Speed & Angels (2008) User Reviews

A beautiful insight into what it takes to become a fighter pilot...

[matthewdcowan · 9/10 · 31 August 2008]

I disagree entirely with a previous comment about this being a "Mockumentary" of Top Gun. Sure I can understand how the two can be linked - both were about training to fly F-14's in the US Navy, and both were about fighter pilots, but the similarities stop there.

This DOCUMENTARY is about two REAL people, and their struggle and achievements in fulfilling their dreams to become naval aviators, fighter pilots, they have had their whole lives.

Top Gun was an amazing film, but a fictional film. It had some of the best footage ever seen on film of dogfights and flying jets, and so does this film - and what makes it more special is the footage is real. Real in as far as real people flying real jets in real life situations... Doing it for real.

This film is about realising dreams, the struggle to get to the top, and the highs and painful lows that come with the realisation of those dreams. It's about more than just the flying and the dogfighting, it's about more than just the two "stars" of the film, it's about the Navy as a whole, it's about the families of those involved, and it's about the passion.

I have no ties or links with the film or the film-makers, or even the US Navy. I just sat and watched it and was blown away. If you liked Top Gun, and if you like jets (especially F-14 Tomcats), then this film is for you....

Compelling stories, excellent flight footage, some questionable statistics

[tom-s-opp · 7/10 · 13 January 2009]

Many of the statistics claimed by Captain John Cole ("Sir Buckethead") range from dubious to patently false. First, he claims that 1 of every 1,000 applicants get into the Naval Academy, or 0.1%, whereas the actual figure according to the College Board is 14% or approximately one in seven. Captain Cole was off by a factor of 140.

Captain Cole also claims that only 1 of every 10,000 applicants are admitted to flight school, 30-40% of admits graduate flight school, 15% of graduates get jets, and 1% of pilots with jets get to fly to F-14. By Captain Cole's statistics, if every person in the United States Armed Forces in a given year (approximately 2,900,000 active and reserve) applied to flight school, 290 would be admitted, 87-116 would complete flight school, 13-17 would get jets, and 0.13 to 0.17 people would get to fly the F-14. The Navy, then, would produce a new F-14 pilot once every six to eight years.

Captain Cole ends his random-number-generating soliloquy by pointing out that when he went through flight school 1 in 10,000 aspirants got to fly the F-14, but today the figure is probably around 1 in 100,000. Again, if every member of the United States Armed Forces aspired to fly the F-14, then only 29 would achieve their goal. More realistically, if every member of the United States Navy (about 332,000) aspired to fly the F-14, then, only 3.32 people would make the grade, which would leave 1.32 F-14 pilots after accounting for Jay and Meagan, but also would not match his previous claims above.

There is no doubt that operating air superiority fighters like the (now retired) F-14 is a highly sought-after gig in the United States Navy. However, the producers of this film could've performed a bit of vetting on their interview subject's claims before deciding to include his commentary in the final version.

As a former Tomcat support crew, it was interesting and true

[mdbizzarri · 9/10 · 18 February 2018]

I worked in VF21 and 154 in Japan, which was my 2nd and 3rd squadron. I think this movie is as true as they come from a Naval aviation standpoint. The amount it takes to even get the opportunity to fly, and the amount of responsibility they have is incredible. We would make fun of J.O.'s as much as the new enlisted, like they kind of show, as what they do can put us all in danger on the deck, which you got to see in the film. The fact that an entire carrier is there to help support 120 pilots, aircrew, and the nation's interest, and the sacrifices that both the people in the service, and the families that support them is well represented. It wss fun to relive a lot of memories and explain things to others. I highly recommend this movie, and hope that Jay and Meagan are still flying, as it's people with their drive and attitude that help the guys on the ground, and people all over the world.

Excellent movie; superb production values

[GoUSN · 4 November 2010]

As a former naval officer (non-aviator), I was interested in the film as fellow wearer of the uniform.

The movie told the real story of two dedicated people who persevered and achieved their dreams, motivated by my favorite impulses: patriotism, duty, and the quest for achievement and excellence. This makes for a perfect feel-good energy that permeates the movie - from scenes at the VFW hall to vignettes of their middle America lives.

