Research Technical Analysis: Top Gun (1986)

This is my analysis of 1986 film Top Gun
Genre: Drama, Action

 Box Office: Worldwide $356,830,601 (17 February 2013)
Director: TONY SCOTT
Awards: 9 won and 5 nominated

In the opening scene all the viewers are introduced to is a montage of clips from an air force ship and all of the different jobs, this shows all of the elements that go into this job at this time.


Like many films from this time the first thing we see in the opening  of the film is an ident of paramount pictures. This reflects to the audience that this is who made the film and that they are important. Also if it is a production company that they know and like the films by them, then it might give the film a better chance of being successful.

 The ident then continues from a moving image of their company to post production text on a black back drop, this black back drop with the thick white text will set the tone of the opening credits as serious and it will then also subconsciously make the viewers think that it is a serious movie that you need to focus on and not be distracted.

 The theme of the white text on a black back drop is then continued in the use of emphasising the names of the producers and the importance of them in the creation of the film. These names are also the only names shown before we see the name of the film which again highlights their importance.

Using post production text the viewers are told that the film is based on true events and the facts behind it, if films are based on true events it makes them more appealing as the viewers know that these situations are real and they will start to put themselves int the situations which will then draw more attention as they will want to find out the ending.

In even bigger and thicker white text we are told the name of the film, this post production text makes a big statement to the viewers as when it comes onto the screen we start to hear non-diegetic sound of a score with an additional overlay of diegetic ambient sounds of plane engines and people mumbling. This score is called danger zone which links to the sense of danger in the film.

 We then cut from the black back drop to a slow pan of sunrise with silhouettes of people and fighter jets, this establishes that it is set at a military air base, and the loyalty needed as they are there 24/7, this again reminds the viewers that the is serious film with an action element as we can see the fighter jets are shooting off and the day has barely started.

Worms eye view is then used, this shows us plane wheels and peoples feet. this links to the archetype that people in the army have big intelligence and are highly skilled. This also reveals to the viewers that it is important where the shot is taken and the scale of the operation as they can see many feet running around.

The camera ten uses a focus pull, this focuses on the hand signals, which then re-lays the importance of signals and the communication between each other in order for he military operations to work, it also emphasis the intelligence and high skill that will be shown throughout the rest of the movie.



This is a very rare position in the clip to place the establishing shot because normally in most films where they have used an establishing shot they will put it at the beginning of the clip, where as in this clip it is further in. The establishing shot is of the ocean with an air force ship and a plane about to land on it. This shot signifies to the viewers that they are in the middle of nowhere flying fighter jets, are they in battle? are they hiding? its questions like these that will start to build up in their minds.

This is a wide two-shot and i chose to write about this shot because it shows the costume of the characters and how they are all wearing the same one, this shows the archetypal role that men are independent and strong, it is shown by giving them military uniform. Also it gives the viewers a time frame of when the film is set by the style of their costume, and make-up, by the style of their moustaches and hair.


This is the clip of the intro that I analysed: