QuoteI Watched China's 'Top Gun' — So You Don't Have To
'I feel the need, the need for 速度!'
The Chinese government wants to take you into the danger zone. In 2011 Beijing released Sky Fighters, China's answer to Top Gun. Like Top Gun, it's about fighter pilots waging aerial war for their country.
But that's where the comparison ends. Made by the Chinese military as domestic propaganda, Sky Fighters is possibly the worst movie with fighter planes ever made. And that's saying a lot.
The film imitates Top Gun relentlessly in scene after scene, but in many ways it's the American film's exact opposite. While Top Gun is proof that a cheesy film can still be immensely enjoyable, Sky Fighters proves that a movie with fighter planes can actually be pretty awful.
Not quite Maverick and Goose. Sky Fighters screengrab
Sky Fighters is a movie about the pilots of Air Division 903, a storied unit of the Chinese air force that has turned out "tens of generals" during its illustrious history. The action starts with two pilots engaged in air-to-air combat training. Yin Shang Hu, the cocky upstart, outmaneuvers his superior officer, Yue Tianlong, by using the famous Pugachev's Cobra aerial maneuver.
The rest of the film is hard to describe, because Sky Fighters doesn't really have a plot. It's merely a collection of incidents that prove the superiority of the Chinese system, as advocated by Yue.
Which system? All of them.
In lieu of a plot, Sky Fighters poses a series of challenges to Yue Tianlong, each of which he excels at. One of the main themes of the film is the friction between Yue and Yin Shang Hu over 903's training. Yue thinks they should focus on "researching and drilling," which sounds like oil fracking, but in reality is a hallmark of socialist-style air force doctrine. His junior commander believes that practicing aerial acrobatics is better. The film implies Americans and European fighter pilots are only interested in aerobatics.
You can see where this is going.
No. Not the same thing as Top Gun. Not at all. Sky Fighters screengrab
The film constantly apes Top Gun, but if imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, Sky Fighters still manages to insult the original with one poor imitation after another. In Top Gun, Tom Cruise wears a leather flight jacket while riding a Kawasaki Ninja 900 motorcycle with a "NO WIMPS" sticker plastered on the side, as Kenny Loggins howls Danger Zone and two Pratt & Whitney TF-30 turbofan engines roar. It's cheesy, but it's become a pop culture icon partly because it's real.
In Sky Fighters, that scene somehow becomes an ornithologist on a cheap Suzuki bike pacing a pair of J-10 fighters. A woman sings in the background in Chinese operatic style, the jet noise barely noticeable. And instead of being filmed with real jets, the entire scene is a combination of blue screen and CGI so bad it looks like a cut scene from a Facebook game.
The boys of Division 903 fly inverted above an American F-16, just like in Top Gun. But it's not funny, it's lame; it's been done before with real planes. Yue even requests to do a fly-by. But his "salute to the Motherland people" is just as tame as it sounds, nothing like Maverick's in-your-face buzzing of the control tower.
J-10 from 903 Division hunts chases a hostile drone. Sky Fighters screengrab
The film does break with Top Gun in a few standout ways: the protagonist of Sky Fighters, Yue Tianlong, is about the opposite of Tom Cruise's Maverick as one could imagine.
He doesn't have a cool call sign, just a three-digit number. He isn't a junior pilot with a dead father complex thumbing his nose at authority—he's the commander of an air division. He is authority. He doesn't seduce the beautiful blonde intelligence contractor. No, he's married to a woman never seen outside of a military uniform. He's not prone to unorthodox piloting, he's a strictly by-the-book pilot. Yeah, he's really boring.
Unlike in Top Gun, the maverick fighter pilot is the antagonist. You were looking for a rebel hero? You're not getting one. Why? Because the Chinese government doesn't want rebels.
Roughly two-thirds into the film it occurred to me that Yue Tianlong isn't just the division commander: he's a stand-in for the Chinese Communist Party. He leads the division, providing leadership and direction. He's wise and hardworking, and when he gives instruction, people succeed.
