Top Gun: Collector's Edition (DVD)

Top Gun, while known as a great popcorn flick, isn't exactly considered by movie buffs to be one of the all-time greatest, therefore you never quite know what you are going to get when a special edition DVD is released. It could contain a bunch of old stuff like the recent release of Predator did or it could be like the package Paramount has put together for Top Gun.

More than just a relentless high flying action piece Top Gun is also a romantic and emotional drama that appealed to millions on its release back in 1986 allowing it to have a theater run for over a year. Until now the story of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Cruise) as he experienced his ups and downs at the elite fighter school "Top Gun" had only received a regular VHS release and a substandard DVD release once the format hit it big.

Going above and beyond what you ever could have asked for Paramount delivers a special edition packed with up-to-date goodies as opposed to only offering up old featurettes that are limited in scope. Instead you get a massive audio commentary featuring producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Tony Scott, Screenwriter Jack Epps, Jr., Captain Mike Galpin, Technical Advisor Pete Pettigrew and Vice Admiral Mike McCabe and a brand new 6-part documentary that covers just about every aspect of the making-of Top Gun that you could ask for including word that a sequel was once considered along with some vintage on set footage that makes the whole thing well worthwhile.

However, while the special features are great, they aren't the major highlight of this release as it comes equipped with a 6.1 DTS Surround audio track and for you Lord of the Rings Extended Edition fans you know just what I am talking about. This audio track unveils sounds you never heard in the original mix and even the songs seem to have additional vocals that I never heard before.

It goes without saying that I was totally blown away by this DVD from the large group of TV spots, the music videos including "Danger Zone," "Take My Breath Away" and the "Top Gun Anthem," a final shot comparison to Tony Scott's original storyboards as well as the vintage featurettes that most movies like this only get with their special editions.

Top Gun is an 80s classic and one of the first movies that I can remember falling in love with, not only for its action, but for everything that makes this a great movie from the drama to the amazing soundtrack.

Whether you already own Top Gun on DVD or not this is a well worth it purchase, especially for those of you with the fully equipped home theater system, the DTS soundtrack propels this DVD into the upper stratosphere.