Did Maverick Die at the Beginning of 'Top Gun: Maverick'?
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- Опубліковано 4 тра 2024
- David discusses the fan theory of whether or not Maverick died at the beginning of Top Gun: Maverick.
Read Alison Willmore's piece about this theory: www.vulture.com/2022/05/theor...
David's review of Top Gun: Maverick: • 'Top Gun: Maverick' Is...
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#tomcruise #topgunmaverick #fantheory - Фільми й анімація
I thought the same thing ever since I saw it the first time. Most recently, I noticed that the movie ends with him flying off into the sunset/Heavens in a very dreamlike state.
Tom Cruise is D.B. Cooper.
Explain Hondo. How is he almost literally in every scene. And why is there never any dialogue involving him after the Darkstar explodes, with the exception of Maverick?
They should have ended the film with Ethan Hunt waking up from a fever dream about being a fighter pilot. He turns in bed and we see Ilsa Faust lying next to him asleep. Cut to black. Title: to be continued in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning
reminds me of the theory that Indiana Jones was Han Solo’s dreams in carbonite
Another hint pointing to this theory: Maverick flew Darkstar beyond 10 mach and later when he it's training for the "mission", his fighter reach 10G climbing. The final scene with Rooster visiting the hangar, looking the pictures, it's after the fatal accidente of Maverick. If a Top Gun 3 will be filmed, there will be a good first scene.
Maverick said "one last ride" during the Darkstar scene. Does that count?
He was talking to the plane
“The mission is pretty much impossible.” David, what a missed opportunity for a Mission: Impossible reference! Lol. Great video. Well argued and to the point. Keep it up!
I’ve brought great shame to my family
Well Dave..I guess you could say..
@@davechensky going by your logic David Chen, the first Top Gun and 99% of all other movies are just dreams the main character had dreamt.
and how XXX of you. how could you give spoilers for this movie in the video title itself ??
The enemy isn't named in the first Top Gun either.
Who was it in the first ive never seen it but i know by the sugoi 57 its russia in the new film its their newest fighter jets hence the cobra manuver
It's interesting to note that the planes Maverick flies become progressively old-fashoned. I think the idea here is that the movie is working backwards. This is why it starts with his 'death'.
going by your logic David Chen, the first Top Gun and 99% of all other movies are just dreams the main character had dreamt.
and how XXX of you David,. how could you give spoilers for this movie in the video title itself ??
I have a better unrelated theory: Amelia Benjamin, is actually Maverick’s daughter.
Wow! Well I’ve been hung up on Hondo, a CWO, who: runs a test flight, helps with special mission training, part time drill instructor, is at CIC for a TS mission, is a lineman and is on the recovery crew during emergency trap. Whoever thought that WAS in a dream state. Someone didn’t know the scope of CWO duties or flagrantly disregarded. (Real CWOs are great, but not wizards).
It’s clear in the movie that Darkstar is the product of Lockheed Skunkworks. I’ve seen videos addressing having to eject at a more reasonable speed of Mach 4-6. It is clear that the entire cockpit would eject as a module. That’s the scenario I choose to embrace.
I'm firmly in the ' Maverick was dead all along' camp
I think this one line said to him answers the question if he was actually dead & dreaming, or alive throughout the movie.
“Despite your best efforts you refuse to die” (that might imply he survived the Dark Star destruction).
But let’s say if he did die, the only scenario that I find plausible is a Pulp Fiction style thing, where they show the ending (his death during Dark Star test) first at the beginning, then proceed to show events that took place prior.
If a test pilot is pushing a new plane to its absolute limits such as he was, it wouldn’t be on the very first test flight. Therefore theoretically he could have been called back to Top Gun temporarily while still involved with the Dark Star project, then returned to the project afterward, then did that fatal test flight, died.. and his envision of surviving was a spiritual crossing over to the other side.
It's definitely a dream-like story, the likes of which dates back to A Christmas Carol if not earlier. It doesn't mean that he actually died-- after flying an ominous futuristic black monolith of a test plane, which technically does not exist-- but he's definitely at peace with his past guilt by the end of the movie
Interesting theory, but I prefer a feel-good story taken at face value, because entertainment has been bombarded with gritty realistic cynicism for far too long
Might be a dream, but the story still makes more sense than most blockbusters.
Now you made me face a dillema in which I want to believe Maverick survived, but on the other hand, all the arguments provided are so strong that it is highly possible he did not.
And just as a PS: though I often disagree with you, I appreciate what you do and still appreciate so much your production of Stephen Tobolowsky’s podcast. One of my favorite podcasts ever.
0.- Your font used in the thumbnail makes it look like you are asking Is Maverich dead. 1.- Your video made me want to watch the movie again. 2.- Most of the explanations, as in most of Tom Cruises action movies could be just that the hero is either insanely skilled or lucky. 3.- No real mention of the name of the enemy because they want to play it on all markets. 4. Keep it up and stay hydrated.