Rarely has a leader cared so much for his troops. Sky Fighters screengrab
He even plays matchmaker, and when the division deploys to Xinjiang for exercises, helpfully brings along a bag of tampons for his female airmen. That isn't awkward at all! There's no end to his boundless wisdom and kindness! Why would anyone find fault with his appointed rule?
The use of CGI also leads to bizarre flying antics, such as when a computer-generated J-10 fighter drifts horizontally like a race car. Planes fly in straight lines at a 10-degree angle of attack. At one point the main character tilts the nose of his plane vertically and the plane plows forward through the air, belly first, for 24 seconds. To stirring orchestra music, of course.
In another scene, Yue's engine conks out while he's trying to teach himself the Cobra maneuver. Yue manages to set the plane down, only to have the landing gear collapse. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of Chinese engineering.
That's one way to put it. Sky Fighters screen grab
The Chinese Communist Party is ever-present in the film, represented by the division's political commissar. The commissar isn't like some nosy, Tokarev-waving, grim-faced Marxist-Leninist fanatic in the Red Army. Instead he's a plump, dumpy man whose broad face expresses concern at moments of key decisions. He doesn't seem to actually do anything. He's kind of like Counselor Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The film's subtitles ... well, if you've ever seen the subtitles of a bootleg Chinese movie, you know the lack of quality. Ironically, the poor translation only makes the film more enjoyable. Slightly more enjoyable.
Sky Fighters is Top Gun with the imagery preserved, but the life—and frankly any bit of joy—sucked out of it. It defies my attempts to make fun of it. Despite the occasional glimpses into real-life Chinese air force operations, it was boring. I couldn't wait for it to end.
The moral of Sky Fighters: authoritarian regimes can't do fun war movies.
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/2a454bf48e9d
I saw this and thought of Languish. :blush:
Follow the link for screen grabs, and a youtube link to the whole movie if you're curious (I'm not).
QuoteThe Chinese Communist Party is ever-present in the film, represented by the division's political commissar. The commissar isn't like some nosy, Tokarev-waving, grim-faced Marxist-Leninist fanatic in the Red Army. Instead he's a plump, dumpy man whose broad face expresses concern at moments of key decisions. He doesn't seem to actually do anything. He's kind of like Counselor Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
:lol:
Bullseye. Cpt. Picard has emergency. Counselor Toi furrows brow.
The Maverick-Iceman hug is the greatest moment in cinema. I don't see Chinamen match that.
QuoteSky Fighters is Top Gun with the imagery preserved, but the life—and frankly any bit of joy—sucked out of it. It defies my attempts to make fun of it. Despite the occasional glimpses into real-life Chinese air force operations, it was boring. I couldn't wait for it to end.
Why assume this is the way they run their air force?
Western war movies very rarely get it right, so I don't see why the chicoms could do better.
Quote from: The Brain on October 31, 2013, 03:19:49 PM
The Maverick-Iceman hug is the greatest moment in cinema.
Even better than Dolph Lundgren killing Carl Weathers?
Quote from: Siege on October 31, 2013, 03:21:58 PM
QuoteSky Fighters is Top Gun with the imagery preserved, but the life—and frankly any bit of joy—sucked out of it. It defies my attempts to make fun of it. Despite the occasional glimpses into real-life Chinese air force operations, it was boring. I couldn't wait for it to end.
Why assume this is the way they run their air force?
Western war movies very rarely get it right, so I don't see why the chicoms could do better.
They take female things.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 31, 2013, 03:26:01 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 31, 2013, 03:19:49 PM
The Maverick-Iceman hug is the greatest moment in cinema.
Even better than Dolph Lundgren killing Carl Weathers?
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I wasn't being serious.
I don't shit without a plan.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 31, 2013, 03:17:39 PM
QuoteThe Chinese Communist Party is ever-present in the film, represented by the division's political commissar. The commissar isn't like some nosy, Tokarev-waving, grim-faced Marxist-Leninist fanatic in the Red Army. Instead he's a plump, dumpy man whose broad face expresses concern at moments of key decisions. He doesn't seem to actually do anything. He's kind of like Counselor Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
:lol:
Bullseye. Cpt. Picard has emergency. Counselor Toi furrows brow.
:lol: "I sense a high level of stress in you, Captain."
Quote from: Barrister on October 31, 2013, 03:10:23 PM
QuoteI Watched China's 'Top Gun' — So You Don't Have To
'I feel the need, the need for 速度!'
The Chinese government wants to take you into the danger zone. In 2011 Beijing released Sky Fighters, China's answer to Top Gun. Like Top Gun, it's about fighter pilots waging aerial war for their country.
But that's where the comparison ends. Made by the Chinese military as domestic propaganda, Sky Fighters is possibly the worst movie with fighter planes ever made. And that's saying a lot.
The film imitates Top Gun relentlessly in scene after scene, but in many ways it's the American film's exact opposite. While Top Gun is proof that a cheesy film can still be immensely enjoyable, Sky Fighters proves that a movie with fighter planes can actually be pretty awful.
....
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/2a454bf48e9d
I saw this and thought of Languish. :blush:
And there's no elements of 'Top Gun' that could be seen as domestic propaganda for the US military ?
Seems like they thought, lets do some pro-military propaganda, looked at one of the most effective films and thought well just copy it, but failed miserably.
USA! USA! USA!
We win even with cheesy propaganda.
Quote from: mongers on October 31, 2013, 06:07:18 PM
And there's no elements of 'Top Gun' that could be seen as domestic propaganda for the US military ?
There are elements of every movie ever made that could be seen as propaganda for something or another.
Dokdo! :w00t:
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/513b93e52b84
The Archer Danger Zone commercial is probably better.
Well.....that's better than a lot of things.
Quote from: mongers on October 31, 2013, 06:07:18 PM
And there's no elements of 'Top Gun' that could be seen as domestic propaganda for the US military ?
Seems like they thought, lets do some pro-military propaganda, looked at one of the most effective films and thought well just copy it, but failed miserably.
Well, Top Gun does idolize the republican virtues that he USA want's it soldiers to display. Initiative, determination and courage.
Was Top Gun made by the US military?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 31, 2013, 06:48:06 PM
Dokdo! :w00t:
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/513b93e52b84
Whoa, and I thought the AI in Civ5 was making irrational defense decisions.
Quote from: Viking on October 31, 2013, 07:04:27 PM
Quote from: mongers on October 31, 2013, 06:07:18 PM
And there's no elements of 'Top Gun' that could be seen as domestic propaganda for the US military ?
Seems like they thought, lets do some pro-military propaganda, looked at one of the most effective films and thought well just copy it, but failed miserably.
Well, Top Gun does idolize the republican virtues that he USA want's it soldiers to display. Initiative, determination and courage.
Top Gun was made to be awesome and make money. Any comparisons to the actual US and USSR militaries were completely coincidental. Besides I think alot of the things in that movie would have gotten an actual pilot court martialled.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 31, 2013, 06:47:30 PM
Quote from: mongers on October 31, 2013, 06:07:18 PM
And there's no elements of 'Top Gun' that could be seen as domestic propaganda for the US military ?
There are elements of every movie ever made that could be seen as propaganda for something or another.
Really every one? :hmm:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fheavyarmor.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fakir-nakesh-1.jpg%3Fw%3D640%26amp%3Bh%3D368&hash=75cc729c02f0f98b61a84b27b22ee93981bf52a7)
I want these pigs.......destroyed
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 31, 2013, 09:14:53 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fheavyarmor.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fakir-nakesh-1.jpg%3Fw%3D640%26amp%3Bh%3D368&hash=75cc729c02f0f98b61a84b27b22ee93981bf52a7)
I want these pigs.......destroyed
:(
(again)
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 31, 2013, 09:14:53 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fheavyarmor.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fakir-nakesh-1.jpg%3Fw%3D640%26amp%3Bh%3D368&hash=75cc729c02f0f98b61a84b27b22ee93981bf52a7)
I want these pigs.......destroyed
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 31, 2013, 06:47:30 PM
There are elements of every movie ever made that could be seen as propaganda for something or another.
