All guns blazing

Tom Cruise is back, reprising the role that made him a heartthrob and all-action hero. And the ageless star doesn't disappoint.

It’s generally reckoned that the first summer blockbuster to take cinemas by storm was back in 1976, when Jaws hit the screens. Of course, there were big releases before that, but most experts trace the phenomenon back to Spielberg’s taut nailbiter film. So, it will be interesting to see which blockbuster is the big hit this time round.

The contenders include Jurassic World: Dominion, Elvis, Bullet Train, Lightyear – and the latest offering from the evergreen Tom Cruise.

MAIN ATTRACTION: Tom Cruise is at his best in the sequel to the film that helped to make him.

To be blunt, Top Gun – Maverick is quite simply superb. It’s heart-thumping, fuel-injected cinematic gold that delivers on practically every level. Released almost four decades after the original, it’s amazing to think these characters of the 1980s can inspire new generations who didn’t grow up singing Berlin’s anthemic title track at every opportunity.

But the real secret of the success of this film is simple: it never forgets you are there to see electrifying aerial scenes and gravity-defying stunts. And you do. And there’s plenty of them.

HEAD TURNER: Jennifer Connelly is the woman who catches Tom's eye in Top Gun – Maverick.

The plot itself – as if you cared – has echoes of The Dambusters and, to nit-pick, halfway in you can see where the plot is going and how everything is going to end. The plain truth is I didn’t care as I was enjoying the ride so much.

With so much to look forward to this year, the other contenders are going to have to go a long way to match this terrific film.

MOVING UP IN THE WORLD: Val Kilmer has become an Admiral in the years since the first film.

After so long, it really is incredible the sequel is this good. So, book your tickets as soon as you can and make sure you watch the ageless Cruise and his co-stars on the biggest screen possible – with the loudest sound system you can find.

It really will take your breath away!

Andy Godfrey is a founding member of the Mark Kermode Appreciation Society