Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

Last weekend, I saw the two movies ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ starring Tom Cruise at Vue cinema in Cardiff to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Top Gun’. I’m amazed that it’s been 40 years since the release of the original 1986 film. How times flies?

I saw both ‘Top Gun’ films back in 2022 at the time when ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ came out at cinemas. I look back on these films with fond memories, and it’s been nice to revisit them back-to-back on the big screen. The experience was so worthwhile. I’m glad it happened. 🙂

When I did my reviews on the two ‘Top Gun’ movies back in 2022, I considered ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ better than the first ‘Top Gun’ film. I still stand by that, particularly when I consider it worth my time to see both films at the cinema than just seeing the first one. 🙂

With that said, I’ve enjoyed the first ‘Top Gun’ film on multiple viewings. This is especially when I’ve been able to gain better appreciation of what the story of the first ‘Top Gun’ film is trying to be and how the character of Tom Cruise as Maverick is enhanced in both films.

The connection between both ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is the friendship Maverick has with Goose. It’s something that’s carried through into the sequel after Goose’s death in the first film, including when Maverick interacts with Goose’s son Rooster.

In the first film, Maverick is arrogant and cocky, and you see that he has Goose to rely on his flight-training at Top Gun school. When Goose gets killed, Maverick’s confidence is shattered and he struggles to regain that confidence once having to get back up in the air.

This is carried on into the next film where Maverick is having to ‘let go’ of the grief he has for Goose’s death and reconcile with Rooster after pulling out his application to be a fighter pilot. The journey that Maverick has throughout the two films is intriguing to see. 🙂

Maverick becomes more responsible, as he grows up from the end of the first film leading into the second film. I like how that’s handled, particularly in the second film, considering he has a reputation to take risks, which members of the US Navy clearly don’t approve of.

Seeing the two movies on the big screen is pretty amazing. This is especially when you see the shots of the planes flying in the sky and you see the pilots in their cockpits. I found this to be the case in the first film, which I didn’t have much appreciation for when seeing it on a TV.

It’s been nice to see Val Kilmer as Iceman in these ‘Top Gun’ films. This is considering Val Kilmer sadly passed away in 2025. I knew he was ill when making his small appearance in the sequel film, but I didn’t think it would be serious to lead to his death. 😦

The scene between Tom Cruise as Maverick and Val Kilmer as Iceman in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is very poignant as a result as well as the funeral scene for Iceman. It’s fitting ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is one of Val Kilmer’s last film roles, since he’s a truly well-loved actor.

At this point in time, ‘Top Gun 3’ is in the works. I’m looking forward to seeing that film when it comes out at cinemas sometime soon, whether it’d be 2027 or 2028. I’m curious as to what the story for that film will be like and whether it’ll be successful as the first two.

Regardless, I’m very pleased to have seen ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ at the cinema recently to celebrate ‘Top Gun’s 40th anniversary. I know my Mum enjoyed checking out the two ‘Top Gun’ movies at the cinema, since she’s a big Tom Cruise fan. 🙂

Can she persuaded to see the upcoming film ‘Digger’ though? Hmm. We’ll wait and see! 😀

Thanks for reading!

Bye for now!

Tim 🙂