readily admits this to be true) -- but that it was entertaining as hell anyway.

The problem with modern ACM is that it takes place at distances so great that they can't be filmed in any sort of an interesting way. So, all the "too close for missiles, I'm switching to guns" stuff was included.

One thing I never knew: There was no "Top Gun Trophy". That was just made up for the movie.

Another thing: It seems most guys think the Kelly McGillis love story thing is stupid, but I disagree. Without that sub-plot to provide some sort of framework, the film would have no soul. It also would NEVER have held the interest of all the chicks in the audience -- which is the other thing that makes Top Gun unique amongst flying movies. Chicks dig it, too.
 
Some interesting musical tidbits from "The Making of Top Gun":

The song "Danger Zone" was to be sung by the group Toto. For some reason they dropped out of the movie, giving Kenny Loggins the chance to sing it -- becoming a huge hit in America.

The song "Take My Breath Away" was the only song Berlin ever recorded that they didn't write themselves -- and it was their only Number One hit. This ripped the band apart, and they soon broke up.

And, yes, the movie was dedicated to Art Scholl, who was killed in an inverted flat spin in his Pitts while filming background video. Did they ever determine what happened with that?
 
Jay Honeck said:
Mary and I just finished watching a documentary on the making of "Top Gun", voted the best flying movie ever made at Oshkosh 2011.

Wow, the making of that movie was almost as disjointed as "Casablanca" -- a classic film that was literally shot without a scripted ending. Now that I know how much was added after the fact, and how the story was literally made up from chopped up pieces of film, and how a wildly random series of decisions resulted in an Oscar-winning, platinum-selling soundtrack, I will never watch the movie with the same eyes again.

God help me, I know every line of dialogue... :lol:
Click to expand...

I enjoy listening to DVD commentaries and often they discuss how the movie/storyline evolved during and after filming. Some of the commentaries can be quite interesting. It's amazing how the editing process can make some wonderful changes to the flow of the story.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Our "Movie Nights" in Iowa City were well attended by some VERY experienced pilots, and we showed Top Gun regularly. The movie was always universally panned as being an inaccurate depiction of ACM (and the technical adviser for the film readily admits this to be true) -- but that it was entertaining as hell anyway.

The problem with modern ACM is that it takes place at distances so great that they can't be filmed in any sort of an interesting way. So, all the "too close for missiles, I'm switching to guns" stuff was included.

One thing I never knew: There was no "Top Gun Trophy". That was just made up for the movie.

Another thing: It seems most guys think the Kelly McGillis love story thing is stupid, but I disagree. Without that sub-plot to provide some sort of framework, the film would have no soul. It also would NEVER have held the interest of all the chicks in the audience -- which is the other thing that makes Top Gun unique amongst flying movies. Chicks dig it, too.
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Not for the romance but because there are pilots in the movie:rolleyes::rofl:
 
Worst movie ever....

Well maybe next to "Pearl Harbor". :rolleyes:
 
Anthony said:
Worst movie ever....

Well maybe next to "Pearl Harbor". :rolleyes:
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Worst movie: "Dune"

Now, even if we are talking just about aviation-related movies, I'm sure we can come up with worse movies than "Top Gun"
 
Bob Noel said:
Now, even if we are talking just about aviation-related movies, I'm sure we can come up with worse movies than "Top Gun"
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Iron Eagle, but if a movie is using that as a reference point, it's a gonner.

A marine flight instructor I use to know said the only realistic part of the show was the backup attitude indicator in one scene that was broken and rolling like crazy.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Goodbye, Art. :(
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The first and only time I caught Art's show was also the first and only time the Races were held somewhere other than Reno and instead held at Cape May, NJ. It was also the day when five racers died in one of the T-6 events. I was a 16 year old student pilot, and the sight of watching one crash right in front of me and then looking up and seeing nothing but debris falling with one, lone, plane overflying the runway is something I will always carry with me.:nonod:
 
FlySince9 said:
The first and only time I caught Art's show was also the first and only time the Races were held somewhere other than Reno and instead held at Cape May, NJ. It was also the day when five racers died in one of the T-6 events. I was a 16 year old student pilot, and the sight of watching one crash right in front of me and then looking up and seeing nothing but debris falling with one, lone, plane overflying the runway is something I will always carry with me.:nonod:
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When was that? I never knew the races were held at KWWD.
 