Nah dude, this theory is wild. It's suppose to be straightforward, there's not always the deeper meaning to everything. And it's dreamlike because of kosinski's style and it's suppose to pay homage to the og top gun. So It makes sense that lot of scenes are shot during the golden hour.
Absolute, pure nonsense. I love it. It’s funny how often fan theories are some version of “it was all a dream”, it’s essentially the same with the theory that the end of Minority Report is all in John Anderton’s head after he gets halo’d.
Anyway if you like this theory and haven’t seen Powell & Pressburger’s A Matter of Life and Death… check it out!
I dont think it’s nonsense
What if...every central character in every movie was actually having a death dream?
Not terribly familiar with PKD, if you think that would be inconsistent with his stories. Ever read/seen A Scanner Darkly?
Anyway, there are quite few clues that are inconsistent with this type of storytelling and are frequently employed to undermine the narrator and setup subtext. For instance, hes never seen bailing out, and he would definitely stay put wherever he landed; he wouldn't have to go looking for a phone. The new chick shows up in all the old photographs. He goes to visit Iceman, who tells him very peacefully that its time to let go, when he's insistent on going on one more mission; Iceman dualistically representing Death and Maverick's 'guardian angel'. Repeated references to 10, as 'his number'... and it comes up. Before he boards the plane in the beginning, he foreshadows with acknowledging what happened everyone else who tried to do what hes trying. There were lots of other more mundane references that fit in retrospect.
As to your point about it all looking surreal. Correct me if I’m wrong (haven’t seen the OG Top Gun in a long time) but wasn’t the cinematography and lighting very similar in the first film?
great video, excellent points...briefly, to point 3 - it's said that Maverick is the only pilot who's done all the needed maneuvers in combat, though, as Maverick himself points out, not all in one sequence, but at least he has done them (and in an F-18), that's why he was brought back...well, that, and Iceman pulling some strings
Wow Tom cruse going on an “impossible mission” who would have thought??
Well, if that's the case, it's going to be quite a long and elaborate death dream when Top Gun 3 comes out.
Exactly, it makes no sense to make everything a dream. Dumb theory
Not happening
There will be a turd Top Gun but it might be retconned.
heh google auto-fill.
That’s not happening. Numbnuts.
A) I promise you this was not the intention of any of the filmmakers. No, I don't have evidence of this, I just know in my gut. This was an action drama film, not a think piece like Titane. B) To make this theory even somewhat plausible, it would have to stick only with Maverick throughout the film. It does not. It shows us POVs of Hangman and others reacting to what's going on. That alone negates this idea. C) If you really think this theory enhances the film for you, great. Why, I'll never understand as it's such a reach and seems to be want to beg for attention based on that it's the #1 movie and saying something outlandish tends to generate views.
Yep, not everything has a deeper meaning.
Man its just a *theory* , not every theory is valid since its just a freakin theory , its all for fun , not for begging attention and gains traction dont hate someone with your own assumption
@@alahsiaboi8909 you assume I hate just because of what I wrote. I don't. I'm merely calling out a trend I see where the more controversial the statement, the more traction it gets, even in film circles, not just politics
A) Chill out. B) It’s an interesting theory, let the guy have his fun. And C) Don’t get mad.
I think it works. Is that what they were trying to do? No. I. An interview , Kosinski said they tried to shoot at golden hour as much as possible. That’s what gives it a dreamlike feel.
But doesn't that lend support to the theory it's all a death dream?
@@borisbalkan707 sure, but they never said it is a dream in the interview.
This is great! I subscribe to this 1000% This makes the movie actually makes sense. Thanks. I hated the movie before this concept hit me a day later.
This theory would piss me off and cheapen the entire movie. Mavericks story is about pushing limits and overcoming personal obstacles and tragedy. And growing stronger from them.
The idea of him dying a used up, broken man, full of regret that has to be played out in a dream as he's dying just doesn't sit right with me. It goes against both the Spirt of Maverick and Tom Cruise. I'd certainly expect that 'subverting expectations' angle of this theory if Ruin Johnson or JJ Abrams was in charge. But not Tom Cruise or Joseph Kosonski. They wouldn't be that cruel. They don't subvert expectations, they surpass them.
reminds me of the short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
It's a movie. Just enjoy it. Stop questioning simple stories. Don't need to dig deep into it. Alison Willmore can live by her theory. Most of us won't. Summer blockbusters doesn't need a lot thinking. It's mostly fantasy even if based on real things and people like fighter pilots. Take Jurassic Park. The stuff with the mosquitoes in the tree sap to create dinosaurs is ridiculous. Stop overthinking these movies.
