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PaperclipPerfector  7mo ago (text post)   2916 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for September 8, 2023

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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So I finally saw Top Gun: Maverick. I kind of loved it.

What can I say, it had characters that looked and acted recognizably human, with comprehensible motivations, and a story that mostly made sense, that wasn't just a CG cartoon. It's a low bar to cross, but few movies seem to these days.

The bar is basically in the Earth’s core for a mainstream Western film.

I liked Miles Teller’s performance in Whiplash, but found him annoying in Top Gun. I’m cringing as I type this, but I would had maybe preferred even like a Harry, Styles or Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), in that role.

Tom Cruise’s character could had also done better than a single mother. The whole Demi Moore character and her daughter side plot could had been cut out. Okay, Tom Cruise can jump out of ${Something} and/or roll. Thanks, but I think I’ve scene seen this scene before.

The beach-side mudball handegg/rugby game broke suspension of disbelief. I get that it was a homage, but the boys are taking “Playin’ with the Boys” seriously or the Token Female can participate without getting demolished. Choose one.

It’s kind of sad yet hilarious that it was somewhat of a plot twist and subversion of the current zeitgeist that the handsome cocky blonde guy was actually a loyal, genre-savvy, and courageous ally to the protagonists all along.

Overall, I enjoyed it, especially relative to other mainstream films. When viewing, the movie could be easily improved by putting to 1.25 or 1.5 speed the talking scenes involving Jon Hamm and/or the middle-aged black guy.

I half-expected Hamm’s character to say at some point: “So this is why they call you Top Gun: Maverick.”

It’s kind of sad yet hilarious that it was somewhat of a plot twist and subversion of the current zeitgeist that the handsome cocky blonde guy was actually a loyal, genre-savvy, and courageous ally to the protagonists all along.

That really stood out to me. I remember hoping he would show up to help at the end and was quite pleased at how it turned out. It was notable because that kind of character is usually made the villain.

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