Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

[cminer72]

It recycles a lot from the first movie and steals the plot from Star Wars, yet is still one hell of an action movie. You can’t beat the real aerial combat or the fact that Cruise always gives it 150%. Better than the first one, but emotionally dependent on it at the same time.

[moe83]

10/10 This movie absolutely ruled!! Best movie I’ve seen in a long ass time!

[cardiac161]

It is a wonder how a Chinese company could think they can get away with investing in a film that promotes American military superiority.
If you were to check the recent Mission Impossible movies, the major producers of those films were from China (Alibaba & China Movie Company) in collaboration with US-based Skydance. I guess a lot of China film companies felt they didn't want to get left out given the amount of success Tom Cruise has been getting as of late so TenCent went to finance the Top Gun sequel without really realizing that the film is pretty much about US Navy airpower.

From WSJ:
In an entertainment industry full of uncertainty, few movies seemed as sure a bet as a sequel to the 1986 classic “Top Gun.”

The Chinese tech firm Tencent Holdings Ltd. in 2019 signed on to co-finance the film, which the Shenzhen-based conglomerate hoped would yield a windfall at the box office. Yet when “Top Gun: Maverick” hits theaters this weekend, it will do so without any financing from Tencent, and without any mention of the Chinese firm that had once boasted of its involvement in the film.

The reason: Tencent executives backed out of the $170 million Paramount Pictures production after they grew concerned that Communist Party officials in Beijing would be angry about the company’s affiliation with a movie celebrating the American military, according to people familiar with the matter.

Association with a pro-American story grew radioactive as relations between the U.S. and China devolved, the people added. The about-face turned “Top Gun: Maverick” from a movie that once symbolized deepening ties between China and Hollywood into a fresh example of the broader tensions forming between the U.S. and China.

In less than three years, Chinese executives have gone from rushing toward financing opportunities in Hollywood to steering clear, at the same time that other Western businesses have shifted their perception of China from an attractive growth market of 1.4 billion consumers to a thicket of uncertainty.

“Top Gun: Maverick” hasn’t been approved for release in China, making it the latest in a string of major Hollywood releases not screening in the market.

One of the largest tech companies in the world, Tencent operates the popular WeChat messaging app, a videogame business and a streaming-entertainment platform. It has been one of several Chinese firms moving most aggressively into Hollywood, investing in big-budget releases like “Terminator: Genisys” and smaller titles like the Mr. Rogers biopic “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”

Tencent initially put up millions of dollars for a 12.5% stake in the film before dropping out, according to people familiar with the financing.

In late 2019, when Tencent quietly backed away from the film, companies operating in China were under pressure to pledge loyalty to the Communist Party as part of President Xi Jinping’s tightening grip on his country’s businesses. At a July 2019 ceremony announcing its co-financing of “Top Gun: Maverick,” Tencent also trumpeted a coming lineup of propagandistic domestic films extolling the history and heroism of the Chinese Communist Party. Involvement in the pro-American movie grew troublesome as relations between the U.S. and China became more strained. Now, Chinese executives are no longer looking to get involved in Hollywood.

The Journal noted that before Tencent pulled out, an early trailer for the film, released in the summer of 2019, showed Cruise wearing his iconic bomber jacket from the original "Top Gun" movie. The jacket was decorated with patches, which included Japanese and Taiwanese flags.

But a trailer released later that year showed the flags had been removed and patches that resembled the two nations’ flags were put in their place.

The change was made after a suggestion by a Tencent financier on the film, according to an unnamed source. The financier was reportedly concerned that Chinese censors would not approve the movie with the flags visible.

In the film, Cruise's character is now seen wearing the jacket with the original flags, but it is shown on screen for just seconds.

U.S.-China tensions have disrupted distribution plans for several movies in recent years, including Walt Disney Co.’s 2020 live-action “Mulan” remake, which drew criticism for filming in Xinjiang province, where officials have been accused of committing human-rights abuses. But it is rare for a financial backer to pull out of a movie entirely the way Tencent did.