At face value I think Hollywood just takes creative license to suspend reality and often doesn't make sense even in "realistic" movies. :) But I think it's an interesting theory that one could consider! I finally watched the movie yesterday and enjoyed it very much. I'm inclined to believe people will just want the happiest ending with Maverick a hero defying the odds rather than finally paying the ultimate price for risk.
Hopefully helpful feedback: Needs some on-screen lower thirds and maybe some stock footage. Otherwise great video Dave
Nah, all those called "illogical things" also apply to the first Top Gun. Because they are blockbuster action movies where the hero does impossible things that coulden't happen in reality. And Hando is kept around because he's a cool character. And makes the running joke of 'i don't like that look, Mav' possible.
The call backs are all there because it's a 'legasequel' movie. Ofcourse you gotta bring back scènes and characters from the first one. Ofcourse the son looks like the dad, that's Hollywood movie making: make it simpel and obviouse.
Fan theories are a weird trend that constantly second geuses the movie, turning it into a puzzle to defeated rather then a story to be experienced.
Simply briliant what you said here
They truly work on facts and plot holes behind the whole stories and happenings of the movies. These just ruin our(viewers of the videos) experience with the movies. I guess we can't escape the plot holes they will be at some point. Also i think movie reviews also ruin our movie experience when not told thoughtfully. They also tend to change our perspective own perspective towards movies.
A fun theory David, thank you. May I suggest a new #1 reason for a dream? Would a pilot that disobeyed orders, commandeered an enormously expensive experimental airplane, and destroyed it, be given a highly classified and critical new job? In the real world, no, in summer-movie, block-buster world, unfortunately, yes.
Pretty sure this was one of my first few reasons?
"In the real world, no, in summer-movie, block-buster world, unfortunately, yes."
I think you just debunked your own theory
going by your logic David Chen, the first Top Gun and 99% of all other movies are just dreams the main character had dreamt
How do I know I’m not dreaming now?
Very interesting theory. What stuck out for me is that Maverick wasn't wearing a motorcycle helmet, which is now required by law in CA. Also, his hanger is filled with cherished objects from his life, much like all the stuff King Tut had stored in his tomb.Anyway, thanks for the video! ("An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "Jacob's Ladder" are great death dream stories)
"Maverick wasn't wearing a motorcycle helmet, which is now required by law in CA"
Because his call sign is literally Maverick and we know from the first movie he doesn't like to obey rules?
@@borisbalkan707 Actually, because the helmet laws changed. In1986 (original Top Gun), helmets were optional in CA. Now, they are mandatory. In "Maverick", both he and Penny ride without helmets. Mav can break the rules, but Ms. Benjamin is a single mom with a young child. I'm just putting out thoughts on this very interesting 'death dream' hypothesis.
People forget that’s it’s a movie not a biography lol shit in movies is not real just like in Star Wars there’s no lightsabers and alien planets engaged in war. People are way to literal these days can’t even enjoy a simple movie anymore
Yes. This makes so much sense
They said it is pretty much impossible and thats why they got the best of the best and these guys even say they make the impossible possible it ruins the movie if he is dead
Sorry...I'm responding to your points as the video rolls...but the unnamed enemies are a tradition of the "Top Gun" franchise. They were unnamed in the first film, as well. While the black planes with a single star on the tail and the stars on their masks might intimate they were Russians, they are never identified as such. The current enemies weren't identified, either...although a little research will make their identity pretty obvious as only Iran has F-14 Tomcats in their operational arsenal today.
What stuck out to me is when all the ace pilots were introduced in the bar Maverick was watching them interact and not engaging with them. Like he wasn't really there... 2nd he was outside looking in when Rooster started singing Great Balls of Fire like he was a Ghost.
Then why not show him ejecting or landing tho??? I thought he died when I watched it... because mach 10 ejection is just mental. Any academic would see this. FYI he didn't mention that Bill Weavers copilot died from a broken neck during the mach 3.2 incident. Only thing I can think of to excuse Maverick is that he flew higher than the SR71 blackbird (thinner air). But to me it came across as kinda lazy by being vague (but I'm a weird lol). I enjoyed the movie, not hating on it. This just really threw me off. The rest of the movie I can overlook any other shortcomings. It was very entertaining.
We saw him go into the diner all dusty. That is meant to be his "Survived" moment. We didn't need to see the election or landing.
Close. You nailed it but just one minor detail I might be able to contribute with. Tom cruise's career dies in the opening scene and the rest is a rerun of how Tom cruise would of made the first movie so Tom's character Maverick, Pete Thompson, is still alive. Tommy's career, dead as nails. Another mission impossible maybe? Ha. Kinda like Keanu Reeves career after the 4 matrix film. Lmao.
Did we know the enemy of the first Top Gun movie?
Sooooo, a Jacob's Ladder scenario?? 🤣🤣 (sorry for Jacob's Ladder spoilers)
Pretty cool theory!
