Summary

Get an inside look at the real precision behind the thrilling Blue Angels performances in a new captivating documentary film.
Military discipline and teamwork take center stage in this immersive portrayal of the elite Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron.
For fans of Top Gun: Maverick seeking an adrenaline rush, The Blue Angels offers a close-up, non-combat display of jaw-dropping acrobatics.

When you think of films like Top Gun and its sequel, released many decades later, Top Gun: Maverick, the least you come to think about is the realism of those movies. The spectacular action sequences are only the tip of the iceberg of genre epics based on an impeccable blend of carefully planned stunts and special effects. The dramatic arcs often follow a coincidental encounter between characters who are supposed to believe in themselves in the most critical part of their lives. Nothing like that ever happens in real life, but in the audience, we’d rather believe in the possibility for the sake of a compelling film.

However, if your attention and taste for the genre demands further involvement in the story, a new documentary will shed light on the “what if…” No, we’re not talking about a Top Gun-like plot in which the integrity of the country lies in the hands of jet fighters in a race against time, or Tom Cruise, for that matter. We’re talking about something much more integral and sober that’s perfectly portrayed in The Blue Angels, a documentary feature by Paul Crowder (yes, the musician-turned-editor who worked in films like The Cove and Dogtown and Z-Boys), in which one of the few real things about the Top Gun universe is explored: What if someone could fly a plane with that precision?

Produced by J.J. Abrams and Glen Powell (Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick), among others, the film has a direct relationship with Joseph Kosinski’s film, as it has camera techniques that were previously featured in the movie, with much of the footage primarily shot with IMAX cameras. Now think of one thing: How did they use those giant cameras to shoot inside a 22-ton jet that was often information with others, with only 18 inches between them? Sometimes, the magic of cinema is not only achieved with special effects that make you believe in what is not there.

What Is The Blue Angels About?
The Blue Angels (2024) Soar with The Blue Angels in a brand-new documentary featuring never-before-seen footage that chronicles a year with the Navy’s elite Flight Demonstration Squadron—from selection through the challenging training and demanding show season—showcasing the extraordinary teamwork, passion, and pride that fuels America’s best, the Blue Angels.Release Date May 17, 2024 Director Paul Crowder

The Blue Angels is a documentary feature recently released on Prime Video, and had a short theatrical run in IMAX theaters, in which audiences can evidence firsthand the insides of a military institution that’s part of the U.S. Navy. The Blue Angels are the group that’s documented in the film, and they’re a group of pilots who tour North America, offering flight demonstrations that defy the rules of physics. The Angels are a select group, and in the aerial displays they perform in front of thousands of people, only six pilots are in the air. But on the ground, their crew extends to dozens of military volunteers and workers who help achieve the unimaginable.

The film navigates through the process of expert pilots becoming Blue Angels. In meeting rooms where only a carefully selected group witnesses the thorough planning of the routines, we see them grow into the perfect executors of shows where there’s no place for error. Then, as the audience departs from the ground carrying state-of-the-art cameras, we witness formations where mammoth-like machines dance and twirl around for the pleasure of those who remain on the ground. Needless to say, this is much better than a white-knuckle action movie because there’s no CGI involved. This is the real thing.

Related Top Gun Maverick: 10 Reasons it Surpasses the Original As one of the biggest action films in recent cinematic history, here’s why Top Gun: Maverick ended up better than the original.

Why Is The Blue Angels Perfect for Top Gun: Maverick Fans?

In The Blue Angels, the military is depicted as a highly disciplinary universe where you get to where you deserve if you only play by the rules. Or not. Maverick didn’t, and look where he got. But in the film, there’s no place for shenanigans of any kind. This is a serious exercise of precision, talent, and communication. A great example is when the Blue Angels “perform” the routine in their headquarters with their eyes closed, and the boss accepts errors with a frowning look.

For Top Gun: Maverick fans who need their adrenaline pumped up again, there’s nothing better than The Blue Angels, a film that shows the next best thing: plays not engaging in combat but performing the same acrobatics we see in the movies where everything is prepared, rehearsed and dramatized. However, there are other relationships with the sequel to Top Gun: Powell actually trained with the Blue Angels while preparing for his role in the film. Also, if you liked the camera work on Tom Cruise’s return to the franchise, you will get your fix, as many film techniques are replicated in the documentary for the sake of effect and getting the audience as close as possible to what happens thousands of feet in the air.

Related Why Tom Cruise Deserved an Oscar Nomination For Acting in Top Gun: Maverick Tom Cruise was snubbed once again for Best Actor at the Oscars for his role in Top Gun: Maverick. Here’s why he should have landed a nomination.

The Blue Angels Is an IMAX Experience Not to Be Missed

The Blue Angels is a solid depiction of military culture and how this is reproduced in offshoot institutions where discipline is still necessary, even in non-combat situations. That portrayal only makes it a noteworthy film. Additionally, including Amanda Lee as the first female Blue Angel is simply exciting to watch. Then again, a documentary of this nature exists because of what we see happening in the air. And saying it’s impressive this time, it’s an understatement.

Before browsing Prime Video, it’s worth checking out the local IMAX shows. The Blue Angels has been acclaimed by critics, sitting at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the film had a solid box office return of over $2.4 million during its IMAX run. Even though it’s still a documentary, the visuals are groundbreaking and exciting the way they were in Top Gun: Maverick. Seeing those on a gigantic IMAX screen is priceless. And yes, if you thought the legacy sequel to Top Gun was thrilling, this one will make you stand up and cheer, even though no missiles or shots are fired.

Here’s a trailer for Tom Cruise’s blockbuster which is mainly responsible for bringing cinemas back to life in 2022, Top Gun: Maverick: