Red Dawn (1984) - Full Reaction
Added 2023-08-28 08:00:05 +0000 UTCOoooookkkk this was crazy town, a lot of it didn't make sense to me and I craved deeper character development. Not my favorite but definitely something different. Let me know your thoughts on this one!
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Comments
I am turn age 61 next month, and respectfully, that is a preposterous scenario. Absolutely ludicrous.
Clay F
2024-06-27 08:16:19 +0000 UTCCassie: “You think this is how it would really happen?” Answer = No. This movie is a complete joke. The subtitles would not have helped. How could such a horrible movie win a poll? Must have been some heavy-duty nostalgia by some voters who watched the movie as a teen. I was age 21 and in college when the movie was released. As a young adult, I wanted to like the movie but found the movie absolutely ridiculous in so many ways. Not only the idiotic premise, but stuff like the fake hugs and fake cries in the midst of the idiotic premise. “Don’t you ever cry again, as long as you live.” – what a line. I had the reaction sentiment that Cassie did and asked similar questions. Cassie: “Couldn’t the army do something?” Answer = Yes. While the depiction of the untrained teen wolverines was ludicrous, the US military (unlike in the movie) would have taken care of business in short order. Yet, again, the situation was nonsensical -- even with the facts presented at the beginning of the movie. When Jed and Matt were at the fence crying and talking to their dad in such a preposterous scenario, and Jed says “I love you” – then as Jed and Matt were walking away, the dad screams “Avenge me!” – it was like an SNL skit. The movie was a like a series of SNL skits. With all this said – just my opinion and I am happy for patrons who love the movie and got to see Cassie react to it.
Clay F
2024-06-27 07:53:16 +0000 UTCI read The Outsiders book well before The Outsiders movie was released. The Outsiders movie is better than Red Dawn.
Clay F
2024-06-27 04:51:57 +0000 UTCThe phrase "this is so weird" sounds like something I was thinking during the initial 15 minutes when I first watched this movie. I wanted to like the movie, but by the end of the movie, I thought it ridiculous. I was age 21 and in college when this movie was released. I had a general comprehension of what the Cold War meant and Soviet/US motives and capabilities. I was no expert but was a news addict and read a lot, and paid attention to political/military happenings in the world.
Clay F
2024-06-27 04:46:59 +0000 UTCYeah, unlikely scenario. Seems like many commenters here who like the movie watched it in their teens. I was age 21 when the movie was released and wanted to like the movie but didn't. I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy the movie. I do like the cast.
Clay F
2024-06-27 04:28:51 +0000 UTCmy version has subtitles. Not sure why you didn't get them wherever you're watching from. It sure helps explain the story a lot better. Also Powers Booth the Pilot and Lea Thompson are only like 12 years apart.. not so cringy...
Ryan Towell
2023-09-16 11:43:57 +0000 UTCYeah you're a real charmer.. I'm in my 50's and this was a real thing back then. During the height of the cold war and the idea of Russia invading. This stems back to the early 60's w/ Cuba as well. I don't know where you grew up but in my school we still did drills in case of an attack or invasion etc. This was a bit "Hollywood" of course, but the idea behind it was a very real idea.
Ryan Towell
2023-09-12 05:34:06 +0000 UTCI concur.. Sean Astin, Will Weaton, Keith Coogan, Louis Gossett Jr. Really good, fun movie
Ryan Towell
2023-09-12 05:29:12 +0000 UTCYeah I had subtitles on and they worked, but when the other languages came in they stopped :( I guess it has to do with forced subtitles which amazon doesn't do? I don't know...
Cassie
2023-09-05 19:18:49 +0000 UTCI have always thought this movie was overrated. I only watched it today to see what you thought of it, but you also got robbed of the subtitles; I watched this on Prime Video, and they had them. If this ever happens to you again, you should pick another movie or at least ask a friend or patron to look and see if they are having the same problem. You could always email or Facebook me to look.
