Nineteen eighty-six, a year replete with pop and rock hits by Madonna, the Bangles, and Bon Jovi. In addition to box office hits Pretty in Pink and The Karate Kid, II, another must-see was Top Gun. Anyone who lived through that musically saturated era forever remembers "Danger Zone" and "Take My Breath Away" playing fifty times a day. To this day, they associate those two songs with this movie.
Like any pre-teen or teenager at that time, I saw Top Gun on the big screen. I've seen it a few times since then on video or TV. Without fail, I'm at the edge of my seat when the guys perform maneuvers in the air or laugh at their casual interactions (like that guy's reaction to spilling coffee on himself). And I feel chills--when Goose dies.
Here I am, more than 35 years later, an author, ever-inspired by eighties movies, and a proud Navy wife. At times, my husband talks about certain things from Top Gun, about the F-14s, F-18s, and the regulations back then and how they've changed. When he told me about the sequel, we wanted to see it.
He told me one of the young guys in the movie is Rooster, Goose's son. Speechless. My heart skipped a few beats. It was as if Goose were a friend of ours and losing him was equally as personal. I wanted to be there to support Rooster.
We saw this sequel on Memorial Day. Before we left for the theater, I put a pack of tissues in my purse. Although I hadn't seen previews, I assumed the movie would have some footage of the original.
The first note of the Top Gun Anthem--and I just about lost it.
Enter Rooster a few scenes later. Like father, like son--not only in looks, but also in musical talent. For the first time ever, I got emotional hearing "Great Balls of Fire." I buried my face in my hands and shook my head.
Goose seems so real to me, I thought as I dreamily walked out of the theater. I felt like I was in his circle of friends and personally knew his wife and son. And when I think about his death, what he left behind, I feel like I, like Maverick, had lost a dear friend.
I wanted to get inside his wife Carol's head. What would she have said or done when her son wanted to follow in his late father's footsteps? Can you imagine her prayers through tears that are mixed with maternal pride and myriad fears? While she's beaming that her son has chosen this career path, she thinks her son may not come home after an airplane malfunction.
Another emotionally stirring moment: Val Kilmer's cameo appearance as Iceman. More than three decades have passed. No more asking who the better pilot is. Don't ruin the moment. It's time to let go.
It may have taken some for me to realize, but now I see the light. When I see a sequel to or reboot of eighties movies and they feature a few things from the original, it takes my breath away. So, talk to me even more, Goose.
