Saw Top Gun Maverick Last night in a preview screening at IMAX. Before I go any further, I want to address two points:

1. I did not pay for this film. I was invited to see it. Those who invited me also did not pay to see the film.

2. This article: https://businessinsider.com/top-guns-maverick-appears-changed-to-please-chinas-communist-party-2019-7

Yes this happened. Yes the big bad in this movie is unquestionably China, though you never see even the "slightest" amount of even skin from the enemy. They are covered in head to toe so you can never see who they really are in fighters, and always completely out of focus in wide shots with liberal use of camera filters. I know a lot of our brother's and sisters here are instantly out because they bent the knee to China and did this. I won't try to convince you otherwise, and I respect your decision to hold on to your convictions.

That said, I will not share spoilers in this review, besides for the original Top Gun. Really if you haven't seen the original, its 35 years old. Seriously, released in 1986. I'd question what you'd be doing over these past few years? Its a classic.

The film revolves around Pete "Maverick" Mitchel, and his current status. He still flies for the Navy, and through circumstances ends up the teaching the current generation of Top Gun pilots the requirements to complete what was deemed a mission where the pilots were most likely not coming back. He also has to deal with his relationship with Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son of Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, that also became a Top Gun Navy fighter pilot. Maverick is still haunted by the death of Goose all these years later.

So was it any good? Holy balls yes. It was really good. I'd go so far as to say it was better than the first. And most importantly, there was zero sign of "the message" in this film. There was no preaching about gender inequality, no LGBTQ nonsense, no attempt to politicize the content of this film, and no attempt to shit on the US's armed forces. This is 2 hours of "Rah Rah, Go TEAM AMERICA-TOP GUN" you can watch without being irritated. The closest there is to anything remotely close is I think two of the pilots in the class are women. The woman in particular (callsign "Phoenix") isn't given inhuman abilities or whatever Hollywood schlock usually does, but instead portrayed as a rational smart human being who is written realistically considering her circumstances.

The film is a bit more heartfelt than the original due to the subject matter. It has its share of laughs as well, and those flight scenes (especially in IMAX) had my heart racing as they were done fantastically well. There is one scene in the end of the movie that may have people like "no-way" but considering the circumstances of said scene and what led up to it I could suspend my disbelief to believe this could happen.

Last "memberberries" aka nostalgia. Are there call-backs to the original? Yes. but they are tastefully done. This isn't some Ghostbusters: Afterlife level of Goose coming back in ghost-form to say bye to his grown son. You'll know them when you see them. And no, there is no innuendo or whatever in this flick.

So will you enjoy it? Yes. If you can put your hatred aside from pedo-hollywood for 2 hours and let yourself enjoy a film. Some people here have already decided already they are going to be "hell-no". For those on the fence: its Memorial Day weekend: everybody needs "leave", or they will stress themselves out. If anything, a movie that actually glorifies America and their armed forces is a good diversion.

EDIT: if you have the chance, see it in IMAX. This is one of those movies that actually take advantage of the flick with the flight scenes being shot in the format. It is 100% worth the extra ticket price.