Top Gun: Maverick

Just finished seeing Top Gun: Maverick. Give it an A+++. Really solid movie…you do need to see the original first to fully appreciate it. The original Top Gun is on Netflix through May 31st.

Speaking of the original Top Gun - the movie was released in June 1986. Navy and Air Force recruitment increased 500% in the 12 months following the original movie release. In 1986 the US was in the middle of Operation El Dorado Canyon - bombing Libya. 1987-1988 the USA was actively (yet unofficially) engaged in the Iraq - Iran war which relied heavily on both the US Air Force and Navy military.

Based on the early reviews I am not the only person that thought the new Top Gun: Maverick movie was really good. I imagine that there could feasibly be a similar surge in military recruiting over the next 12 months.

What are the odds that the US military will once again be involved in an overseas war by this time next year?

screenrant.com...

a reply to: Buvvy

Can't wait to go see a good movie. Thanks for the review.

Can't wait. I have been counting down the weeks! Coincidentally, I was in San Diego a couple weeks ago and took a day to check out the USS Midway where they had the Top Gun premiere. Also had a few beers at Kansas City BBQ where a few of the bar scenes were filmed from the first Top Gun. I actually sat next to the piano where Goose played and sang "Great Balls of Fire". Very cool bar.

a reply to: Buvvy

I just got done watching it too. It was fantastic, everything I hoped it would be.

As far as military recruiting goes.
I just retired about a year ago after 20 years. I enlisted about 6 months before September 11th 2001.

Morale is at it's lowest point I have ever seen. There is very little trust and confidence in senior leadership.
I don't really have a read on how teenagers feel about the military right now, but I can say that the quality of young troops had significantly declined over the last 5 years or so that I was in.

They are weak minded, soft bodied, spoiled and entitled.

I don't have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the military's immediate future to put it lightly.

a reply to: Buvvy

What are the odds that the US military will once again be involved in an overseas war by this time next year?

A good terror attack and that ship can sail...

a reply to: Buvvy

If you are dumb enough to want to join the military because of an ill informed idiot Scientologist then you deserve to be in the military. As bill hicks used to say . “Anyone dumb enough to want to be in the military should get in . I don’t care how many push-ups you can do , go wait in that hole until we need you to kill someone “. I miss bill Hicks so bad

Haven't seen it yet, but was reading today that Cruise and cast did there own flying. Pulling up to 8 gs for it. They said no CGI or stunt pilots.

That alone makes me want to see it.

That is a fun bit of nostalgia….will have to check it out when I am in CA later this year. I recently read that the “Top Gun” house that Kelly McGillis’s character lived in is now a pie shop located in Oceanside, CA. That place might be worth a visit too!

www.cbs8.com...

a reply to: jtrenthacker

Thank you for your service!

I have a son who is currently serving in the military and is well on his way to completing his 20 years of service. He is really enjoying his military career. The military has given him a chance to visit other countries and to see parts of the world that most people never see in their lifetimes. The military has also helped him to become a home owner and set him up with a nice saving account. He went straight in after high school…and he is currently much better off than many of his peers who went the college route. I have noticed that each time he is deployed it makes him appreciate everything he has here back home in the USA even more.

The news companies, media and Facebook make more money by producing content that will keep us fighting with one another. There was a brief surge of unifying patriotism around 9/11/01 WTC attack…and then the online media reporting sank back into the mud pit. Morale of the entire country is down. Confidence in our Presidential leadership isn’t high and that rolls downhill.

a reply to: watchitburn

I haven't seen the movie yet, but Microsoft Flight Simulator got a free Maverick content download.

It includes F-18 training missions, F-18 low altitude missions, a carrier landing missing, and a Darkstar mission. I also got the Darkstar in my hanger now.

I haven't dove in yet, but everything looks super fun.

a reply to: Buvvy
Top gun has always been a favorite of mine from when I was a kid, but I’m still trying to talk myself into seeing it. There have been a couple delayed sequels that I was excited for, but they bombed…

a reply to: watchitburn

Can you blame them? All we've known of our military is invading foreign nations and bombing militants that will never reach america, which results in huge civilian casaulties.

Its no wonder morale is low and the military is getting kids who know they deserve better than to be cogs in a machine that is one of the largest contributors to global warming and pollution. A machine that will grind up and spit out kids for some politician's agenda if necissary.

a reply to: Buvvy

I finally saw this....

Old warrior teaches new warrior? Check.

Fly down narrow trench towards target? Check.

Weapons on top of trench can't hit you if you are at top speed? Check.

Enemy bogies coming in on your six? Check.

Need to hit the thermal exhaust port to take out target? Check.

Ally takes out enemy just as they are about to take you out? Check.

I might have seen this movie before in a galaxy far, far away.