Eddie Perkins
2023-09-04 22:40:12 +0000 UTCIt’s been a while since I’ve watched this and after watching it again now it doesn’t really hold up very well. The low budget feel of it doesn’t really bother me too much but agree the dialogue wasn’t great and I thought the ending wasn’t very satisfying. But I don’t have a lot of nostalgia for it as it wasn’t one I watched a lot in the 80s/90s.
Dean Holt
2023-09-04 16:09:03 +0000 UTCRed Dawn was kind of like the Zombie version of WWIII movies. A Conventional war that doesn't go nuclear.
John Burns
2023-09-03 20:02:45 +0000 UTCThey nukes Vegas! LOL
John Burns
2023-09-03 17:33:27 +0000 UTCBecause there were two TV movies that came in 1983 and 1984. The first was The Day After, The Day After had one scene of people working at a grocery store, even though they knew that the missiles were in the air, strange scene, but the exchange of nukes and the explosions certain tried to show what that would look like in middle America. and the second made for TV series, from Britain, was called Threads. Threads (100% Rotten Tomatoes) was shocking, a far better movie than this, and it came out right after Red Dawn, in September. It went into detail, and yet it didn't. You'd watch characters travelling, and then... Nothing. What happened to them? Where did they go? That was all part of the horror. Red Dawn was cheese, but it did feel the need for a Hollywood ending, so that's what it gave you. But that's why it was so popular at the time. It was an easy movie to watch. None of the "where did they go?" of Threads, none of the depressing aftereffects of The Day After. Coming out in the summer, August, not earlier, as I'm sure there were bigger blockbusters, Like The Last Starfighter, I'm sure they were worried about the box office already. People wanted to go to a movie that they could turn their brain off and watch, it was like the WWIII version of zombie movies, but this also wasn't very long after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Plus, the Drive-in Culture hadn't ebbed much by 1984, and people wanted to get out and enjoy the summer. The following year Invasion USA came out, Chuck Norris's first of six movies with Cannon Films after his Missing in Action film success. Why set movies in Vietnam, when you can set them in the Good Old USA?
John Burns
2023-09-03 05:59:45 +0000 UTCAs to the reaction , I can see why this really wasn't a Cassie favourite. I hadn't really watched this since the late 80s on VHS. Its pretty corny in spots but I also don't have a real nostalgia for this particular movie but it was interesting having not seen it for 35 years? Again maybe being Canadian and having been slightly younger than some others posting. The Red scare was maybe a little more abstract to me growing up than actually fearing it day to day. Maybe it was an ignorance is bliss kind of thing. Definitely interesting though seeing some early performances from Swayze Chuck Sheen Jennifer Gray. The whole time too I'm could tell that Cassie had recognized her but couldn't come up with that's Lorraine Baines Marty McFly's mom for Lea Thompson.
Canadianant
2023-09-02 20:46:15 +0000 UTCFor anyone else curious on the subtitle issue, I started to watch it streaming on prime with subtitles on. (All character dialog printed on the screen) When the invaders showed up and spoke the screen had no subtitles. I paused both Cassie and my movie on prime and Shut Off! subtitles. When I started the stream again , the foreign language was then shown as English translation subtitles. The problem with this is I think for Cassie when she starts her review or watch she can't pause or stop the movie without throwing off the sync on both her and the movie hence why she if she had subtitles on when she started the movie she would never have got the foreign language to English subtitle. . There was something else I watched a while back where same thing I had subtitles on and then I got no translation and had to shut subtitles off to actually get the English translation subtitle
Canadianant
2023-09-02 20:29:58 +0000 UTCWhy doesn’t Cassie turn on the subtitles?
John Cranberry
2023-09-02 11:02:21 +0000 UTCIt was a lot more confusing without subtitles. This kind of thing could happen today.
Roger Wayne Alms
2023-09-02 03:38:11 +0000 UTCThis is what war looks like when it's in your streets and not in some far flung place with a strange name.
