Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards,

Directed by: Tony Scott

Those into 80s music will never forget the massive ballad from this movie Take my Breath Away by Berlin that hammered home the love element of the story, while Kenny Loggins’ rocky edged Danger Zone harped on the jet action in the movie. The two songs were the added bonus in this super hit film that made Tom Cruise a household name thereafter. It’s been almost 30 years now, but Top Gun with its superb music, action and aerial photography helped make it a blockbuster of 1986.

After preventing a major catastrophe over the Persian Gulf, Tom Cruise (Maverick), a talented Naval pilot is promoted to a higher rank and sent to the Top Gun Naval School, an elite US school for fighter pilots that teaches combat airfare strategies and techniques to blossoming pilots. But being with the best achievers can be a problem. Maverick and best friend and co-pilot Goose (Anthony Edwards) manage to break free from the conflicts.

Maverick’s main competition at Top Gun is Iceman (Val Kilmer) an abrasive yet mild-mannered and precise pilot who is out for a fight. The competition between Maverick and Iceman is fierce. To add to the fire, Maverick is in love with Charlie (Kelly McGillis) an instructor at Top Gun. Charlie cannot be bias to Maverick and give him brownie points for fear of being found out. A battle ensues between Maverick, Iceman and Charlie. On a routine training with other jets, Goose loses control of his aircraft and plunges to his death. Unable to cope with the death of Goose, Maverick decides to opt out of the school and head home. The move will not only prevent him from realizing his dream and making him ‘king of the skies’, but it might also lose the love of his life.

If you watch this on a home theatre, the rumble from the fighter jets will shake you. Besides the fighter jets, don’t miss out the majestic Kawasaki Ninja 900 motorcycle.

Rating: ****

Reviewed By Verus Ferreira