We Feel the Need, the Need For Speed!

Say what you will about Tom Cruise’s career choices, religion, or personal relationships, the man has certainly made some fantastic action movies. Witness his sweaty brilliance firsthand tonight as 101X presents this week’s Summer Movie Series classic Top Gun.

Cruise plays Maverick, a Naval Aviator whose record is less than pristine due to his high-flying high jinks and general loose cannon-itude. He makes it into the elite Fighter Weapons School by the skin of his pearly whites, but finds that his reputation and lineage precede him, which is not a good thing. He must overcome loss and hardship to prove that he is worthy of the title of Top Gun. And he must ride motorcycles while giving 80s victory fist pumps, play lots of shirtless volleyball with other glistening, chesty men and serenade beautiful blondes in bars. Oh, and then there is that whole flying and shooting thing.

Top Gun created the largest swell of Naval recruits in the history of naval recruiting, and also gave us one of the best movie soundtracks of all time. If you can honestly tell us that the sweet sound of Berlin cooing “Take My Breathe Away” doesn’t fire up your loins, we will personally mail you a new heart. The song won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for crying out loud. Furthermore, Kenny Loggins' synthesized masterpiece “Danger Zone” never fails to makes us want to run in place.

Held on the grassy lawn at Central Market, the Summer Movie Series is free and all are welcome to bring their lawn chairs, blankets, etc. and get cozy. Our friends at the Alamo Drafthouse will be providing the projection and Central Market will be providing food and drink concessions, so we are not sure if you can BYOwhatever, but our philosophy is that it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. You will even have a chance to win “XIP” seats that include snacks, drink tickets and a $101 gift card to CM courtesy of Blue Moon, but you have to get there before 8:30pm to win.

Austinist wonders, "What is your favorite quote from Top Gun?"

101X Summer Movie Series presents Top Gun
Wednesday, July 11th
Central Market - 38th and Lamar
9pm, Free