The opening scene of the movie Top Gun is considered one of the most exhilarating scenes of all time, well, according to my grandpa it is.

Recently, it dawned on me that I had never seen the iconic movie in full and only in passing, or while switching the channel on the TV. So, when it was announced that Top Gun: Maverick was hitting theatres, I took it as a sign that I finally needed to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the first movie before indulging in the sequel, and that was a perfect idea.

The next morning, I got up at 10:30 am to meet my mom, brother, and grandparents at the Phoenix Dolby Atmos theatre to experience Top Gun: Maverick to its fullest extent. 

While the original opening scene of Top Gun: Maverick is quintessential, the beginning of Top Gun: Maverick is almost identical. The immense action and thrill it ensues captured me right off the bat, strapping me in for the flawless mix of a compelling plot and sequences of action. 

The story of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell—played by Tom Cruise—is continued 30 years later. He is recalled to Top Gun: Maverick to prepare some of the best Navy pilots for an important mission, but some of his personal complications get in the way. The connection to his old friend from the first movie, Goose, who traumatically died while ejecting from an F-14, is extremely prominent in the sequel. Goose’s son, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw—played by Miles Teller—is a part of the group of pilots Maverick has to choose from to go on this mission.

You can truly see the relationship between Rooster and Maverick through the talented acting of both Cruise and Teller. The tension when they are in a scene together creates a mysterious vibe and left me wondering why Rooster and Maverick have a rocky relationship for the first quarter of the movie. From the beginning, you can see that Rooster is the perfect mix of Goose and Maverick’s personalities. He has the goofy and humorous side of his father and the reckless and impulsive characteristics of his father’s dearest friend. 

While Rooster is a blend of Goose and Maverick, it is clear to see that his ‘nemesis’ in the film, Hangman—played by Glen Powell—is an exact copy of the original film’s, Iceman. The classic villain tries to one-up the main character. This is just one of the many parallels of the original film that Top Gun: Maverick posses.

The allusions to the original Top Gun movie are what made me savor the film to its fullest extent, reviving characters I never thought I would see again, alluding to classic scenes, and even reintroducing romance viewers did not get to see.  Fans of the original Top Gun will appreciate the parallel of Rooster singing “Great Balls of Fire,” just like his father did in the 1986 film while Maverick watches from the distance, reminiscing on a memory.

Watching the first Top Gun is what made its sequel so exceptional; it was rewarding to have that emotional and deep connection to the characters and their adventures and have the ability to pick up insinuations from the original film.

I have never felt drawn to action movies because I am a sucker for emotionally-filled plots, and a lot of thrill-seeking films don’t provide me with that satisfaction. Contrary to my suspicions, Top Gun: Maverick supported factors of both a tear-jerking storyline and adrenaline-inducing action. 

When the movie came to a close, my family and I found ourselves discussing the many complexities and minuscule details that stuck with us, and we came to the controversial conclusion that Top Gun: Maverick surpassed the original film, due to its sentimental plot alongside the adventure. The film was executed in a perfect way that made Top Gun lovers, young and old, fall in love with its sequel.