Wow, thanks Adoy. I got my first airplane ride at KWWD in 1968, but don't remember anything about an air race there, but I was living there that summer and every other summer, growing up. I was just there recently also.

Yeah, thread drift. Sorry.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Another thing: It seems most guys think the Kelly McGillis love story thing is stupid, but I disagree. Without that sub-plot to provide some sort of framework, the film would have no soul. It also would NEVER have held the interest of all the chicks in the audience -- which is the other thing that makes Top Gun unique amongst flying movies. Chicks dig it, too.
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Seriously, they could have picked someone OTHER than Kelly McGillis. Like, I don't know, someone attractive? :yikes:
 
nddons said:
Seriously, they could have picked someone OTHER than Kelly McGillis. Like, I don't know, someone attractive? :yikes:
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What? I thought Kelly McGillis was perfect for that part. And hot. :D

Don't look at her nowadays, though. There won't be any cameo appearance for her in Top Gun II. :rolleyes:
 
Anthony said:
Worst movie ever....

Well maybe next to "Pearl Harbor". :rolleyes:
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Well, this opinion is in the minority. Top Gun was voted the "best aviation movie ever made" at OSH 2011. (Or was it 2010? They all run together...)

One thing the "making of" makes clear: The flaws we see in the movie are there on purpose, to keep the story interesting and moving. The technical adviser for the film dutifully pointed out every strategic, tactical, and procedural error -- and was over-ruled for theatrical reasons.

And, in the end, the adviser admitted on camera that the producers were right to over-rule him. Had they listened to him, Top Gun would be a documentary, not the exciting flying movie we all know (and love).
 
fgcason said:
Iron Eagle, but if a movie is using that as a reference point, it's a gonner.

A marine flight instructor I use to know said the only realistic part of the show was the backup attitude indicator in one scene that was broken and rolling like crazy.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Iron Eagle was the single most disappointing flying movie ever made.

Not that there haven't been dozens of TERRIBLE flying movies. We have over 200 of them on DVD (for our guests to borrow), and some of the older ones are nearly unwatchable. Their ONLY redeeming value is in the old (and now rare) planes they show.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Well, this opinion is in the minority. Top Gun was voted the "best aviation movie ever made" at OSH 2011. (Or was it 2010? They all run together...)

One thing the "making of" makes clear: The flaws we see in the movie are there on purpose, to keep the story interesting and moving. The technical adviser for the film dutifully pointed out every strategic, tactical, and procedural error -- and was over-ruled for theatrical reasons.

And, in the end, the adviser admitted on camera that the producers were right to over-rule him. Had they listened to him, Top Gun would be a documentary, not the exciting flying movie we all know (and love).
Click to expand...

The only redeeming scenes for me were watching the A-4's, and F-14's crank, and bank through terrain. At least they weren't CG like Pearl Harbor.
 
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Jay Honeck said:
:idea:One thing the "making of" makes clear: The flaws we see in the movie are there on purpose, to keep the story interesting and moving. The technical adviser for the film dutifully pointed out every strategic, tactical, and procedural error -- and was over-ruled for theatrical reasons.

And, in the end, the adviser admitted on camera that the producers were right to over-rule him. Had they listened to him, Top Gun would be a documentary, not the exciting flying movie we all know (and love).
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Yep. It's *entertainment*, and should be viewed as such. A key feature for enjoyment is always what's called "Suspension of Disbelief." A few years back, there was a movie called "A Knights Tale," about a man masquerading as a knight in the middle ages. It began with a joust, with the audience singing Queen's "We Will Rock You." As a bit of a stickler for historical accuracy, I was aghast at first... but then said, "OK, they're telling up up front not to take anything seriously" and managed to enjoy the movie.

