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This movie is basically paying homage to Top Gun. The same team that made that movie a success got together to create another pumped up movie.

Cruise plays Cole Trickle, a very cocky and smooth indy car driver that lost his ride and decided to head to NASCAR with team owner Tim Daland,(Randy Quaid), and be coached by legendary crew chief Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall). During the Daytona 500 Cole and nemesis Rowdy Burns are involved in a nasty wreck that hospitalizes both of them and threaten to end their careers. They become friends but Cole realizes his mortality and must overcome it if he is to ever race effectively again.

This has better romantic chemistry than Top Gun. Due in part to the fact that Cruise and Kidman really were attracted to each other and we know the rest is history. The action scenes are great and filmed superbly. It's also a very loud movie. It received an Oscar nomination for best sound. It's just another mindless action movie to help relieve boredom. 7 out of 10.

The producers, director and star of Top Gun get together again for this above average racing drama. Its nowhere near as good as Top Gun of course but its no disaster. Tom Cruise is good as the daftly named racing driver Cole Trickle and the ever reliable Robert Duvall offers classy support. Michael Rooker is excellent as Toms rival and Randy Quaid shows a more serious side to those who only know him from the Vacation movies. Surprisingly the usually good Nicole Kidman is rather bland as the love interest although to be fair she's not given a heck of a lot to work with. The music is of course all important in a movie like this and it has a pretty good soundtrack including Maria McKee's Number One hit Show Me Heaven, but again Top Gun had a much better soundtrack with Hans Zimmmer no match for Harold Faltermeyer. Tony Scott directs with his usual style, if you have seen Top Gun or Beverly Hills Cop 2 you'll no what to expect, very flashy and VERY LOUD. With a slightly less predictable story this could have been a lot better but as it is its a pretty enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours.

I was surprised as I watched "Days of Thunder" that I was enjoying the film. After all, I don't really care much for auto racing nor am I a Tom Cruise fan. But still, it's a pretty good film and I was pleasantly surprised.

The first portion of the film is great. I enjoyed watching Cole (Cruise) rise from a talented but ROUGH rookie to his finally becoming a winner. Much of this is because, unlike his films like "Top Gun", Cruise's character isn't so cocky. He needs to learn a lot...and is willing to admit it. It's pretty exciting, too, as he battles his nemesis, Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker).

Midway through the film, Cole and Rowdy are involved in a wreck and are briefly hospitalized. There, Cole becomes mesmerized by a sexy doctor (Nicole Kidman) and to me, this was a huge distraction from the plot. It didn't feel real and I wanted to see Cole back behind the wheel. Does it get better when he resumes racing? Find out for yourself.

It's funny, but as I watched I realized that the plot to "Talladega Nights" really is much like "Days of Thunder"...with dopey (and hilarious) comedy and a much, much dimmer leading man! In fact, seeing both would make for a nice double-feature...one good serious film about NASCAR and one insanely stupid one!

Days of Thunder" is a classic racing film that has a lot to offer to fans of high-speed action and heartwarming drama. Directed by Tony Scott and starring Tom Cruise, the movie tells the story of Cole Trickle, a talented and ambitious NASCAR driver who dreams of becoming a champion. While the film may not reach the same heights as some of Cruise's other iconic roles, such as Maverick in "Top Gun," it's still a highly entertaining and enjoyable movie.

The film is full of thrilling and action-packed racing scenes that captures the intensity and danger of NASCAR racing, with high-speed chases, crashes, and pit stops that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The sound design and cinematography are also impressive, with the revving engines, screeching tires, and dynamic camera angles adding to the excitement of the race.

The visuals are backed up by a great cast, Tom Cruise delivers a charismatic and engaging performance as Cole Trickle, capturing both the character's cockiness and his determination to win. Robert Duvall is also excellent as Harry Hogge, the grizzled crew chief who takes Trickle under his wing and helps him hone his skills. The chemistry between Cruise and Duvall is a highlight of the film, with their mentor-mentee relationship providing some of the most heartwarming moments.

Nicole Kidman as Dr. Claire Lewicki, the neurosurgeon who treats Trickle after a crash, and Michael Rooker as Rowdy Burns, Trickle's fierce rival on the racetrack. Randy Quaid also delivers a memorable performance as Tim Daland, the owner of Trickle's racing team.

However the film can be somewhat formulaic and predictable. The plot follows a familiar sports movie template, with Trickle overcoming various obstacles and setbacks on his way to the championship. Some viewers may find the plot and character arcs to be somewhat cliched and lacking in originality.

Despite its flaws, "Days of Thunder" is a highly enjoyable and entertaining movie that delivers plenty of thrills and heartwarming moments.

While it may not be as iconic as some of Tom Cruise's other films, it still holds up as a fun and exciting racing movie. Whether you're a fan of NASCAR or just looking for an adrenaline-fueled action flick, "Days of Thunder" is definitely worth a watch. So grab some popcorn, buckle up, and get ready for a wild ride.

I like NASCAR, and I enjoyed Days of Thunder. The opening sequence at the Daytona 500 gives me goosebumps and makes me want to crank up the surround sound - a homage to NASCAR, the late 80s, and Americana. There were other fun sequences in the movie, like when Cole Trickle is crashing his car every week and when his crew played a prank on him after winning his first race. The movie came out during the height of the "Tom Cruise is Cool" era. And, Cruise is cool in this movie. Robert Duvall, who plays his crew chief, is even better in the film.

That said, there were so many errors in this film, it's laughable. The racing shots were taken from real races, and the film editing did a poor job of disguising real race cars (like Dale Earnhardt's No. 3) for fictional ones. The timing is off. There's a scene where Tom Cruise is talking but his lips don't move. There's another scene where a character in the movie calls him Tom instead of Cole - really inexcusable that a error that big was missed. The scenes of cars ramming into one another while leading the race wouldn't be possible in reality: they would wreck or cause too much damage to remain at top speed.

By conventional standards, it's a terrible movie. But, somehow, it's still a fun movie! Action on the race track is similar to the action in the sky in Top Gun. If you're up for a little escapism and wish fulfillment, then Days of Thunder lives up to the billing. But, if you're a critical viewer, you won't be impressed by this film - unless you're looking for ways to laugh at its mistakes.