At this point, mentioning or dwelling upon the unrequited homosexuality of Top Gun is old news. Tarantino made hay with it in Sleep with Me (the only reason why anyone remembers that navel-gaze of a picture), but it’s not as if some critics missed it at the time (Pauline Kael also pointed out the boys affections for each other). But watching it now, with the volleyball game, the oddly nonsexual relationship between Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise, all the locker room scenes, and the dialogue, which includes the exchange – when talking about fighter piloting – Pilot #1: “This gets me so hard.” Pilot #2: “Don’t tease me.”

Seriously, the jig is up.

The plot revolves around Maverick (Cruise) learning to control his inner demons (he’s a... god damn it, a Maverick who doesn’t play by the rules) to be the best of the best. He’s partnered with Goose (Anthony Edwards), and when he saves a friend from dying and goes up against some Russian migs successfully, he gets sent to the Top Gun Academy, where he learns from Viper (Tom Skeritt) and Jester (Michael Ironside), and goes up against Iceman (Val Kilmer) and his co-pilot Slier (Rick Rosovich) to be the best of the best.

Tarantino’s reading is not far from the truth, and there’s no denying that a jet is a phallic symbol, but the greater question the film asks is about men’s homo-sociality. The film was a huge success in 1986, and the question the film’s success asks is: were they aware of how gay this movie is? Or was that element seen as something for the ladies? Director Tony Scott knew he was skirting homosexuality, as one of his great models for the film was the photographs of Bruce Weber. Was this Scott’s commentary on the action genre, and the military? I have no idea, but he’s not afraid to acknowledge that he was playing up the gay elements. Or perhaps he’s pulling a Ridley and rewriting the film. Somehow I doubt it.

The easiest explanation for the film’s success is obvious: It’s jet porn. There’s something about seeing modern technology act with precision that is thrilling, and the film is filled with great aerial sequences, footage that has not been matched in the interim. Not even in Stealth. And then you’ve got Cruise - who was a huge star in his time, and to a certain extent still is doing exactly what people love from him. And Tony Scott shoots the thing (with Jeffery Kimball) in a very stunning, beautiful hue. Scott was – and still is – besmirched for having cut his teeth on commercials, but the man knows how to shoot and how to cut. Or hire cutters. Doesn’t matter which. Actually, now more than ever the seams are showing on how it was put together, but the film still manages to get a great sense of momentum going. The plot is not only shopworn, it’s explicated at length. Characters talk in such a way that there’s no mistaking what’s going on. There’s zero nuance to the film (which works for it). Everyone lays their emotions bear, there’s nothing to miss in the film (except the all the codified homosexuality, I guess). Time and this metatext has been kind to the film. And – as always – its one of the premiere demo discs.

The film comes in pristine anamorphic widescreen (2.40:1) with the soundtrack in 51. TrueHD and 6.1 DTS-ES. The picture quality is a leap above the previous two disc DVD set (by leaps and bounds) while the soundtrack is modestly better (less compression), but is mostly just rocking. KENNY LOGINS IN THE REAR CHANNELS WOO WOO. The film also comes with a commentary by Tony Scott, Jerry Bruckheimer, co-screenwriter Jack Epps, Jr., and technical advisors Captain Mike Galpin, Pete Pettigrew and Vice Admiral Mike McCabe. Tony Scott says Dark and esoteric once or twice. Yeah. But Tony’s a hoot, and the track is good fun.

Extras include the two and a half hour documentary on the making of, which covers every aspect of the film, and features interviews with Kenny Loggins, Berlin’s Terri Nunn, Tony Scott, Val Kilmer, Tom Cruise, Rick Rosovich, and on and on (No Tim Robbins or Tarantino, though). It’s exhaustive without being exhausting, and thoroughly entertaining. “Best of the Best – Inside the Real Top Gun” (28 min.) gives a look at the real training that goes on for Navy people. There’s two multi-angle storyboard sequences (4 min.), period “Tom Cruise Interviews” (7 min.), “Behind the Scenes (6 min.) and “Survival Training”(8 min.) featurettes, four music videos, and seven TV spots.