I've read mention of Top Gun in these reviews, and wonder "what's the point?" Top Gun is entertainment in its own right, as is Speed & Angels in its right. There really is no point in comparing them, and I don't quite "get" the purpose of doing so.

So, if you seek a patriotic uplift, and restored confidence in at least some of our young people's sense of duty, watch this movie.

Following the beginning of two US Navy F-14 pilots careers.

[kdv911 · 10/10 · 18 May 2008]

This movie is very realistic and very accurate as to what these pilots go through.

The movie shows the life of two new fighter pilots, one male, the other female, who undergo training to fly F-14 Tomcats for the US Navy. The director effectively portrays the trials and struggles of not just getting accepted into a naval aviator program, but also the difficulties, physically and emotionally, of being a fully trained pilot, on the seas, away from friends and family.

This documentary was filmed in approximately 2003-2006 period, couple years after the start of the US/Iraq Conflict in the Middle East. This movie has always been enjoyable to watch with great visuals and sound, as well as all the interviews that were integrated into the movie that has created a documentary film without a narrator.

The finest aviation movie I have ever seen!!

[Scoobyjelly · 10/10 · 2 March 2018]

I thought "Speed and Angels" was the finest aviation movie I have ever seen!! Forget "The Blue Max", "TopGun", "Flight of the Intruder", the oldie "Battle of Britain",etc. I felt all the emotion and thrill and pressure those guys were going through as each phase of training was conducted and then the actual fleet deployment. A must see for any F-14 enthusiast or anyone interested in Navy jet training in general.

Goosebumps!

[lyndainsd · 10/10 · 15 February 2020]

As the proud daughter of an F-4 pilot (Vietnam) I absolutely LOVED this! My heart is still beating fast! SO good. Get Jets!

Great look at the world of a young US Naval Aviator

[OldStreetDoc · 8/10 · 2 September 2023]

This was a really good & quite informative into what it takes to enter US Naval Aviation since the turn of the 21st century. Sad as well though, as we see a young pilot become rated & qualified to fly the F-14 Tomcat, knowing (now) that this was the final group ever to fly that incredible machine. From the outside looking in this was a tough pill to swallow as the Tomcat was what drove so many of us to become pilots, whether military or civilian. Because the true 'star' of 'Top Gun' was the F-14.

'Fly on the wall' style docs can be risky considering what the audience is exposed to vs what they miss. Thankfully the amount of interview & voiceover time ensured that everything flowed smoothly, while still allowing quite a lot of information to come across to the viewer.

All in all... VERY well done. One of the best aviation centric films I've come across. It's no wonder why this is the #1 aviation themed, especially military aviation themed, films that other pilots/aviators point to.

A 10/10.

Succinct in Sixteen

[unclesamsavage · 7/10 · 22 June 2021]

Jet footage unlike any I've seen plus endearing personal tales of two aviators preparing for war.

Screenplay...................................... 6 / 10 Interviews........................................ 8 Visuals................................................ 8 Sound................................................... 6 Editing................................................ 6 Music....................................................... 5 Timeless Utility................................. 7 Total.................................................... 46 / 70 ~= 6.6 (which I rounded to 7) Verdict................................................. Informative / Enjoyable for the Appropriate Audience.

Top Gun, the mockumentary

[Karl Self · 4/10 · 16 September 2008]

When I first handed in my comment, six users had rated this movie, each giving exactly 10 points, creating an average of 10.0 points. Back then I commented: "Guys, if you're trying to push your movie, make it a bit less obvious please." In reaction someone reported my comment as "abusive" and it was consequently removed. Honi soit qui mal y pense ...

But about the movie: Speed and Angels offers a lot of eye candy in the form of a documentary about two fighter pilots (one of them -- a woman!). Neutrality or a balance of views are never the issue here, instead we are treated to a sort of Top Gun with real people, which looks nice enough as it is very well filmed and, overall, effective in making war look fun.

And yet this movie only proves how far ahead of its time Top Gun really was. Speed and Angels has a female flight cadet, whereas Top Gun in 1986 already had a female instructor, that very MILFy Kelly McGillis. So Top Gun wins once again!