Well...I find it rather amusing that I have to put this board up but I wanted to know what other Top Gun fans thought of the subject. The debate began when I got an email from Courtney claiming that I was stupid for having my Top Gun mistake section on the site. Here are the e-mail messages and my responses.
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Here is the first message from Courtney
Why hello. Personally, I do not feel that you should be putting up web pages
that you obviously know so little about. TOP GUN is not just a movie, it is an
institution. It is not permissable for you to attack such an institution such as
TOP GUN. Just because you found "mistakes" in the movie does not mean that you
should feel necessary to share them with the population at large. (and further
more, who is to say they were "mistakes"? NOT YOU! Your page will be forever
linked to mine as "Look at what this Idiot has done" and please expect to
receive more emails like this one, for my friends all think you are a dolt.
Sincerely.
Courtney.
My response:
Unfortunately I didn't save my first message. But essentially I took this first message as if it was written in jest. I pointed out that I am a Top Gun fan and that pointing out mistakes does not mean I think the movie sucks...but rather is just an intersting section for the web page. In fact...I created a web page on the movie...I wouldn't have done so if I didn't enjoy the movie immensely.
Courtney's response:
I am glad that you agree with me that TOP GUN is a
truly wonderful movie. Did you stop to think that just
maybe Hollywood made TOP GUN that way for a reason.
See you obviously know little about institution of TOP
GUN if you think it is a movie about NAVAL combat. You
are largely mistaken. For a real TOP GUN fan would
know that it was an ARIEL about ariel combat. I also
know that it is an inaccurate portrayal of ARIEL
combat. I however know that it is Hollywood's
interpretation of it. How many films in the mid 80s
are totally accurate??? None that I ever saw. I would
like to add that the point of the ice water is
ludicrous. They left the bar. I will certainly link
you to my page, and to trust me that my friends will
most certainly agree with me that you are the
epitomization of the weenie head that we have come to
loathe. The first email to you was not in Jest. It was
to be taken quite seriously. This one should be taken
just as seriously.
I will be sending a url to my site when it has been
completed. it is currently under construction.
My response:
Again I must thank you for writing....I find this coversation quite amusing. First off I must point out to you that Top Gun is a movie...not an institution. Top Gun was largely a recruiting film for the navy...and when I say naval combat...I meant the aerial component of it. You agree with me that it is not an accurate portrayal of aerial combat but that it is a perfect result of Hollywood's conception of this. What?? How do you know what Hollywood's conception is? How can you define this? The only thing we can base it on is ....does it portray the real thing? The answer is a resounding NO! First off...aerial combat is for the most part done at great ranges with either pilot never seeing the other except for on radar. Did Top Gun capture the feeling of being in a furball? Did I enjoy watching the movie? Yes it did...and that is why it was immensely popular.
I personally don't know why you have written to me in the first place to complain. We are both obviously Top Gun fans and to think that I am putting down the movie is to miss the point of the web page completely. Any movie must stand up to its own shortcomings...even the great ones. To say that Top Gun is a perfect movie is ludicrous.
Again I have to believe that your message was written tongue in cheek. If you check my links section and try out the other Top Gun sites..you will notice that they have a "mistake" section as well. Did they make their web pages because they thought the movie was horrible? No...but they probably would agree with me..that the movie was not perfect.
Anyways...I am creating a small message board for this very topic. I will be posting your messages and my response. This way we will be able to get the opinions of other Top Gun fans. You can check it out at www.oocities.org/SiliconValley/Hills/6698/topgun.html
Goose (TopGun siteop)
Courtney's response:
It has been an astute pleasure of mine to write to
you. Unfortunately, I have become quite frustrated
with your obtuseness. I never once said the movie was
perfect. DID I? No. I as simply asking what the
purpose of having a "mistakes" section of your page.
It seems irrevelent. Now to say that TOP GUN is not
an institution simply means that you are not a child
of the 80's. For all children of the 80's would know
that it is. Perhaps you are a child of the 60's and
your days of dropping acid must have skewed your view
on reality.
I would now like to reiterate that it was not NAVAL
combat. I have taken this up with my local recruiter
and he told me that it was ARIEL. (for Naval would be
submarine and big boats. NOT PLANES!) Yes there was a
naval aspect to the film. Hell they landed on boats
that is naval. Still that is not naval combat. As for
its accuracy, there are governmental regulations on
just how accurate a movie like that can be. I have
written to you to voice the distinct distaste you
leave in my mouth after reading such kaka. I would be
honored if you would post my mail to you. Perhaps
others will read it and feel the same way. Your
arguments are circular and severely lacking in
originality. You call your self a "fan"? I have one
word for you: touchholesayswhat??>
Consider this our last correspondence. I am forever
dumber for reading this last response. If you write
back I will have "Meep" anally rape you with a foreign
cucumber.
My response:
This last message takes the cake. I now know I am dealing with a child and not an adult. The proper way to debate is to attack someones arguements..and not the person. You did not say that the movie is perfect...but you did say that it was Hollywood's view of what aerial combat entales. WTF does that mean? What does Hollywood know about aerial combat....Nothing!....Zip.....Zero! Aerial combat is not something invented by hollywood...Being a naval aviator is a real job..and the movie doesn't portray it correctly. It does however glorify it...and gives us an idealized conception of it. As I said before...aerial combat is done at great ranges...not in your face like the movie. (That said, the Israelis airforce in particular,
due to the airspace constraints, prefer getting a visual on their targets before they fire...the Americans use more fire and forget methods). The movie does give a great adrenaline rush and helps portray the "feeling" of aerial combat. For that, it does a great job.
As for Top Gun being an institution I personally do not know what this means. (and no...I am not a child from the 80s...I was a teenager when TopGun was released). A movie is a movie...even if it is immensely popular...to try to make it anything more....is to lose grip on reality.
I did not say it was naval combat...I corrected myself in the second message and said it was the aerial component of naval combat. Yes there is an aerial component of naval combat...that is why Mav and Goose are called "naval aviators". Their role in real life is tightly knit with naval elements. Not only do they take off and land on carriers...but because of their carrier borne element..they are the first planes called into action. The F-14 in particular (the jet that Mav flew) defends the carrier task force from air borne threats. They have no air to ground capabilities and can lock on to targets from great distances.
Read my message board....most people do not share your sentiments.
Anyways..this is the internet...and from where I live...a democracy....There is a little thing called freedom of speech. By telling me that I cannot put the mistakes section on the web page (God knows why) is to deny this totally. I don't mind debating you...in fact..that is why I am making a web board devoted to this...but please do me and everyone else of favor. Think before you write. I have made this web page for fun...not
to make money or anything. Keep it civilized and have fun.
Goose (TopGun siteop)
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MESSAGE BOARD.
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This message board will not just be devoted to this topic...but other topics based on the movie or military aviation that people present.
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