Paramount executives initially thought “Top Gun: Maverick” would have a shot at getting approved by Chinese censors and playing in theaters there with an expected gross of around $80 million in the country, according to people working on the film; it is projected to make several hundred million dollars in the U.S. Tencent’s involvement was supposed to help Paramount with local marketing efforts that have boosted Chinese returns in the past.

“Top Gun: Maverick” arrives amid considerable optimism from theater-chain owners—and plenty of financial backing from its studio. “Top Gun: Maverick” is receiving a world-wide promotional tour, with critics praising extended sequences of jet-fighter choreography and a return engagement in the lead role by the original film’s star, Tom Cruise.

Now that executives at Paramount, a unit of Paramount Global, don’t expect a Chinese release, they are hoping that higher-than-expected U.S. ticket sales make up the difference.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is expected to open to more than $100 million in the U.S. and Canada over the long Memorial Day weekend, say theater executives, putting it in the upper echelon of recent releases. They hope the debut lures older moviegoers who have been reluctant to return to auditoriums as the Covid-19 pandemic has dragged on.

[Samus Aran]

Have the people that keep bringing up Star Wars as a negative ever heard of The Dam Busters?

[Farerb]

[testmon112]

4.5/5. What an awesome experience. Damn I couldn't keep

[Show spoiler] the tears away with that scene with Tom & Val (So much Pathos). It's still good know Tom can still emote well, and Val doesn't need dialogue (a fine actor). It was probably the most moving scenes of Cruise's films in awhile.

Only saw scope, gonna try IMAX this week. I got so damn giddy from the opening titles. It was also interesting to see the younger generation warm up to the film later in screening.

[Show spoiler]And then that tribute to Tony Scott,

damn I was shocked how damn emotional I was throughout lmao.

[Hintermann]

Going this evening at the nearest Cineworld. Wife opted out since she dislikes Cruise.

[Black Sabbath]

Really enjoyed this. Saw it in IMAX, though the audio could have been a bit louder in my theater. Might see it again in RCX with Dolby Audio.

It felt like a true sequel, and in my opinion even had a "classic" movie feel; It didn't feel like a "newer" movie, if that makes sense to anyone? Whatever. Can't wait to watch it again eventually.

Though the trailer for M:I: Dead Reckoning Part 1 had me more excited than almost anything coming out until then.

[jess1581]

All I can say is... Summer movie season, welcome back. We've missed you.

[Benoit Blanc]

Is there anyone here who watches the Netflix show Dirty John? I looked up Kelly McGillis's IMDb page to see what the last thing she'd been in was and it says there she was in Dirty John, season 2, episode 5, Scream Therapy. So I looked up that episode and started skimming through it with the fast forward button to see where she was and couldn't spot her. So then I just sat and watched the whole episode straight through but didn't see her once. Did I literally blink and miss her? Or did IMDb just screw up and list her as being in the wrong episode?

[DragonOfTheBlackPool]

Excellent sequel. Zero previews, only an intro from Tom Cruise.

[MifuneFan]

Absolutely incredible film! It definitely uses the original film as its template, matching it almost note for note at the very start. It's sort of the same formula The Force Awakens used as compared to the original Star Wars fil. The storyline is pretty straightforward, and there are a few slow-downs here and there, but the film makes its mark in the final 40 minutes or so. I haven't felt an adrenaline rush like that in a long time. This movie absolutely delivers in its final act, having thrilling flying sequences, great action, and some nice emotional touches that made me tear up. Tom Cruise has rarely let me down, and this is no exception. At 59, the man is a machine, and still at the top of his game. Still bringing people to theaters, and drawing us in with his great screen presence. I saw it in IMAX (AMC Lincoln in NYC) and it was amazing. Absolutely go see this on the biggest screen you can find.

