“I feel the need…the need for speed.”

When I hear the theme song for Top Gun, I swear my adrenaline starts pumping.  Last night, Thomas (the new name of my husband, after Mr. Magnum P.I., who insisted he is NOT to be named in this blog) and I were flipping channels and saw that Top Gun was on, so we decided to watch it.  Neither of us had seen it in years. The movie is iconic, especially if you’re a child of the 1980’s.  I remember precisely when I saw it for the first time at the Pavilion Movie Theater, May of 1986.  I saw it with Laurie Dwyer.  Soon after seeing the movie, I left to spend six weeks in Long Beach, California with the Raggee family.  Long Beach looked a lot like Miramar in the movie, so I thought I was all that.  Whenever I’d hear the Berlin song “Take Your Breath Away,” which was often because they played it on the radio constantly, I’d dream about Tom Cruise.  Disclaimer – I was 15!  I assure you, I have not even remotely entertained such thoughts about Mr. Cruise in decades.

“Tower, this is Ghost Rider, requesting a flyby.”

“Negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full.”

Thomas and I were quoting lines of dialogue as they were spoken.  Do you ever do that with a movie?  Another movie I probably can recite verbatim is Pretty Woman.  Anyway, it struck me as kind of funny, because the movie had such an impact on most people I know my age, both male and female.  I mean, decades later and we’re still able to quote the movie?  Most men I’ve dated have been obsessed with Top Gun.  Not sure what that means, but throwing it out there.

“That is right, but I held something back. I see some real genius in your flying, Maverick, but I can’t say that in there. I was afraid that everyone in that room would see right through me, and I just don’t want anyone to know that I’ve fallen for you.”

The women love the volley ball scene, and of course, the love story of Charlie and Maverick.  How gorgeous was Kelly McGillis?  After viewing their hot and sexy love scene, I had two thoughts.  Ms. McGillis is one hell of a good actress, because she totally looked into Tom Cruise in all their scenes, and she’s now an out and proud gay woman.  Second, there was a lot of tongue in that scene – a lot of tongue.  This made the mom in me very uncomfortable.  Although we were NOT viewing with the children, we were constantly looking over our shoulders to make sure no little ones were watching without our knowledge.

“Hey Goose, ya big stud!’

“That’s me honey.”

“Take me to bed, or lose me forever.”

“Show me the way home, honey.”

How adorable was Meg Ryan?  And yes, I think I now have to agree with the tabloid consensus – Ms. Ryan has indeed messed with her own face.  I loved her in this role, and think she should have played more sexy parts, rather than becoming America’s Sweetheart.  Her career may have even survived Russell Crowe.

“You don’t have time to think up there.  If you think, you’re dead.”

I hate when Goose dies.  It was so shocking when I saw it the first time.  I remember the theater was silent when that helicopter hovered over Mav and Goose in the ocean.  Almost thirty years later (gulp), it still makes me cry.  And the scene with Meg Ryan sitting apart from her young son?  Heartbreaking.  But I have to ask, why wasn’t she holding him?  It tugged at my mommy heart.

“What I’m about to tell you is classified.  It could end my career.”

How cute was Viper?  I had the biggest crush on Tom Skerrit, but was too embarrassed to admit it, because he was so old.  Well, he’s now much closer to my age, and I stand by his hotness.  Love his voice, too.  I looked him up, and the age he was when he was filming the movie is actually closer to hubby’s current age, than I am.  (Husband, A.K.A. Thomas, is editing this, so I will not reveal either man’s age – then or nowJ).  Speaking of looking good – how about Goose, before he lost his hair?  Little known trivia fact, but he and Meg Ryan were dating during the making of this movie and moved in together when filming was completed.

“You too really are Cowboys.”

“What’s your problem Kasansky?”

“You’re everyone’s problem.  That’s because every time you go up in the air, you’re unsafe.  I don’t like you because you’re dangerous.”

“That’s right!  Ice…man.  I am dangerous.”

Val Kilmer, my goodness, what happened to you?  You played a real d*** in this movie, and from what I’ve heard, you became one in real life, too.   I’m assuming his career suffered from his bad attitude, or maybe it was his drastic change in appearance.  Yes, I realize I am being shallow – but the boy does not look good.  Kilmer was once Cher’s boyfriend, in the early 1980s.  Cher also dated Tom cruise and is quoted as saying he was “one of the greatest lovers ever.”  So, I got to wonder if Kilmer and Cruise swapped notes on Cher?  I know, disturbing that I thought this.

“She’s lost that loving feeling. “

“ She’s lo… No she hasn’t.

“Yes, she has.”

“She’s not lost that lo…”

“Goose, she’s lost it, man.”

“Come on!”

“Aw sh… I hate it when she does that.”

Love, love, love the bar serenade!  Hate, hate, hate how many times I had to listen to drunk frat boys try and recreate it, in an attempt to be cool.

You know how you sometimes see a movie that was a favorite from years ago, but when you see it now, you’re embarrassed that you liked it?  This movie has held up well.  I love the music.  Whenever I hear one of the songs it takes me right back.  I guess that’s what a good movie does, right?  I know I was young, impressionable, hormonal, and on the cusp of adulthood, but this movie made quite an adolescent impact.  I think it did for most of my generation.  I didn’t even remember how much I loved it, until I indulged last night.  It was very interesting to watch after so many years.  I finally, finally understand all that’s happening in the flight scenes.  It was also rather shocking to see younger versions of familiar actors, similar to my kid’s reactions when they look at my high school yearbook.   Did you know Tim Robbins is in the movie?  I didn’t!  I’ve watched the movie about forty times in my life, and never knew that.  He played Merlin, who was Maverick’s flying partner during the “incident” in the Indian Ocean.

Side bar –  how ridiculous was that “incident”?  Brand new graduates suddenly have to fight in a life endangering mission that’s over in “two minutes?”  I don’t think so.  Then they reward the heroes with the position of their choice.  How unlikely is it that Maverick, who’d finally gotten to be a Top Gun, would give it up after one mission – to teach?

My top Gun Favorites:

Favorite characters:  Charlie, Goose and Viper.

Favorite eye candy:  Hollywood and Slider  

Favorite song: Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay.”

Favorite scene:  The serenade, the reunion in the bar at the end of the movie, “I heard the best of the best were going to be back here,” the fly by, the piano playing scene, the dinner at Charlie’s house – okay, I’m going to stop now.

Favorite line:  “I’ll have what he’s having.  Hemlock, is it?”

Top Gun quote I’ve probably used the most:  “It’s Classified.  I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”

The script of this movie is fantabulous.  There are so many quotable lines.  I couldn’t help myself – here are some more:

♦  “You can be my wingman any time!”

♦  “The Defense Department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.”

♦  “Goose, whose butt did you have to kiss to get in here?”  –

 “The list is long but distinguished.”

 ♦  “Son, your ego is writing checks your body can’t cash!”

♦  “Communicating.  Keeping up with foreign relations.  You know – giving him the bird.”

♦  “This could be complicated. You know on the first one I crashed and burned. “

 “And the second?”

 “I don’t know.  But it’s looking good so far.”

♦  “Gutsiest move I ever saw, Mav.”

 

Do you love the movie Top Gun?  Have you seen it multiple times?  What are you favorite quotable lines?  Is there a movie that you’ve seen too many times, but still like? What would you considered to be a movie of your generation?