The cult favorite “Red Dawn” is the latest ’80s hit to be put through the remake grinder.
But it’s safe to say any new “Dawn” won’t be as jaw-droppingly pro-gun, anti-Communist, rah-rah America as the original.
Let’s not confuse the ‘84 film for an action classic. It’s stilted, silly and downright episodic, all the while blowing up every item that enters the frame. And there’s more macho hugging in the film than we see in the entire “Entourage” series.
As a cultural artifact, though, it’s priceless.
“Red Dawn” takes all of a minute to kick start the story. Russia and its commie pals invade the continental U.S., while stunned Americans either get slaughtered or sent off to re-education camps.
A few surviving citizens decide to fight back, namely some high school football players led by a lean and mean Patrick Swayze – sans mullet.
In most ways, “Red Dawn” is so very, very ’80s. How ’80s is it? Well, it co-stars both Lea Thompson AND Jennifer Grey. The story is ripped right from the Cold War’s worst case scenario playbook, leaving little room for such niceties as character arcs.
We do see a lot of repressed crying and even a fledgling romance between Thompson’s character and a soldier played by Powers Boothe.
The movie can’t stand tall on craft alone, but its depiction of freedom lovers willing to die for their country, a country they actually seem to like, makes it feel darn near alien compared to the films coming out of Hollywood today.
No moral hand wringing. No questions about why they hate us. Just Swayze and co. emptying their guns at the fleeing comrades.
Better dead than red.
The DVD, re-released late last year, features a fascinating “making of” documentary.
“Screw politics. Let’s go kill some Russians,” says co-star Charlie Sheen as to why he signed on for the project. That, and the fact he was a young, struggling actor who needed the gig. Safe to say he wouldn’t revisit a similar movie now that he has “Two and a Half Men” money as well as a penchant for crazy conspiracy theories.
We even get a little gossip from the set. Grey and Swayze, the future Dirty Dancers, fought on the set, according to Thompson.
(Photo: “Wolverines!” – from 1984’s “Red Dawn.”)
Related posts:
on 
on 
on 
on 
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
According to rumors, the Chinese are the enemy this time which is pretty unrealistic, even more so than the Russian version. Most likely they’d be invading because, like any lender, they’d be taking back their collateral from the deadbeats who can’t pay – so technically it should be renamed “Repro Dawn” .
Sad to say that the most realistic “Red Dawn” story scenario in this era would be a massive popular uprising to kick the occupying Reds out of their base in Washington D.C. .
I never was able to endorse the original, but it did touch upon the brutality of an occupation, which I liked. And you can never have enough pro-gun films, good or bad.
The funny thing about Red Dawn is that the Cuban commander was the one lamenting that what the invaders were doing was wrong. Did Stone really write the script, because I can’t imagine Stone writing the same story today?
Red Dawn is awesome – in the cult favorite fashion. Killing commies a bad thing? I think not. I’m sure the re-make will be mediocre at best, but entertaining none the less. Although I highly doubt they will have the star quality as the original. If it isn’t a pro-gun movie let’s hope it isn’t anti-gun. Tough to kill pinkos with walkie-talkies. If done right I place the over/under on dead commies in the re-make at 113.5 WOLVERINES!!!
I equally am dismayed by yet another remake rather than an original (or at least, inspired “re-imagining”) and buoyed by interest in one of my favorite red-meat cable films.
I think that the success of “300″ demonstrates that an aggressive film like “Dawn” can find a sizable demographic.
~ Dagnabbitt
Wow, can’t wait to tell my husband (Ryan) about this. “Blasphemy” is what I think he will say. When we first met, he discovered I had never seen “Red Dawn.” Unacceptable, in his mind. So he ran out and bought it (said he’d always wanted it). We watched it and I have to say, I laughed a lot, and I’m pretty sure it isn’t a comedy. However, this is one of Ryan’s all-time favorite films from his childhood, and he still loves it.
I don’t think it should be remade. Perhaps if they crossed it with another Rambo flick? Rambo Dawn. That might work.
Despite my giggling throughout “Red Dawn” had one of the best dialogue bits/scenes in film history:
Jed Eckert: …Well, who *is* on our side?
Col. Andy Tanner: Six hundred million screaming Chinamen.
Darryl Bates: Last I heard, there were a billion screaming Chinamen.
Col. Andy Tanner: There *were*.
[he throws whiskey on the fire; it ignites violently, suggesting a nuclear explosion]
Egads, I love this film! Decidedly unwell made, yet a thorough kick in the pants. Basil Poledouris did his best work with John Milius (try and imagine Conan without the Poledouris soundtrack; you can’t). Wonderful little details like the Russian Hind attack helicopter essentially shrugging off a rocket attack and gunning down the kid who fired the rocket. And Ron O’Neal, from Superfly to Cuban occupier. Indeed: Wolverines!
Red Dawn was great for many reasons, just one being the almighty Powers Boothe. Loved him here, loved him in Tombstone and loved him in Brandon Lee’s Rapid Fire. An actor wouldn’t even sneeze at today.
I think I’ll have an 80s Armageddon night, Red Dawn followed by WarGames and maybe Demolition Alley.
Two things about my gf that surprised me. She cried (I think she still does) at the end of T2 when ol’ schwarzy dunks himself into the molten metal. The other is she has seen Red Dawn and LIKES it. Are you kidding me? This is the same person that will watch The Devil Wears Prada 3 times a day for months on end. At least she likes some cool movies.
red dawn ? as john mcenroe once said “you cannot be serious” in all honesty is that film meant to be a comedy? and if that is what the americans are really like then there is really no hope for them.john mcelhatton