Apologies for being the actually guy here... but Maverick didn't fly faster than anyone had ever flown. The Apollo 10 astronauts flew at Mach 36 which is the actual fastest humans have flown. The space shuttle used to orbit at Mach 22 as a standard thing. On another note, the point about an unnamed enemy isn't a good one since they were up against an unnamed enemy in the original. Yes they flew MIGs but the enemies were never actually identified.
Id think once youre going orbital velocity, above the karman line that isnt quite flying
Top Gun doesn't like to say who the enemy nation is although its implied to be Russia/Soviet Union. The first film was like that so the second one is also like that. It's not a big deal. It's a Hollywood film. This is why the movie is the way it is. Not because it's a purgatory or whatever. Goose knows the song because his Dad sang it when he was a kid and he probably took the time to learn it. His mates in the Top Gun academy know the song because of him. This isn't worth analyzing like this.
Maverick's Ladder?
This makes total sense. Mind blown.
The enemy no name thing is to sell the movie everywhere.
He did not die. Theories are fun but why does there have to be a theory about everything. Maverick isn’t washed up. He refused to be promoted because he wants to keep flying.
I’ve never even seen either of these films so I don’t really care but some of these comments are not it
“there’s not always a deeper meaning” yes there is, that’s the whole point of literary critique, and dismissing it is incredibly anti-intellectual
Actually there’s a lot of similarities with the movies enemy and the Iranians. You dismissed that way too casually.
Tim Cruise is into Scientology… look it up and a lot of this video makes more sense.
Next ppl will be saying he is an alien 👽
I’m just starting the video. But so far, based on my experience watching the movie twice, the answer for me is “no”.
And while non-diegetic theories can affect interpretation of a movie, and for people who have whatever trouble they have with accepting the diegetic world of the movie, might help them suspend whatever disbelief they need to enjoy, it’s way past the Ockham’s Razor for me.
The movie, for better or worse, with whatever believability it has or doesn’t is a pretty simple movie.
Yeah, I guess if a theory like this makes it more interesting or you or anyone, fine.
For me, it was a great movie on its own without that, while I still get that there is this very “80’s” ridiculous nature of it. As there kind of was in the original.
Death dream for those who need it, just a good movie for the rest of us. Neither one might be wrong or right, but for me, and I suspect most of its fans, it’s a bridge too far.
But thanks for sharing it.
(Edit note: watched your whole video. Still no for me. But again, thanks for playing)
Maverick is dead, Squall is dead. We are all dead.
Alright someone needs to pump the brakes on you guys that think every character is imaginary and the movies are all a dream etc.
Yes there are a handful of movies like that, but it’s not every movie. I believe He was tying up loose ends, but in real life..not in purgatory. Besides, Ice Man dies. Do people die again in the afterlife? Of course the speed was exaggerated and scenes were “dreamy”. It’s a MOVIE! It’s supposed to be. And as far as Goose’s Son, obviously His Father and Mother loved that song and it was likely a great memory of His Mom which She instilled in Her Son…and He obviously admired His Dad and thinks of Him as a hero, so it would make sense that He would try to mimic Him in looks and action
No, Maverick didn't die at the beginning of the film any more than Sandy Ollson died at the beginning of "Grease." It makes for an interesting theory, but no, it didn't happen.
If it was Maverick’s death dream surely the enemy would just be Russia.
Amelia is mavericks daughter
Lady Gaga - Hold my hand, is about an Angel taking him to heaven.
how XXX of you. how could you give spoilers for this movie in the video title itself ??
Oh boy... So the original Top Gun is supposed to be sub textually homoerotic (it's the opposite) and in the current movie, Maverick is supposedly dead... They're just fun movies, people. Although I do love a good conspiracy theory.
No, and no. Why? Because not everything is a conspiracy theory
The unnamed enemies in both Top Gun films prevents from aging badly years from now. The Penny character is way too unrealistic to exist in the real world. Listen to The Rewatchables. Maverick does keep getting promoted for his recklessness and disobedience.
This is weird. It’s a MOVIE ! Just enjoy it.
LMAO this theory is bloody ridiculous no one has dreams after death and how can Maverick dream about the scenes where he's not in it? XD
It’s a freakin movie not a biography jesus murphy lol
I tend to think theories like these are pretty lazy.
They should go back and reshoot Tom in the original Top Gun in a scene where Tom is mourning over the loss of Goose, and one of his superiors says "Who is Goose? We rescued you alone, in the water." And then Tom realizes Goose never existed. Turns out Goose was Maverick's imaginary friend from childhood, and Tom thinks Goose followed him to the Navy, etc.
No
Funny how many of the "reasons" to support the theory are weak scripting options.
No. End of video
I hope not
top gun is dead . mission impossible franchise is better