Review of Red Dawn (1984) by Zane T — 19 Jan 2009

Only a movie that takes itself so serious could actually be so silly. Back in the 1980's, former Presidents Carter and Reagan, apparently both unable to control the problems in the Middle East, decided to reinvent the Cold War.

This movie, like The Day After, is one of those This-Could-Happen movies that really can't happen. If the Soviet Army is so skilled they can ovetake a town in hours, then how come they can't kill a bunch of teenagers with no prior military training? This movie has been called to right wing and conservative.

Actually, it is a complete parody of conservatives. All that "I regret but I have one life to give for my country" code of honor. This is a very corny movie. The only American military person in this movie played by Powers Boothe is portrayed as a drunk.

Why is Bella, the Cuban colonel the character who seems to have the most rational thought and show some humanity at the end. The only members of the Wolverines to survive is the wimpy Danny, obviously a liberal, and Lea Thompson's character because Jennifer Grey's character died to give Patrick Swayze's Jed some need for revenge.

The whole Grey-Swayze thing doesn't work, maybe because they couldn't stand each other during making this movie. 25 years later and this movie is as ludricrous now as it was then.