I think the studios aim to please the politicians as a way to please their consituents. If a majority vote Republican, they'll produce dramas like Rambos and Top Guns. If a Democrat is elected, they'll go for stuff like the Insider.
Quote from: Valmy on October 31, 2013, 07:32:05 PM
Besides I think alot of the things in that movie would have gotten an actual pilot court martialled.
the general public does not know that... and it probably boosted recruitment for the US Navy & Air Force.
The pilot would have at least got a serious warning. There was a pilot whose parents live not far from me. He used to come and "visit" with his F-18, getting way low, slowing and suddenly accelerating to make a lot of noise, shaking the plane to say hello and such. It was funny. But lots of people got scared and complained, so eventually, he got officially warned and grounded for a little while. And he didn't even get close to an Air Control tower.
Quote from: viper37 on November 01, 2013, 01:59:29 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 31, 2013, 06:47:30 PM
There are elements of every movie ever made that could be seen as propaganda for something or another.
I think the studios aim to please the politicians as a way to please their consituents. If a majority vote Republican, they'll produce dramas like Rambos and Top Guns. If a Democrat is elected, they'll go for stuff like the Insider.
:wacko:
They'll produce anything they can make a profit off.
Quote from: viper37 on November 01, 2013, 02:04:05 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 31, 2013, 07:32:05 PM
Besides I think alot of the things in that movie would have gotten an actual pilot court martialled.
the general public does not know that... and it probably boosted recruitment for the US Navy & Air Force.
You are really stretching now. How can it be propaganda when it encourages the type of people doing the sorts of things the military does not want to enlist? And considering just about this time the military started shedding personnel like crazy recruitment was hardly a point of concern.
I do remember when Top Gun came out that summer, there were some stories in the news of recruitment tables set up in a couple movie theater lobbies, but that was after a few weeks of big box office money. It's not like it was a USN plot.
Hell, even I wanted in on the action on the way home from the theater.
"Dad, after high school I want to go to Annapolis and become a naval pilot."
"With your grades, you can pilot your navel anywhere you like."
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 01, 2013, 02:15:41 PM
I do remember when Top Gun came out that summer, there were some stories in the news of recruitment tables set up in a couple movie theater lobbies, but that was after a few weeks of big box office money. It's not like it was a USN plot.
Hell, even I wanted in on the action on the way home from the theater.
"Dad, after high school I want to go to Annapolis and become a naval pilot."
"With your grades, you can pilot your navel anywhere you like."
:lol:
Quote from: viper37 on November 01, 2013, 02:04:05 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 31, 2013, 07:32:05 PM
Besides I think alot of the things in that movie would have gotten an actual pilot court martialled.
the general public does not know that... and it probably boosted recruitment for the US Navy & Air Force.
Top Gun very noticeably did affect recruitment.
Quote from: Barrister on November 01, 2013, 03:51:04 PM
Quote from: viper37 on November 01, 2013, 02:04:05 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 31, 2013, 07:32:05 PM
Besides I think alot of the things in that movie would have gotten an actual pilot court martialled.
the general public does not know that... and it probably boosted recruitment for the US Navy & Air Force.
Top Gun very noticeably did affect recruitment.
I wonder what impact Stripes had
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
They make them based on being heckled on the internet. :P
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
Movies have to use 555-5555 as a default phone number because idiots try to call it up and talk to the characters.
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
:o :unsure: :Embarrass:
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_gun#Effect_on_military_recruiting
Quote from: PRC on November 01, 2013, 04:24:24 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
Movies have to use 555-5555 as a default phone number because idiots try to call it up and talk to the characters.
867-5309
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 01, 2013, 04:09:14 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 01, 2013, 03:51:04 PM
Quote from: viper37 on November 01, 2013, 02:04:05 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 31, 2013, 07:32:05 PM
Besides I think alot of the things in that movie would have gotten an actual pilot court martialled.
the general public does not know that... and it probably boosted recruitment for the US Navy & Air Force.
Top Gun very noticeably did affect recruitment.
