Categories & segments

Top Gun: Maverick The Rewatchables
Top Gun: Maverick poster
Top Gun: Maverick

Most Rewatchable Scene

Cruise and Kilmer into dogfight football; the final mission

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:43Read transcript
  • The Darkstar opening and diner arrival are nominated
  • The Hard Deck introduction through Rooster playing piano is praised for economical character work and emotional flashbacks
  • Maverick defeating the trainees is nominated
  • The Iceman visit is praised for restraint, typing, frustration, vulnerability and the closing joke
  • The hosts question how deep the old rivals’ friendship became
  • Dogfight football prompts detailed doubts about two balls, scoring, defensive pressure and strategy
  • Maverick demonstrating the impossible training route is nominated
  • The full final mission through the carrier reunion is a major choice
  • Penny with the Porsche and the final flight provide an especially satisfying coda
  • Bill favors the Kilmer scene leading into football
  • Chris praises the extended finale and the lack of music during part of the mission
Top Gun: Maverick The Rewatchables
Top Gun: Maverick poster
Top Gun: Maverick

What’s Aged the Best?

Jennifer Connelly, practical flying and measured callbacks

The panel is imagining how this might look in the future.

In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:07Read transcript
  • Connelly is both hosts’ first choice
  • The romance is praised as age-appropriate, warm and unusually convincing for later Cruise
  • Making Penny the briefly mentioned woman from the first film is considered smart
  • Teller’s resemblance to Anthony Edwards works
  • The casting competition is echoed by Maverick choosing Rooster
  • The score reuses familiar themes effectively
  • The hosts praise the feeling of actors experiencing real flight
  • The opening credits recall the original without making the whole film a remake
  • Coyote’s G-lock scene is praised
  • The trophy, Goose mannerisms, beach yell and carrier reunion are effective callbacks
  • Bob’s simple call sign is funny
  • Maverick tossing the manual away is appreciated
  • Maverick and Iceman texting with punctuation is a good age detail
  • An unnamed enemy allows streamlined action
  • Jeans, leather jackets, Hawaiian shirts and aviators lend a timeless look
Top Gun: Maverick The Rewatchables
Top Gun: Maverick poster
Top Gun: Maverick

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

The sailing scene, Darkstar flyby and aircraft launch

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:28Read transcript
  • Chris offers the final-mission aircraft launch and receding carrier
  • He also offers the twin vortices during the demonstration run
  • The Darkstar flyby lifting the roof behind Ed Harris is a shared favorite
  • Bill chooses the sailing scene with Connelly
  • The hosts admire the physical realism of the sailing
Top Gun: Maverick The Rewatchables
Top Gun: Maverick poster
Top Gun: Maverick

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The underused supporting pilots; Phoenix divides the room

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:14Read transcript
  • Bill wants more from Jay Ellis and Manny Jacinto
  • Bob’s characterization and second-seat duties are questioned
  • Bill considers Phoenix underdeveloped and imagines a Michelle Rodriguez-like presence
  • Chris likes Phoenix and values her relationship with Rooster
  • Craig is explicitly invited to break the tie and says she was good
  • The discussion distinguishes the performance from the amount of character development
  • The lack of a larger comic supporting personality is noted
Top Gun: Maverick The Rewatchables
Top Gun: Maverick poster
Top Gun: Maverick

What’s Aged the Worst?

Penny’s idealized life, thin mission logic and rushed funeral

The panel is imagining how this might look in the future.

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:50Read transcript
  • Cruise’s introductory theater message feels stiff
  • The hosts jokingly connect its placement to the Nicole Kidman AMC advertisement
  • Penny’s beauty, successful bar, Porsche, sailboat and almost frictionless family life seem implausibly perfect
  • A crowded bar seems impossibly understaffed
  • The unnamed uranium target and lack of simpler attack options raise doubts
  • Cruise’s dark hair is questioned as an age detail
  • The pre-mission encouragement to Rooster feels too ordinary
  • The new pop singles compare poorly with the original soundtrack’s cultural footprint
  • Rooster’s call sign is not universally liked
  • The hosts reject some complaints about omitting McGillis and Meg Ryan, while imagining a Ryan scene
  • Iceman’s funeral feels too short
Displaying discussions 2641 - 2652 of 3690 in total