Rating: 3.5 on 4 /
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Tag Line: In our time, no foreign army has ever occupied American soil. Until now.
Directed by John Milius
Starring Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey
THE PLAN: The Cubans and Russians team up to invade the United States for World War III, and it’s up to eight high school kids in the Colorado Rockies to stop them. Wolverines!!!!
THE KILL: In high school, when I should have been paying attention in class, I often starred out the window and daydreamed about random shite, like porking the entire Cheerleader squad, porking my hot English teacher, and what I would do if the school was taken over by enemy troops, being a terrorist situation or simply the next World War. Little did I know that this idea (about the enemy taking over a high school, not about porking Cheerleaders or my hot English teacher) had been fleshed out on the big screen already in the 1984 classic RED DAWN. At the time, I hadn’t seen RED DAWN, but later discovered this gem well out of high school and have been a fan of it ever since.
Most likely inspiring the Chuck Norris actioner INVASION USA (check that RA HERE), RED DAWN takes the political tension between the U.S., Russia, and Cuba, and slaps a big ‘what if’ in our faces, envisioning what would happen if the tension between the three actually boiled over to the point of a third World War. But instead of one unstoppable man named Chuck Norris, there’s eight high school kids who say “f*ck this,” and have the balls, the strength, and the firepower to back it up.
Rocking one of the most spectacular opening sequences in American cinema, RED DAWN gives us a glimpse into American life in the Midwest, a morning that’s like any other morning. That is, until the Russians fall out of the sky, firing their automatic weapons, blowing shit up with their rocket launchers, bringing out tanks, and firing away on their heavily armed helicopters. Yeah… all this for one sleepy little Colorado town. Easy take over, right? Maybe… except for the band of high school kids who escape to the mountains.
The highlight of Howell’s career: in the middle of a Swayze/Sheen sandwich.
This isn’t your average group of high school kids—Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, and (later) Jennifer Grey and Lea Thompson. Big names now, but not in 1984 when this beast was released. With Swayze being the oldest, he’s the obvious choice as the group’s leader, holding out in the mountains, buying time before they’re saved. But when the Calvary doesn’t come, and it appears like there’s no sign of victory in site, the group does the only logical thing… they fight back!
And when this group fights back, they fight back HARD! Taking on their school mascott’s name, the group goes by the Wolverines, and systematically begins taking out the Russian and Cuban forces. They set up booby traps, they gain control of weapons, they begin to strike fear into the enemy. They’re a solid team of mercenaries, and they do exactly what you’d dream of doing if you were in a similar situation: fight fire with fire and WIN!
WOLVERINES!!!
Politically charged for the time, watching RED DAWN now is somewhat comical in its showcasing America’s anit-communism, anti-Russian, and ani-Cuban belief system. If you don’t believe America was scared during the Cold War, RED DAWN is the perfect example of exploiting that fear (invading U.S. soil) and taking it to the next level. Because the Wolverines hold themselves up in the mountains, taking out the enemy one by one, I was heavily reminded of another 80s classic—FIRST BLOOD (check that RA HERE). There’s also similar themes of LORD OF THE FLIES, with the dynamics of the group keeping the story going. When they’re not blowing away the enemy, they’re feuding between themselves, exploring what would happen when the government is gone, and all that’s left are a group of teenagers who have a lot to learn about life.
There’s a reason why RED DAWN is considered an 80s classic. Besides it rocking an all-star cast (with appearances by Powers Booth and Harry Dean Stanton), it took a ludicrous concept at the time and made it a reality, using teenagers to represent the vulnerability of what most Americans felt at the time. Of course, the extreme action, extreme violence, and ridiculously high body count (130+!!) also had something to do with its popularity, as it doesn’t hold back on the firepower just because it starred a bunch of kids—in fact, they may have even pushed it up a notch.
I can’t tell… are we supposed to be in the snow, or in the desert?
If you’ve ever had the thought of what would happen if your high school was taken over by invading forces, and only you and your friends were coy enough to get away, then RED DAWN is for you! With an impeccable cast, and one of the coolest opening sequences ever filmed, RED DAWN is an 80s classic that deserves to be at the top of anyone’s list. Wolverines!!!
Trailer for RED DAWN!
TOP DEATH: The teacher’s death in the beginning is easily the best death—not because he deserved it, but because it was so shocking and unexpected.
TOP ACTION SCENE: Like any war movie, there’s plenty of action sequences to keep you on your feet. Besides the amazing opening sequence, the Wolverines attack on the town’s factory/enemy base is one to root for, as they take the small army by surprise… killing them all!
TOP HOMOEROTIC MOMENT: Swayze and Sheen’s brotherly love feels a little more than brotherly! Their constant terms of endearment and acts of affection throughout the film makes me believe they loved each other a little more than brothers are supposed to.
FEMALE EXPLOITATION: What was exploited is the high school fantasy of nailing Jennifer Grey and Lea Thompson at the same time. Sure, it doesn’t happen at all here, but it’s hard not to think about what you would to do in a situation like this.
What do you say Lea, should we nail this guy or what?
TOP LINE/DIALOGUE:
Harry Dean Stanton (Swayze & Sheen’s Dad): Boys! Avenge me! Avenge me!
Swayze …Well, who is on our side?
Powers Booth: Six hundred million screaming Chinamen.
Swayze: Last I heard, there were a billion screaming Chinamen.
Booth: There were.
DRINKING GAME: Everytime the Wolverines outsmart the Russians, you have to drink!
TRIVIA:
RED DAWN was considered the most violent film by the Guinness Book of Records at the time of its release, with an average of 2.23 acts of violence every minute.
RED DAWN was the first movie to be released with a PG-13 rating.
Let the invasion begin!
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