Red Dawn (1984)

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Blistering performances.

We are from Alabama and we lvoe MAGA, God and America and this film showed the heartland will pound the Cubans BUT also our Russian friends used to be our ebemy but now because of the genius of President trump they are our only allies and friends. so watch enjoy but it is dated history MAGA

As propaganda artists go John Milius is up there with Eisenstein and Riefenstahl. In terms of right wing paranoia in the eighties this film is not only the perfect showcase specimen, it is also full of desirable teenage heart throb actors making the paranoia so much more relatable to the average movie goer.Technically speaking the film is a testament to a perfectionistic preoccupation with the Soviet union as the enemy. Rarely will you see a film from the eighties with actual Soviet weaponry (usually you'll see Chinese copies, such as in Rambo) or this attention to detail. And as far as the plot is concerned, it might seem ridiculous today given that we know perfectly well that the Soviet Union was collapsing from within at the time the film was made, however this film is based on contemporary strategic analysis from various US defence and intelligence institutions.One often overlooked aspect of this film, as well as Milius' other efforts, is that while the film is certainly pro war, pro guns and masculine to the point of being kitsch is that war is realistically portrayed as having human costs. psychological trauma, death and suffering is integral to the story, and never glossed over.While this film is far from my own political views, it's truly a masterpiece and deserves attention as a diorama of a prolific world view in the eighties.

I have seen so many reviews who think the plot is ridiculous and the message is bad. Anyone who thinks it was ridiculous was born after 1990 I guarantee. At the time, it was not far fetched, but most kids today say "who cares about when it was released, it's stupid to me". How naive. Please don't comment on things you know nothing about. This was not far fetched at the time. It was a huge stretch, but not impossible. I don't comment on the plausibility of movies in the 60's, so please do not judge movies that were released before you were born. You don't know me, but trust me, this was not far fetched in 1984. Now I am sure people think we were just idiots if we think this was possible, but again, if you were not alive then, you have no clue what it was like then, so please just shut up. I know most on the left are used to movies that make war out to be horrible, and guess what? So does this one. While it's patriotic, it also shows the enemy as human, and war is fruitless. But it also shows it's OK to love your country. I don't know why so many hate this movie, simply because there is a love of country. Yes it's over the top. But it seems that most movies from Hollywood with war must show how bad America is and how bad war is to be considered "good". Sorry it shows people will fight for America. Unfortunately, this movie seeems to fall into the left hates it and the right loves it. It is so much more than that. Your politics will decide if you like this it seems, but try and get past that, and enjoy this. It is a deep movie with multiple messages. You will want to fight for America after this if it comes to that, but you will also pray for peace. Too bad so many just use their political views to judge this movie, because it has something for both sides and it really is a wonderful movie if you can move past picking apart a few unlikely scenarios. So many who claim to be "enlightened" sure are close minded with this film. And the music is incredible too btw. Best score in a non Star Wars movie in along time. Get past your politics and try and enjoy it.

It is the dawn of World War III. In southwestern America and Colorado, a group of teenagers bands together to defend their town, and their country, from invading Soviet forces."Red Dawn" is one of those films that becomes legendary in hindsight. With Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Lea Thompson and more before their biggest roles, you cannot help but be impressed by the ensemble cast. But despite that, there is a lot left wanting here. Much of the plot is nonsense. We are given the impression that either a) the Russians control this one city in the middle of the country or b) they have taken over most of the United States overnight. I am not sure which is more hard to believe.The message is also very unclear. Coming from John Milius, there has to be a message. He is a towering personality, with strong opinions. But is this pro-war, anti-war, pro-freedom? We cheer for the Wolverines, but at the same time we see the Cuban (or Mexican?) colonel in a very human way, and at one point the question is bluntly asked -- how are we (Americans) different from them (Russians)? The answers are hard to find.