Paramount Pictures released the latest trailer for Top Gun: Maverick featuring everyone’s not-so-favorite Scientologist, Tom Cruise. Much like the original trailer that aired before, the film doesn’t try to be more than what it is, or reinvent the wheel. Instead it openly embraces the fact that it’s 30 years late to the party.
The trailer sees lead protagonist from the previous Top Gun, Maverick, returning as a trainer for a new group of hot shot pilots, one of which looks like it is Goose’s son, played by a visually convincing Miles Teller. If he’s not Goose’s son then someone really screwed the pooch on the script.
In any case, the new recruits contain Hollywood’s lock, stock, and typical token party of “diversity” hires, but the movie seems to be about Cruise putting them in their place rather than placating to any sense of aerial aptitude.
The training session seems to be just one part of the movie, though.
The second half of the trailer is about Maverick taking part in an experimental program flying a prototype craft. I’m not sure where the movie goes from there, but it’s a really interesting concept for a sequel that’s about 35 years tardy to the party.
One of the things the trailer does well is really hit hard with the nostalgia. Using the original leitmotiff from 1980’s music composing legend Harold Faltermeyer was an ace move. The only thing they need to do for the final trailer is include “Danger Zone” from Kenny Loggins. That would be the perfect way to get people hyped and into theaters.
You can also tell that director Joseph Kosinski is paying serious tributes to the late Tony Scott with a lot of those sunset silhouette shots and a various throwback scenes reminiscent of the original 1986 release.
The cinematography more than anything stands out as its own star of the film. The wide-angle shots of those beautiful jet bodies and the abundance of plane porn sprinkled throughout the trailer is sure to get the aviation aficionados perked up and pointed in the right direction… toward a theater when Top Gun: Maverick release in June, 2020.
However… there’s another elephant in the room: China.
The mainland giant and PRC pet, Tencent, is bankrolling the film, and so there are some things that have changed rather drastically from when the original came out 34 years ago.
The Japanese flag has been replaced on Maverick’s jacket, along with the removal of the Taiwanese flag.
It’s a sad indication that even when a trailer does right by its property in maintaining the look, the feel, and the sound of a classic franchise, it still manages to disappoint in so many other ways.
It’s a real shame, too, because Top Gun: Maverick looks like one of the few sequels based on an iconic 80’s release that at least is trying to please the fans and trying to be a good movie. I guess it fits the old saying: If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
Loading comments…