by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
We all have that feeling. You know the one: you finish watching a movie and something about it hits you in just the right spot. Whether it was the theme, the story, or even the characters, there was a quality about it that almost makes you want to turn around and go back a second, third, or even fourth time!
Bar the reality of living in the movie theater for the rest of your days, you turn to the rest of pop culture and start to look for other avenues where you can find that same feeling.
Well I’m here to make this plight easier for all. Each month, I take a piece of pop culture that was prevalent in the social consciousness — whether it is a movie, TV show, or something else — and then recommend other forms of media for those who want to stay in that world a little bit longer.
Welcome to your One Stop Pop, internet!
Here we are, the second Tuesday of the month, and I have returned with a brand spanking new One Stop Pop for you all. There were certainly a lot of different TV shows and movies that sparked conversation this month, and many different ones that I could easily make lists for until kingdom come.
However, today we’ll be focusing on one of the movies that came out at May’s tail end, and shockingly managed to impress, excite, and engage audiences with its quality. That movie is Top Gun: Maverick.
Coming out 36 years after the original that has somehow managed to stay within cultural memory to such an extent, Tom Cruise’s revisit into the life of a fighter pilot has blown up both in the box office and in the critics’ hearts. Who could have thought that an unwanted sequel from a questionable nostalgia film could achieve so much?
Well, it has, and I’m sure there are more than a few of you who want to keep that adrenaline rush going. So without further ado, let’s get into the recommendations…
Video Game: Ace Combat 7
To begin with, I want to recommend the obvious. Something that is about as high stakes, thrilling, and adrenaline pumping as you can get without physically getting in a high-speed jet yourself. That is, one of the most aptly developed flight sims to date: Ace Combat 7.
While it is available on the traditional consoles and is heading to platforms, the real kick is from when you break out the VR headset and quite literally put yourself in the driver’s seat.
With 28 different aircraft for you to try from, this game has been developed so that you truly feel every bank, every turn, every olly in the sky, to the point where you might even start to feel a little bit woozy.
However, don’t be mistaken — you’re not going to immediately drop into the game and get to play with the fastest models out there. Oh, no, siree. If you want to have that experience, you’ll have to work for it. Making use of a tech tree, Ace Combat 7 starts you off on older basic models and makes you work your way up to the fancy machines and maneuvers. Just like Maverick, Iceman, and Rooster, you’ll have to prove your worth before you’re given the keys to the big leagues.
If this sounds like something that is worth your while, you can find it on the Playstation, Xbox, and PC.
TV Show: Snowpiercer
Maybe what really hit you like a ton of bricks was seeing Jennifer Connelly on your screens again. Strong brows, flowing raven hair, and a career to be rivaled, Connelly’s turn as Penny Benjamin is already being praised by many fans and critics.
But where can you see more of her? Especially in a role that might give her more action, and more authority? Well folks, I present to you Snowpiercer.
A TV adaptation of the 2013 Bong Joon-ho Movie, we meet Jennifer Connelly’s Melanie Cavill as the head of the train, and pseudo Wilford. Rivaling Daveed Diggs’ Andre Layton, it’s the battle between the head and tail of the train that we know well from the movie with many, many twists.
Connelly shines in her role as a conflicted villain-turned-commander who embodies the cliché of doing the right thing in the hard way. Along the way, you’ll love her, hate her, miss her, want her to die already, and really feel the decisions she has to make, even if it goes against every fiber of her being.
It really is a show that has exceeded my expectations for certain, and after a slow start, the second season especially takes you for many a ride — pardon the pun.
If that sounds interesting to you, check it out on HBO Max.
Book: The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by Heidi W. Durrow
A little-talked-about element from the original Top Gun movie that is only built upon in its sequel is this idea of expectation, loss, and of course, PTSD. Having to somehow take what is impeding you from moving on, through fear, flashbacks, and cold sweats, and push through in order to achieve your goal and potentially save lives is always worth exploring.
In addition to this, as mentioned, there is also the theme of parental history — the weight of those who come before, and living up to their expectations and memory. It can be an unbearable wall for anyone to climb, and can certainly lead to it defining a person beyond the obvious.
Both of these elements are also present in Heidi W. Durrow’s novel, The Girl Who Fell From The Sky. This debut novel set in the ’80s, follows Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a Black G.I., as she becomes the only survivor of a family tragedy. Now having to live with her strict African American grandmother, and move into a mostly Black community, Rachel has to learn how to progress beyond the overwhelming grief she feels every day, as well as come to peace with her biracial status and identity in a world that wants to see her as either black or white.
Winner of the Bellweather Prize for Fiction, Durrow’s novel is both an intimate and open look into what it is to have your identity defined by those who have come before, while trying to make your own way in a cold, harsh, and expectant world. It’s deeply personal and universal, while also serving as important education for those who have yet to experience such a story.
Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookseller or library to check it out!
Music: Vox Humana — Kenny Loggins
We started with the obvious, and we shall end with the obvious, but not in the way you’d think. We all know the song “Danger Zone”, one of the defining songs of the original, and of the ’80s as a whole.
So it would seem obvious to just recommend the original soundtrack; however, that has probably been on repeat in many households for decades at this point. Instead, I’m actually going to suggest you check out the artist of “Danger Zone”, Kenny Loggins’ album from the year before the original film’s release, Vox Humana.
Hosting nine songs, its sound has been attuned to that of the pop-kitsch movement of the era, where rhythms, and tones were experimented with to achieve a truly unique sound. It’s a bit weirder than what one might expect, but the exciting notes that shot Loggins to fame with his many many infamously soundtracked songs are alive and well in his album.
A particular favourite to focus in on is “Forever”,which ended up charting upon its release, and hitting off spectacularly with Loggins fans in particular. So for a bit of music history, and a nostalgic sound, this is not one to be missed.
Find the album on Spotify or your preferred player today!
And there we have it folks — that’s another month of strong suggestions provided for all you film fans out there. Whether you’re wanting to explore the rush of fighter jets, the prowess of acting royalty, further explore some truly human themes, or just have a great time with some new old music, there should be something here for you.
I shall return to recommend something from June’s oeuvre next month, and see what is blowing up the skies that people desperately need more from.
Until then, thank you for visiting SiftPop’s One Stop Pop. We hope to see you again soon!
You can follow Alice-Ginevra Micheli on Instagram and Letterboxd