Chapter 342: Ascent On All Fronts
What came next was June of 1986!
Basically.... it was just the jet-flying and turbulence-blazing film's continued ascension from there.
Even Calvin joined in on the upcoming summer and fun with Top Gun.
What else other than ab-fest beach volleyball could encapsulate all that?
Hence...
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June 02, 1986. Monday. Calvin and Hobbes' Day Nth.
Little Calvin can be seen with shades. Looking cool but not exactly.
After all, he was just tossing and tossing and tossing a volleyball.
All the while, sucking at it.
"You might want to wake up to reality there, "Maverick"." Hobbes could only advise with sarcasm and truth.
Meanwhile, tired and volleyball-battered Calvin only had complaints. "Top Gun made this look so easy."
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Of course, as Calvin found out, it was not going to be so easy!
Aside from the proven threat of Cobra and Poltergeist's sequel... the next theatrical offerings weren't going to be as easy pickings as New World Entertainment's Jake Speed.
Then again, Top Gun was able to overcome those two. Given it had a lot more entertainment fuel reserves than O'rourke's child star appeal and Stallone's and Nielsen's husband-wife chemistry.
Anyways, during this early round in June, even pal Schwarzenegger had to go up against his director friend's work.
Too bad, his and DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group's Raw Deal wasn't exactly up to the mark, along with other new releases like SpaceCamp and Invaders from Mars.
It had to be noted that the Anti-Creed actually joined in on this line-up as well...
After all, Marvel Productions, known for Marvel animated shows, actually had an animated film.
This animated film is in partnership with fellow Anti-Creed Alliance Member, Hasbro!
My Little Pony: The Movie. Distributed by DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group once again.
It really begs the question of whether this DEG company had some beef with Creed or not.
If it did, then what even was it?
Then again, this film didn't even break the 500,000 dollar mark in its first week, so...
Clearly, Brony power had yet to make its mark.
Also, a score for Creed again and they weren't even trying.
Nor did they care.
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Without a doubt, the film was steady in its upward trajectory as it can be!
The film truly shot for the skies with well-suited splendor and sumptuousness, spotlighting the staggering spectacle of these sequences.
There is a surplus of storylines occurring simultaneously in Top Gun, however, the film never lets you forget that its primary focus is always on its astonishing action, first and foremost.
With some sincerely stunning sound design complementing these valiant visuals, it’s simple to see why fans flocked to take flight with the likes of “Maverick” and “Goose” in this summer of ’86.
In terms of big-screen blockbuster offerings, it was clear that Top Gun just couldn’t be beaten.
Countless character interactions simply serve as connective tissue for the aforementioned animative action sequences, with just enough depth for either the protagonists or the plot itself.
Even though much of the dialogue in Top Gun is overwhelmingly overblown and needlessly nonsensical, the film’s performers somehow portray this preposterousness perfectly, acting out the aggressive absurdity on display with reckless abandon and captivating crowds regardless.
Much has been said of the movie’s melodramatic machismo and this may certainly be some of the most chauvinistic cinema ever captured on camera, but even so, there is some sort of odd allure to these colorful, cocky characters, and the fact that the film seems to be 'in' on its outrageousness adds to appeal.
Few other cinematic scenes are watched on repeat as often as the infamous beach volleyball game, after all.
It’s a scene that any person who is attracted to the male form can appreciate.
In many ways, after taking all of the above into account, from the audacious action to the riveting romance, it seems as if Top Gun was practically scientifically engineered for success, with story elements that enticed each and every potential viewer around the world.
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It was clear that Top Gun was on a fast track for more ascent into metaphorical skies!
All the while that the film became a gem in cinema, the Navy somewhat unabashedly set up recruitment tables at theaters across the nation in order to attract ambitious applicants who left the film eager to emulate the efforts of “Maverick” and “Goose”.
They bravely wanted to go off to battle on behalf of their country; helping to explain an obvious steep spike in the number of men interested in pursuing US Naval Aviator placements.
Aside from expanding the Military’s engagement with prospective recruits, Top Gun has also been associated with aiding the military in its attempts to amplify public confidence in the armed forces, as polls posted about this topic took America by storm... indicating sky-high levels of support.
If the film was bashed for its pro-military propaganda... it wasn't exactly denying anything, was it?
Top Gun is military propaganda, you say?
Well, we, the Military, are here to say that you were right all along.
What do you want to do about it?!
Many critics, along with Platoon director Oliver Stone, didn't know whether to laugh or cry at such blatant obviousness.
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Aside from the unhidden propaganda-ic sponsorship, even something like the obscure sponsorship of Ray-ban got its aviator-themed rise.
No doubt, their silly and little sponsorship of the aviator sunglasses paid off. Even though it was an elderly film producer that convinced them to do so, so that he could offset costs in an already relatively low production budget.
Anyways, with Tom Cruise's popularization of their stylish product, the aptly-named "Top Gun shades" became a hit!
The company actually saw a huge increase in sales. In fact, demand for the style was so high that Ray-Ban had trouble keeping up with production!
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Yada yada...
Alexander's interests weren't exactly too glued for too long in such aspects.
After all, he still had his own businesses in mind.
He wasn't one to give their sponsors all the glory and benefit... he had to take action as well.
Even watches that had designs resembling those worn by the characters in the film quickly became a sought-after commodity...
Which was why Creed Entertainment's June activities weren't exactly that focused on just the theatrical side of things.
They were a company known to be active in outside-the-box office matters and it needed to step up on this front.
And step up they did.
The most obvious is, of course, the availability of Top Gun-themed toys in toy retailers near cinemas which are near you, the consumer.
The selection doesn't include action figures, to minimize likelihood conflicts, but it does have all the jets involved in the film.
It had to be noted that the fictional MiG-28 could have been the only thing available. It was the only thing that Creed Toys could own, after all.
Fortunately, the prospect of consumers only being able to buy commie-inspired antagonist jets didn't sit well with special higher-ups, so the TOPGUN jets and its likeness were approvingly licensed with a few tweaks.
No doubt, a balance was achieved and Top Gun fans can now interactively enact their new favorite movie with their new favorite toys.
Of course, for more "realism", the throwaway Creed Costumes was able to have its spotlight.
Ray-Ban's sunglasses and Top Gun watches were incomplete without a stylish bomber-style jacket worn by Tom Cruise.
Quickly becoming another iconic element of the movie alongside quotable quotes.
Aside from its cool style, the Maverick jacket is also functional, with several pockets that are perfect for storing keys, the "sunglasses", and other small items.
It was such a functional fashion statement and was paving the way for Creed's true return to the industry that the late Grandma Creed was passionate about.
Anyways, with such a listing, it only made sense for a Top Gun comic story to come up...
However, Alexander had to ditch that for certain reasons.
Either way, the next medium was no walk in the park.
Alexander had decided that 1986 was the year for video games and it just made sense for Top Gun to be entangled with it.
Creed Entertainment is known for synergy across entertainment mediums and with the new GameKey in hand, Alexander could really say that many things will rise altogether.
With this video game, Top Gun's obvious ascent on all fronts could only be more interesting.