I wonder what impact Stripes had
I read somewhere that
Apocalypse Now increased recruitment, which I found ... disturbing. :hmm:
Quote from: Malthus on November 01, 2013, 04:40:33 PM
I read somewhere that Apocalypse Now increased recruitment, which I found ... disturbing. :hmm:
Any chance to get close to Playboy bunnies.
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 01, 2013, 04:37:29 PM
Quote from: PRC on November 01, 2013, 04:24:24 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
Movies have to use 555-5555 as a default phone number because idiots try to call it up and talk to the characters.
867-5309
Dammit. IN MY HEAD NOW.
Stripes made me buy an RV.
Quote from: Barrister on November 01, 2013, 04:32:23 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_gun#Effect_on_military_recruiting
Not very convincing. A producer who wasn't involved in the project, and a supposed memo quoted in a book that was trying to make the point that Hollywood kowtows to the military? I don't see any real evidence here.
Quote from: The Brain on October 31, 2013, 07:05:33 PM
Was Top Gun made by the US military?
They helped. Film makers used to go to the military to ask for help with films. The military would look over the script and if they felt it was sufficently positive toward the military they may help out. They gave quite a bit of help with Top Gun I believe. Don't know know if they still do that, you can just conjure military equipment onto the screen with computer graphics these days.
They still help with movies.
Yep. Captain Phillips involved three USN warships.
It's not like tax dollars really pay for the movies, though. The producers pay the Navy for the time and afaik the wear and tear on their machinery and stuff.
Even if they did, if the government's going to spend money to support the arts, Tony Scott would have been a great man to start with. RIP.
Quote from: Razgovory on November 01, 2013, 05:41:58 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 31, 2013, 07:05:33 PM
Was Top Gun made by the US military?
They helped. Film makers used to go to the military to ask for help with films. The military would look over the script and if they felt it was sufficently positive toward the military they may help out. They gave quite a bit of help with Top Gun I believe. Don't know know if they still do that, you can just conjure military equipment onto the screen with computer graphics these days.
Obviously the military helped. Helping make a movie is not the same as making a movie.
Quote from: Razgovory on November 01, 2013, 05:41:58 PM
Film makers used to go to the military to ask for help with films. The military would look over the script and if they felt it was sufficently positive toward the military they may help out. They gave quite a bit of help with Top Gun I believe. Don't know know if they still do that, you can just conjure military equipment onto the screen with computer graphics these days.
The DoD helps all the time, but only participates and helps out as long as they agree with the script.
Top Gun yes,
Courage Under Fire no.
It's good to know they still help out.
Quote from: grumbler on November 01, 2013, 05:28:36 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 01, 2013, 04:32:23 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_gun#Effect_on_military_recruiting
Not very convincing. A producer who wasn't involved in the project, and a supposed memo quoted in a book that was trying to make the point that Hollywood kowtows to the military? I don't see any real evidence here.
Do you own research then. I'm not invested in the point to do much to try and convince you.
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 01, 2013, 04:37:29 PM
Quote from: PRC on November 01, 2013, 04:24:24 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
Movies have to use 555-5555 as a default phone number because idiots try to call it up and talk to the characters.
867-5309
604 area code?
In Sweden there was a surge of people who wanted to be fighter pilots after Top Gun.
Quote from: PRC on November 01, 2013, 11:17:27 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 01, 2013, 04:37:29 PM
Quote from: PRC on November 01, 2013, 04:24:24 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
Movies have to use 555-5555 as a default phone number because idiots try to call it up and talk to the characters.
867-5309
604 area code?
Area 54?
Quote from: Barrister on November 01, 2013, 09:51:39 PM
Do you own research then. I'm not invested in the point to do much to try and convince you.
You disputed a point by referencing a Wikipedia article. I am not interested in convincing you that Wikipedia isn't authoritative, but was pointing out to the board that your evidence is weak. I very much doubt that Top Gun, as you argue, "very noticeably did affect recruitment." It probably had some effect, but I doubt it was noticeable.
