Red Dawn was made near the end of the cold war.
Tensions had been high for over a generation and people worried what war with Russia might mean. This film asks the question, What if ? And offers it’s own action packed, violent and patriotic answer. The movie was the first to be given a PG-13 rating, for it’s violence made it unsuitable as wholesome family entertainment, but it lacked the proclivity of an R-rated film. It actually held top spot for the most violent movie for years. Red Dawn almost 2 violent incidents for each minute of film, even though it is missing the gory details that we have since gotten used to seeing.
Many heart-throbs of the day starred in this imagined-war picture including Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey before Dirty Dancing skyrocketed them to stardom, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell and Lea Thompson. Red Dawn was extolled for its portrayal of true patriotism by conservatives, while liberals viewed it as a glorification of gun culture. At the time, Red Dawn was a box office draw; which just exemplifies how much things have swung left since then. By 2012, it’s remake also titled Red Dawn, using North Korea as the enemy, failed to even gross enough to cover it’s production budget. And now 10 years later, well…I’ll let you answer that one
Foreign paratroopers land outside of a Colorado high school and begin their attack. Several “kids” flee to the mountains and band together in a resistance force. Every morning is a Red Dawn as the Red flag with the hammer and sickle is being planted on US soil. The take away from Red Dawn is that it’s about facing one’s fears, the harsh realities of war and fighting for what you believe in. Given the current conflict with Russia, this an appropriate movie to revisit. Because let’s face it, if our way of life is true and dear to us, then it’s something we should be ready to fight for. Otherwise, the battle is lost before it begins.
