Review of Red Dawn (1984) by Johnny T — 06 Jun 2012

The Why We Fight levels of testosterone don't exactly gain in credibility with B-movie bruiser William "Big Bill" Smith cast as an icy Russky badass named Strelnikov, C. Thomas Howell downing a glass of blood from a freshly slain deer ("You'll be a real hunter now"), or Harry Dean Stanton howling for his boys to "aveeeeeenge me!" Yet the film survives better today than such relics of the '80s as the Rambo movies, mainly due to the visceral force with which the director imbues his characters, young actors (including the a still-green Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, and Jennifer Grey), and James Fenimore Cooperish antics. Released in the midst of renewed Cold War nuclear dread, Red Dawn doesn't starve for unintended wackiness. Red Dawn is still forceful and exciting enough to satisfy even this pinko reviewer, and scarcely irrelevant in times when the nation remains waist-deep in another invader/insurgent mess. See Red Dawn only when you're in the mood for a guilty pleasure. Snicker at the Ramboesque quotable quotes, and ponder the fact that ultimately America was able to conquer the Soviets even without the help of the Wolverines.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).