4.5/5

Also seeing the Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Pt 1 preview in IMAX was

[erixon20]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Absolutely incredible film! It definitely uses the original film as its template, matching it almost note for note at the very start. It's sort of the same formula The Force Awakens used as compared to the original Star Wars fil. The storyline is pretty straightforward, and there are a few slow-downs here and there, but the film makes its mark in the final 40 minutes or so. I haven't felt an adrenaline rush like that in a long time. This movie absolutely delivers in its final act, having thrilling flying sequences, great action, and some nice emotional touches that made me tear up. Tom Cruise has rarely let me down, and this is no exception. At 59, the man is a machine, and still at the top of his game. Still bringing people to theaters, and drawing us in with his great screen presence. I saw it in IMAX (AMC Lincoln in NYC) and it was amazing. Absolutely go see this on the biggest screen you can find.

4.5/5

Also seeing the Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Pt 1 preview in IMAX was

I saw it there also yesterday and it was nice to see the flying scenes on that big screen.

[y2jman]

Just got back seeing this down Franklin tenn imax was great,glad I waited not saw this standard in my city.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by testmon112

4.5/5. What an awesome experience. Damn I couldn't keep

[Show spoiler] the tears away with that scene with Tom & Val (So much Pathos). It's still good know Tom can still emote well, and Val doesn't need dialogue (a fine actor). It was probably the most moving scenes of Cruise's films in awhile.

Only saw scope, gonna try IMAX this week. I got so damn giddy from the opening titles. It was also interesting to see the younger generation warm up to the film later in screening.

[Show spoiler]And then that tribute to Tony Scott,

damn I was shocked how damn emotional I was throughout lmao.

Couldn't agree more. While there are predictable elements throughout the film, particularly the last 20 mins or so, there was too much wave of emotion that I didn't know I had for the character(s) that any faults I found with the film materialized as nothing more than fleeting thoughts. While I appreciated the first film from a pop-culture perspective but never as a great movie, I never fully realized how much impact the character(s) had - or would have - on me

[Show spoiler](even those that were only revisited for context).

To see them back on screen after all these years really struck a note. I even warmed up to the young generation of pilots. All had memorable if not great performances. And that means something to me as I'm indifferent of Miles Teller, but I really enjoyed him in this role and the purpose his character served. I kept getting choked up throughout the movie, and not just on the obvious scenes, but the general themes in the film also constantly struck a chord with me.

If this movie is ever criticized as fan service for anyone growing up in the 80s, then I'm a sucker. I loved every minute of it.

[bmwracer]

Just got back from the show today. Incredibly immersive in IMAX. The final aerial action sequence made me think of another movie from way back... Hmm, what could that movie be...?

Absolutely a must-see. A solid 9.5/10.

Oh, and the only notable preview was for Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part 1... It won't be out until July 2023, but I'm already jazzed for that.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Top Gun: Maverick Blu-ray

Top Gun: Maverick 4K Blu-ray

Top Gun: Maverick 4K Blu-ray Steelbook

Top Gun 4K 2-Movie Collection Blu-ray

Originally Posted by cardiac161

....“Top Gun: Maverick” is expected to open to more than $100 million in the U.S. and Canada over the long Memorial Day weekend, say theater executives, putting it in the upper echelon of recent releases. They hope the debut lures older moviegoers who have been reluctant to return to auditoriums as the Covid-19 pandemic has dragged on.

Deci, welcome to your sixth decade of life . Don’t wait for the physical media version of TG: M.
Go for it in the coming days - https://www.amctheatres.com/dolby/sh...TopGunMaverick

As it’s difficult to achieve total immersion from viewing with something like your typical home theater enthusiast’s 65” TV which so many here own, ergo size matters -
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...s#post17863521

[vertigop1ayer]

It surprises me that a sequel didn't happen much sooner, nor that Hollywood didn't produce more high-profile imitators, considering how TG was an instant classic.

[styxrogan]

Unbelievably good... like seeing the rock band The Warning for the very first time!

[Penton-Man]

Puddy, answering your previous inquiry - https://ascmag.com/articles/top-gun-maverick