TOP GUN (Paramount)
Director: Tony Scott
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt
You don’t really want me to review the movie Top Gun, do you
Top Gun is one of the most influential action movies of all time, informing both serious blockbuster fare and blockbuster parodies for years after its release.
It’s arguably Tom Cruise’s most famous role, and certainly the film that launched him into the superstardom he enjoys now. It’s also the film that launched the career of director Tony Scott.
Top Gun made Anthony Edwards famous enough to headline medical show ER, Val Kilmer famous enough to star in Willow, and Meg Ryan famous enough to star in Innerspace (which in turn made her famous enough to star in When Harry Met Sally).
Along with Beverly Hills Cop (1984), it turned Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer into the summer blockbuster kings they were for nearly three decades. In short, it’s a damn influential movie.
Top Gun is also one of the most successful video and DVD releases of all time, so it makes sense that it should get a much-hyped blu-ray release. So rather than review the film – I’m sure you know what you think of Top Gun; it is 27 years old at this point – I’m going to tell you why you should buy Top Gun on blu-ray, maybe upgrading your DVD copy.
To put it bluntly, it’s just better. As luck would have it, I had access to a DVD copy of the film. The blu-ray edition boasts a sharper picture, sure, but it also boasts better picture depth and more vibrant colouring.
This transfer does have some of the problems you’d expect from an older movie which has been remastered – occasional visual artifacts, some poor lighting, to name two – but in terms of the film itself, I feel confident saying this is the best edition of the film you’ll find.
The sound is top notch, too, available in two different flavours – though I suspect most viewers will lean toward the DTS track, given the extra audio channel. The package also contains some great extra features.
If you’re a fan of Top Gun, then this is a must-have pack. And if you haven’t seen it, this is the best place to start. Enjoy.
Video Quality: 1080p resolution, MPEG-4 AVC codec. Audio Quality: Lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 tracks included.
Special Features: Audio commentary with producer, director and crew, Danger Zone: The Making Of Top Gun featurette, Storyboard comparison with commentary, Best Of The Best: Inside the Real Top Gun featurette, Photo Gallery, Music Videos, TV Spots, Behind The Scenes featurette, Survival Training featurette, Interviews with Tom Cruise. Package includes blu-ray and blu-ray 3D versions.
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