Why Top Gun is like 'Beggars Canyon back home'

MANY people have already enjoyed the return to the famous ‘Top Gun’ franchaise after 36 years at cinemas in the past few weeks, watching Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick.

And if you haven’t seen it, the film is definitely well worth a look, especially if you loved the original; and who didn’t.

There’s plenty of nostalgia in the story line with flashbacks to original clips, the chance to revisit the most difficult part of the original Top Gun, the death of ‘Goose’ played by Anthony Edwards but with the necessary replacement of the Charlotte 'Charlie' Blackwood character, originally played by Kelly McGillis with a new love interest, Penny Benjamin played by Jennifer Connelly which somehow kind of works anyway.

And, spoil alert, one of the best moments of the film surrounds the reunion of Maverick with his nemesis Iceman played by Hollywood icon Val Kilmer.

Now 62, Kilmer suffered a bout of throat cancer between 2015 and 2017 which robbed him of most of his speaking voice but it’s a great tribute to him that they are able to weave that tough real-life experience into the story line, through the fourth wall.

But there are some cheesy moments in the film as well. We’ll leave the assessment of those up to you.

And a couple of doubtful chinks in the process too, especially the main attack sequence which strangely brought to mind Mark Hamill’s line from Star Wars: “It'll be just like Beggars Canyon back home.”

And… “I used to bull's-eye womp rats in my T-16 back home. They're not much bigger than two meters.”

Why? Again you’ll have to see what you think about the main mission in Top Gun II.

Fortunately, no one says: “Use the force, Rooster!” At least that is a blessing.

There’s lots of aerial eye-candy, if you’re into that, and weapons systems too that have become increasingly topical of late.

And for those keeping score, Pete Mitchell also swaps his old Kawasaki GPz900R for the new “fastest production bike in the world”, a Kawasaki Ninja H2, allegedly capable of speeds up to 400km/h. Mad.

Top Gun: Maverick continues at the Wonthaggi Cinema during the first week of the school holidays, and potentially beyond that as its popularity holds up.

Check the website for session times at:https://www.wonthaggiartscentre.com.au/cinema