[Current & Culture] International Affairs Through the Lens of the Film 'Top Gun'

The most Korean thing is the most global thing. Although this phrase sounds clich? nowadays as our culture gains worldwide attention, it was once a common slogan in the cultural scene. I had a similar thought recently while watching the movie Top Gun: Maverick. In an era often described as one of ‘political correctness,’ I encountered a distinctly American film that I thought had become extinct. The most American thing is the most global, and at least this movie seems to have been made with that belief.

In the 1980s, American popular culture was dominated by two major pillars: music and movies, both filled with flamboyant and ostentatious vibes. Michael Jackson and Madonna led the pop market with overwhelming songs and performances, while rockers with long flowing hair and tight leather outfits captured the hearts of youth worldwide through heavy metal. Hollywood movies were no different. Action films backed by massive capital and unparalleled technology swept the global film market. The movie Top Gun and Tom Cruise are prime examples that best represent the characteristics of Hollywood films from that era. And now, 36 years later, a sequel has been released this year.

There are two strategies to address a film’s weaknesses. One is to try to reduce the weaknesses, and the other is to leave the weaknesses as they are and maximize the strengths. Top Gun: Maverick blatantly chooses the second strategy. The predictable story, overlapping plot and characters with the first film, unrealistic settings?just listing the weaknesses could fill this entire column. However, this film covers its flaws with its strengths. The aerial action scenes, crafted by the late Tony Scott (Ridley Scott’s younger brother), rival those of the first film. It strikes a good balance by evoking nostalgia among middle-aged fans while also satisfying younger moviegoers. Above all, the emotional weight comes from feeling that the character Maverick, a veteran pilot in the film, and Tom Cruise, who continues to star in action films well past his sixtieth birthday in real life, are one and the same. It’s a solemn feeling similar to watching Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler or Youn Yuh-jung in Poetry. Whether Tom Cruise is the greatest actor in film history is uncertain, but he certainly appears to be the greatest action star?just as Maverick is the greatest Top Gun.

The film also offers a glimpse into international affairs. The first Top Gun came out during the 1980s Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Now, the Cold War is over, and China has rapidly emerged as America’s main rival instead of the Soviet Union. Unsurprisingly, China has released several films portraying the world’s center as China. A representative example is The Wandering Earth. The absurd story involves China stepping in to save Earth, which is in danger as the sun reaches the end of its life, by moving the entire planet outside the solar system. In the film, China teams up extensively with other countries, except the United States. Although the premise is ridiculous, the screenplay, direction, acting, and cinematography exceeded expectations. Perhaps expectations were just too low. I recommend it to those interested.

In Top Gun: Maverick, the enemy’s location is never explicitly revealed. However, a repeated line states that the opposing force, which Tom Cruise’s team must face, has the latest fighter jets and missile systems, but “what matters is the pilot, not the plane.” This line, repeated like a theme, might be interpreted as a message to China, which threatens American hegemony with overwhelming capital and scientific advancement, saying, “You will never catch up to us.” Would that be an over-interpretation?

Lee Jae-ik, Novelist