rickblaine34

I don't think I've ever seen a film that takes itself so seriously, and with nothing to show for it. What should have been a 20 minute episode in a series (tops) was painstakingly lenghtened to a full picture which is a total bore and which utterly fails to contribute anything new to its subject matter. Gillian Anderson was a pain to watch at her half-baked attempt to look and sound like Thatcher. And I still cannot understand why we were 'treated' to seeing Sam the booker's face at close up for absolutely no reason for what I assume amounts to more than half the entire running time of the film. All in all, I think it was a total waste of time.

A lifelong cinema buff, I am finding it increasingly difficult to commit to a movie for more than 15 minutes. With Top Gun Maverick, I have literally prayed that it doesn't end - it is 2 hours and 10 minutes but not a minute too long. A cinematic masterpiece is a true gem of a film in which you would not change a single scene. Well, Maverick is the only one I have come across in years. You come out convinced that there is a reason why Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise. Top of the class acting, directing, screenplay and character development and - needless to say - truly unbelievable aerobatics. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry and it makes you cling to your seat - barely able to remember breathing. If you want to remember how it felt to genuinely enjoy a movie, please see Top Gun Maverick. A real tour-de-force.