Another example is folks who get upset when the filmed version of a popular book has changes made. A lot of literary effects just don't work in a visual media.

And, sometimes, what the author wrote just doesn't work for a popular entertainment media. The ending C.S Forester wrote for the American edition of "The African Queen" was anti-climactic, like most of his books' endings. Agee and Huston's change was probably a huge factor in the movie's success.

Ron Wanttaja
 
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Jay Honeck said:
Another thing: It seems most guys think the Kelly McGillis love story thing is stupid, but I disagree. Without that sub-plot to provide some sort of framework, the film would have no soul. It also would NEVER have held the interest of all the chicks in the audience -- which is the other thing that makes Top Gun unique amongst flying movies. Chicks dig it, too.
Click to expand...
Uh, maybe not....

I don't like it when they inject that token romance into an adventure movie. :vomit:
 
The, "having a girlfriend rooting for you" effect is okay. The Bedroom scene was un-necessary and uncomfortable with my 8 year old son sitting next to me.

I know, I should have screened it first... BAD daddy.
 
FlySince9 said:
I think it was an "A"-4 skyhawk, not an "F-4" phantom... just say'n...:rolleyes:
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Sorry for the typo. I know the difference between an A-4 and an F-4. Guess you never hit the wrong key when you type, huh?
 
Anthony said:
Sorry for the typo. I know the difference between an A-4 and an F-4. Guess you never hit the wrong key when you type, huh?
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always! I was gonna say, "Probably a typo" but I hit submit rather than preview and didn't bother to edit... Still friends?
 
Everskyward said:
Uh, maybe not....

I don't like it when they inject that token romance into an adventure movie. :vomit:
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If you could see what happens to my wife and her girlfriends when that volleyball scene comes on (which Director Tony Scott called "soft-core porn") you would be amazed.

Instantly, they are teenagers again, gushing over those "naval airmen" like school girls... :lol:

Interestingly, they added the scene where Mav makes it with Charlie after the movie had wrapped. The first showing proved that audiences wanted to see that -- so they added it.

If you look closely, Tom Cruises hair was different (he was already filming that goofy Nascar movie he made), and Kelly McGillis had to wear a wig, cuz she had cut her hair.
 
Funny thing about Top Gun, is that when I saw it as a high school kid in the 80s, I thought it was total BS.

Then, when I started working with Naval Aviators on active duty, I came to the realization that it was the most accurate depiction of Naval Aviation ever, sappy love story notwithstanding.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
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I love Top Gun, you people would make vicious movie critics.

This is entertainment, not a documentary. I really don't want to spend an hour and a half and $10 to see some uptight, straight laced, academy grad. sit around the BOQ obsessing over an upcoming OER and dreaming about a career with the airlines.

Besides, be honest now, who can't quote a dozen lines from Top Gun?
 
Bob Noel said:
How about Iron Eagle II? :)
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There was a second movie in the sequence? I couldn't get through the first one. I have no clue what the second one would be and I'm not going to find out because the first was as bad as the news media about GA.
 
Fearless Tower said:
Funny thing about Top Gun, is that when I saw it as a high school kid in the 80s, I thought it was total BS.

Then, when I started working with Naval Aviators on active duty, I came to the realization that it was the most accurate depiction of Naval Aviation ever, sappy love story notwithstanding.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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That is a surprising conclusion. Wouldn't say that I have drawn too many parallels in my personal experience.
 
I loved the canopy to canopy depiction in the early minutes......and have always wondered what they did with those two huge vertical stabilizers in the shot. At the range they were shown they should have been stuck deep into the bad guy. :dunno:
 
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