Top Gun

Top Gun

Released: May 16, 1986

Director: Tony Scott
Leading Characters: Tom Cruise (Maverick), Kelly McGillis (Charlie), Val Kilmer (Iceman)
Action/Drama
Rated PG
#754 on list

The macho students of an elite US Flying school for advanced fighter pilots compete to be best in the class, and one romances the teacher. *taken from IMDB

I hadn't seen Top Gun before I watched it last night, could be because it came out a year before I was born and not my cup of tea at all. With it being on the list and expiring from Netflix instant download in a few days we were forced to watch it.

The first half hour into it I looked over at John and said, "I'm bored." He replied, "Me too." which shocked me since he really does like these types of movies.
I never really became unbored.
The navy jargon was way over my head and it's not because I'm stupid, it's just too over the top for the normal citizen. They were talking about flight plans and naughty things Tom cruise did when flying the jet and I was thinking, "he did something wrong?"
While reading the trivia on IMBD I found this out: The call sign 'Ghostrider' that Maverick uses for his plane was the name of a real F-14 squadron (VF-142), and a model of a Tomcat from that squadron can be seen behind Sundown in the shot where Maverick tells Slider he stinks.
I couldn't figure out why Tom Cruise kept saying Ghostrider because his call name is Maverick, now I understand.

The most joy I got out of the movie was making fun of their song selection. The songs themselves were great, but instead of picking a new song for a new scene they'd just replay a song. I think I heard "Highway to the Danger Zone!" 7 times. When a new song came on I'd exclaim, "Oh! Almost a full soundtrack!"

Meg Ryan is in for a few glimpses and she's fantastic. "Goose! Take me to bed or loose me forever!" I wish she was in the movie longer, then maybe it would have been better. In fact, if the movie was made today it would probably be better and easier to follow the flying.


I could live my whole life without seeing Top Gun ever again, but I guess it's the movie that really started Tom Cruise's career.
I give it 2 out of 5 stars because at least it entertained me enough to finish it.

Psycho

Psycho

Released: August 25, 1960
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Leading Characters: Anthony Perkins (Norman Bates), Janet Leigh (Marion Crane), Vera Miles (Lila Crane)
Horror/Thriller
Not Rated
#363 on list

When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where twitchy manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother. The place seems quirky but fine … until Marion decides to take a shower.

*taken from Netflix

I had seen this movie before but John hadn't and I knew that it'd be one he'd like. Too bad he figured out the twist before the end,  I hate that he does that!
This is a movie I recommend to everyone, it really pulls you in and doesn't let you go! Just make sure you get this version and not the one they remade in the 80's with Vince Vaughn. It's the exact same movie but the older actors are better, the movie doesn't need color to be good.

The movie is based on a novel by Robert Bloch, Hitchcock bought all the copies he could find so that the ending would stay a secret. It was Hitchcock's last black and white film and even though color was available he went the non-color route because he thought that color would be too gory. As a funny side note, it's the first movie to feature a toilet on screen. The writer made the toilet a necessity so it couldn't be removed.

Hitchcock was very serious about keeping the secret of this movie. All theaters had to agree that they would keep people out after the movie started and cast and crew had to agree not to tell anyone about the movie.
With all this secrecy going on you have to see the movie!

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.