Why is Top Gun Popular?

The Off-Topic forum for anything non-LDS related, such as sports or politics. Rated PG through PG-13.
User avatar
Some Schmo
God
Posts: 2466
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:21 am

Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by Some Schmo »

I remember seeing Top Gun in 1986 with my girlfriend at the time. She wanted to go; I had no interest except in her.

All I remember from that movie was fighter jet flight sequences and shirtless volleyball on the beach. I don't remember there being an actual plot to that movie. I was bored out of my mind and was happy when it was over. That no sequel had ever been made was no surprise to me... until they made a sequel. I thought, who the “F” is going to see that?

Well, I just saw a headline that it's breaking all kinds of box office records. My first reaction to this news is, yeah, more evidence that the general public is damned stupid.

Then I started thinking, well, you know, maybe the sequel is better. Maybe it has a plot this time. Maybe it's not just a mindless display of idiot testosterone like the first one.

Has anyone seen the new one? Can anyone explain why they thought a sequel was warranted? Or why anyone thought the first one was in any way entertaining?

It's quite mysterious to me.
Religion is for people whose existential fear is greater than their common sense.

The god idea is popular with desperate people.
Jeff
Sunbeam
Posts: 45
Joined: Mon May 09, 2022 6:27 pm

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by Jeff »

The film was quite engaging, with no dull moments. My kid and I appreciated the film primarily because it lacked any sort of "woke" narrative. It was a lot of fun to sit there and not be indoctrinated by a liberal plan.
User avatar
Gadianton
God
Posts: 3842
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 11:56 pm
Location: Elsewhere

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by Gadianton »

The original Top Gun was a good action melodrama like Karate Kid or the skating movie Thrashin'.

You have an action theme: skating, skiing, karate, BMX, or fighter jets. There's a community problem that involves a bully who excels within the theme, and the problem can only be solved within the theme. For instance, let's say the mayor is corrupt and the theme is BMX -- the problem can't be solved by the courts, but only by a bunch of punk kids doing tricks on their bikes. An underdog "new guy" who is more natively talented but less experienced than the bully must dethrone the bully to solve the problem, and along the way must get a girlfriend.

But it can work. I liked Top Gun (not enough to see it more than once though). A friend of mine gave me a copy of the soundtrack that I listened to pretty frequently for a while. Unfortunately, I saw the movie with my parents, and good Mormons as they were, they nearly pulled us out of the movie during the sex scene. We compromised by covering our eyes.

I get it: Mormon parents these days would take their kids to a porno on main street as long as it affirmed the right kind of gender roles, but back then, Mormon parents were true to their values.
User avatar
Jersey Girl
God
Posts: 6827
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2020 3:51 am
Location: In my head

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by Jersey Girl »

I don't know why it's popular. The Boy over here wants to see it so I will report back with impressions. I'm not really fond of Tom Cruise as an actor. I do like the short videos he's done with James Corden that I've seen on youtube--sky diving, flying fighter jets. I like the fighter jets. I suspect I'll like those types of scenes. I don't recall seeing the first movie.
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF

Slava Ukraini!
doubtingthomas
God
Posts: 2769
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2021 6:04 pm

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by doubtingthomas »

I didn't like Top Gun at all, it was so predictable.

Top Gun is popular because it makes people feel proud to be American. Many people have a boner for the US military.
"I have the type of (REAL) job where I can choose how to spend my time," says Marcus. :roll:
Marcus
God
Posts: 5033
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:44 pm

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by Marcus »

I went on opening day to the first one, with a friend who was an engineer working for a company that manufactured the black boxes and various modules for the type of fighter jets flown in the movie. He was younger than most of his fellow workers, who were mostly veterans who had been trained in their profession by the military. It was amazing to listen to their stories. Opening night we went to a theatre near his work location, and the entire theatre was filled with people from his company who worked on these planes. The air was electric with anticipation.

Of course, the planes and their care were the main interest for this group, and the movie didn't disappoint.
User avatar
High Spy
Regional Representative
Posts: 679
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:26 pm
Location: Up in the sky, HI 🌺
Contact:

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by High Spy »

Marcus wrote:
Wed Jun 01, 2022 4:25 am
I went on opening day to the first one, with a friend who was an engineer working for a company that manufactured the black boxes and various modules for the type of fighter jets flown in the movie. He was younger than most of his fellow workers, who were mostly veterans who had been trained in their profession by the military. It was amazing to listen to their stories. Opening night we went to a theatre near his work location, and the entire theatre was filled with people from his company who worked on these planes. The air was electric with anticipation.

Of course, the planes and their care were the main interest for this group, and the movie didn't disappoint.
Image

Can you say wiener roast?
User avatar
Jersey Girl
God
Posts: 6827
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2020 3:51 am
Location: In my head

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by Jersey Girl »

doubtingthomas wrote:
Wed Jun 01, 2022 3:59 am
Top Gun is popular because it makes people feel proud to be American. Many people have a boner for the US military.
Or they spent much of their adult life serving in it or supporting a loved one who did, and they respect the work and commitment of those who serve.

USAF/Ret/my wife
24 years

You're welcome for our service. ;)

Try this, DT. And be glad there are people who have the guts to do this so you don't have to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VShngtWv298&t=0s

Bonus: 5 Reasons You Shouldn't Mess With The USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQt_AM2KP3A
Last edited by Jersey Girl on Wed Jun 01, 2022 6:59 am, edited 2 times in total.
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF

Slava Ukraini!
User avatar
Jersey Girl
God
Posts: 6827
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2020 3:51 am
Location: In my head

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by Jersey Girl »

Marcus wrote:
Wed Jun 01, 2022 4:25 am
I went on opening day to the first one, with a friend who was an engineer working for a company that manufactured the black boxes and various modules for the type of fighter jets flown in the movie. He was younger than most of his fellow workers, who were mostly veterans who had been trained in their profession by the military. It was amazing to listen to their stories. Opening night we went to a theatre near his work location, and the entire theatre was filled with people from his company who worked on these planes. The air was electric with anticipation.

Of course, the planes and their care were the main interest for this group, and the movie didn't disappoint.
Fascinating! I would have loved to hear the stories!
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF

Slava Ukraini!
User avatar
Some Schmo
God
Posts: 2466
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:21 am

Re: Why is Top Gun Popular?

Post by Some Schmo »

Marcus wrote:
Wed Jun 01, 2022 4:25 am
I went on opening day to the first one, with a friend who was an engineer working for a company that manufactured the black boxes and various modules for the type of fighter jets flown in the movie. He was younger than most of his fellow workers, who were mostly veterans who had been trained in their profession by the military. It was amazing to listen to their stories. Opening night we went to a theatre near his work location, and the entire theatre was filled with people from his company who worked on these planes. The air was electric with anticipation.

Of course, the planes and their care were the main interest for this group, and the movie didn't disappoint.
So, this makes perfect sense to me. I can certainly imagine it appealing to a very specific demographic. I'm just surprised it has attracted interest outside that narrow demographic.

Action movies are a mixed bag. Most of them are like porn: they have little to no plot and people are in the seats for the highlights, not the story. I can watch any genre of movie as long as it has an interesting plot. I can't stand "series of events with no real connecting thread" type movies. Such a waste of time.
Jersey Girl wrote:I'm not really fond of Tom Cruise as an actor.
I'm mostly indifferent to Tom Cruise as an actor. He's been in a lot of great movies, but I never thought they were great because of him. He seems like a douche in real life, but I don't know him (he might be ok) and don't really care; it doesn't influence whether I want to see his films.
Religion is for people whose existential fear is greater than their common sense.

The god idea is popular with desperate people.
Post Reply