"Bugs66" wrote in message
ups.com...
http://www.airventure.org/2007/news/070503_movie.html

Something is very wrong when the cheesy movie Top Gun wins over 12
O'clock High, Waldo Pepper, and Spirit of St. Louis. It shouldn't
even be on the list among the other great movies. I think the vote
was rigged!

In my opinion Top Gun is one of the dumbest aviation movies I have
ever seen. I remember seeing it in the theater when it opened, I was
only 17. I had just earned my pilots license and even then I thought
the movie was dumb. The only reason I went to see it was the late
great Art Scholl was killed making it and I wanted to pay my
respect.

For you guys who voted for Top Gun, maybe you should spend a rainy
afternoon watching the classics and you might learn something.

End of rant.


I agree with your sentiment, but Top Gun did something none of the other
aviation movies have done in my lifetime (42 years, at last count). It put
together a plot with a decent storyline, good music, outstanding visuals, a
romantic relationship, and an outstanding cast.

Waldo Pepper had a good storyline, excellent actors, and great visuals, but
lacked the relationship angle after Mary Beth had her untimely demise, and
didn't have a soundtrack with "legs".

Always had the visuals, the actors, the romance, and a storyline, but it was
nowhere near as timely as Top Gun, and lacked a popular soundtrack.

Battle of Britain had the visuals tied around a true story. It even had a
great cast. Unfortunately, the cast was underutilized and none of the
characters or relationships were even mildly interesting. The soundtrack
was great, but certainly didn't translate to popular culture.

All four movies I listed are watchable, but one - Top Gun sacrificed
accuracy to capitalize at the box office. And the strategy worked.

One great thing about all 4 movies is that they used real aircraft. I fear
that we'll never see another aviation epic filmed with live aircraft. CGI
seems to have taken over for the most part.

KB