Quote from: The Brain on November 02, 2013, 03:52:28 AM
In Sweden there was a surge of people who wanted to be fighter pilots after Top Gun.
And in Sweden I'll bet there was a surge of people who wanted to be Jedi after
Star Wars.
Quote from: grumbler on November 02, 2013, 09:16:52 AM
Quote from: The Brain on November 02, 2013, 03:52:28 AM
In Sweden there was a surge of people who wanted to be fighter pilots after Top Gun.
And in Sweden I'll bet there was a surge of people who wanted to be Jedi after Star Wars.
I don't remember a surge in applications being reported, no.
I wanted to collectively strangle the Swedish people after hearing Cotton Eyed Joe
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 02, 2013, 09:22:12 AM
I wanted to collectively strangle the Swedish people after hearing Cotton Eyed Joe
That's not the spirit of the hawk. :(
Quote from: grumbler on November 02, 2013, 09:14:49 AM
Quote from: Barrister on November 01, 2013, 09:51:39 PM
Do you own research then. I'm not invested in the point to do much to try and convince you.
You disputed a point by referencing a Wikipedia article. I am not interested in convincing you that Wikipedia isn't authoritative, but was pointing out to the board that your evidence is weak. I very much doubt that Top Gun, as you argue, "very noticeably did affect recruitment." It probably had some effect, but I doubt it was noticeable.
They seemed to think it was noticeable in 1986 for interest in the naval aviation program, at least in California.
I doubt anyone actually collated authoritative figures though. And I'm guessing the effect was limited to the one branch of the service rather than to the navy in general across the country, not just in California.
http://articles.latimes.com/1986-07-05/entertainment/ca-20403_1_top-gun
Quote from: grumbler on November 02, 2013, 09:14:49 AM
Quote from: Barrister on November 01, 2013, 09:51:39 PM
Do you own research then. I'm not invested in the point to do much to try and convince you.
You disputed a point by referencing a Wikipedia article. I am not interested in convincing you that Wikipedia isn't authoritative, but was pointing out to the board that your evidence is weak. I very much doubt that Top Gun, as you argue, "very noticeably did affect recruitment." It probably had some effect, but I doubt it was noticeable.
It's hard to notice anything except polyps if your head is up your own ass all the time.
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 01, 2013, 04:37:29 PM
Quote from: PRC on November 01, 2013, 04:24:24 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 01, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Please. People don't make life changing decisions based on movies.
Movies have to use 555-5555 as a default phone number because idiots try to call it up and talk to the characters.
867-5309
With lyrics!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ou6DDG5e7I
Quote from: Agelastus on November 02, 2013, 11:55:15 AM
They seemed to think it was noticeable in 1986 for interest in the naval aviation program, at least in California.
I doubt anyone actually collated authoritative figures though. And I'm guessing the effect was limited to the one branch of the service rather than to the navy in general across the country, not just in California.
http://articles.latimes.com/1986-07-05/entertainment/ca-20403_1_top-gun
For interest by people who were already interested, as the article points out.
As i said, there was probably some effect, but I doubt it was actually noticeable. Had an increase in the number of actual recruits been noticeable, the Navy would have said so and the paper would have reported that. The Navy tracks numbers of actual recruits by the day, week, month, quarter, etc. No article I have seen has actually noted that there was a noticeable increase in recruits signing up.
Why are you researching this? Non-rhetorical.
Quote from: The Brain on November 03, 2013, 08:00:48 AM
Why are you researching this? Non-rhetorical.
I have no idea why they are researching this, either. It seems a moot point.
Quote from: grumbler on November 03, 2013, 09:33:52 AM
Quote from: The Brain on November 03, 2013, 08:00:48 AM
Why are you researching this? Non-rhetorical.
I have no idea why they are researching this, either. It seems a moot point.
You are obviously a very unhappy person. But I got a nagging feeling you'll never admit it to yourself.
Quote from: The Brain on November 03, 2013, 09:38:41 AM
You are obviously a very unhappy person. But I got a nagging feeling you'll never admit it to yourself.
:lol: Okay. I don't mind being unhappy, as long as I think I am happy.