So just watched Top Gun for about the 20th time in my life. As I wasn't born when it came out I would like to ask. How big was the film before production and how big was the hype when it came out?

I've never seen it & have no desire to. But let me guess, plucky good-looking Yanks, likely with token mixed-race pilot, beat nasty foreigners in just over an hour & the world is a safer place? And he gets the girl.

you missed the spiky hair

I've never seen it & have no desire to. But let me guess, plucky good-looking Yanks, likely with token mixed-race pilot, beat nasty foreigners in just over an hour & the world is a safer place? And he gets the s haired girl.

Is that better?

spot on

Someone has a motor bike too. Oh and uniforms.

Its not primarily about any of that at all though, although there is a bit of a skirmish with some seeming baddies right at the end to bring some closure to what has been going on in the story. Its really about the pilots, competing to be best in class, one especially and who falls for the attractive female lecturer. And you'd never guess Tom Cruise is only 4ft 10... and also some lessons in what happens and how it can end in tears when you are very good at what you do, but too cocky and confident. The real stars are the F14s though.

Not a bad film, IMO. A field I am interested in anyway, mind.

Oh, and the spiky hair is Val Kilmer's. And the other pilot is actually a goose not mixed-race, and he gets killed cos of the overconfidence of Cruise's character.

Must admit I have to laugh though, cos the planes the baddies drive (they use the same ones to practise against as they come up against for real near the end) and seem to be giving them a serious run for their money, are actually old F5s, a small, lightweight fighter that normally a Tomcat would have for breakfast from about 50 miles away.

Was that the aspect that you found most appealing...?

You want to know what Top Gun is about?

Go to a certain popular video sharing site and search for Quentin Tarantino on Top Gun.

Completely explains what that film is REALLY about

Just watch hot shots, it's a much funnier version.

And less gay

If he says what I assume, then indeed. Not really that disguised either, despite the female "love interest"! Can't see why anyone should find that an issue though - thats one reason why the film is not really how Tigs seemed to envisage it. Gives a slightly different take than usual on US military stories. As I said though, the Tomcats are the real stars.

Went to the Odeon one Sunday afternoon after about a gallon of Tetley's bitter in the Bedford Arms when Tetley's bitter was FA describes on the other thread. Slept soundly from about 15 in. Never seen it seen it since so cannot help.

The Odeon, the Bedford, Tetley's bitter (as was). Makes you feel like an Apache at the turn of the last century.

It took my breath away.

Ah the Bedford, now an employment agency, sad loss.

Like it when Kevin Morrisroe came down from the Bowling Hotel