Godzilla Jones
2023-09-02 01:07:27 +0000 UTCThe director told Swayze to ‘take charge of the actors’, even off set and between takes. It was a kind of Method Acting direction. Since Swayze was the leader of the Wolverines, he would lead the actors full-time. This is why Jennifer Grey thought he was a bossy jerk and didn’t want to work with him on Dirty Dancing. But Swayze called her up, explained why he was like that in this movie, and was able to convince her to do DD. As Cassie will appreciate, they were BFFs after that movie, talking nearly every day until he died.
2-Can
2023-08-31 22:00:43 +0000 UTCI think what's going on in Ukraine is similar to Red Dawn.
Gideon James
2023-08-31 16:31:11 +0000 UTCThat's a good one too. Been years since I have seen it though.
Zachary K. (Verified Swiftie)
2023-08-31 16:11:11 +0000 UTCso you are one of the other 6 that has good taste! It's on my "request" list, just below Blown Away (w/ Tommy Lee Jones)
Mike H
2023-08-31 15:30:32 +0000 UTCWhat I like to see most is younger generations wathing 80s and 70s movies in particular (some early 90s also) as it brings back memories for me. I love movies and starting in about 1980 VHS started and you could rent movies and watch them at home. That was a big thing. Anyway, this was a dissapointing review, esp. the comment there wasn't much character development. I disagree, this movie had several great actors in their early days and didn't almost every character go through a clear arc of change as things went on, esp Robert?
Richard Bourne
2023-08-31 02:03:16 +0000 UTCCassie, I highly recommend Toy Soldiers (1991) high school kids but much much better.
Zachary K. (Verified Swiftie)
2023-08-31 00:11:09 +0000 UTCI'm 52. You are wrong. It was not an important movie to our generation. It was important to you and your friends, maybe, but not to the "generation." No one I knew gave a shit about this movie. It is a dumb and poorly-executed movie. Stop it with the generalizations.
Carol_White
2023-08-30 15:45:55 +0000 UTCThe Book, The Outsiders, was written by S. E. Hinton and published in 1967. The “S. E.” stands for Susan Eloise. She started writing the Novel when she was 15 and finished when she was 16 in High School. It wasn’t published until she was 18. Susan Eloise Hinton is credited with creating the “Young Adult” genre. I also Recommend, Rumble Fish (1983), directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel written by S. E. Hinton, who also co-wrote the film with Coppola. This film stars more young actors, Nicholas Cage, Mickey Rourke, Vincent Spano, Chris Penn, Laurence Fishburne and again with Matt Dillon and Diane Lane. After the Outsiders of course.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-30 14:53:37 +0000 UTCDitto . A movie about teenagers, for teenagers.
Bill Hayden
2023-08-30 11:14:43 +0000 UTCSo what does that have to do with my comment or the replies to it?
Mike Lemon
2023-08-30 08:50:47 +0000 UTCAnd... you just proved my point.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-30 07:37:30 +0000 UTCAnyone born after 1980?
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-30 07:35:17 +0000 UTCHey Cassie, I want to recommend another 80’s movie with a group of young actors, The Outsiders, which is a coming of age classic. Patrick Swayze is in it and the kid from this movie who drank the blood plays his little brother. Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise (before he was famous) Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon and Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid) If I’m remembering correctly, the book was very popular and an elementary school librarian wrote a letter to Director Francis Ford Coppola on behalf of her students to make it into a movie. She included a petition with pages and pages of signatures. Coppola had no interest, but was touched by the letter and ended up reading the book. The rest is history.
Tara
2023-08-30 04:39:56 +0000 UTCI watched this a lot when I was a kid in the 90’s
Robbie
2023-08-30 00:20:02 +0000 UTCThis is a common thing with reactors: Often, for whatever reason, they watch copies of the movies missing subtitles. It's especially perplexing since I've always assumed that these subtitles were a permanent part of the film print--kind of like when Jabba talks in Return of the Jedi.
WastedPo
2023-08-29 17:36:42 +0000 UTCAnswer- No.
My_Cousin_Mose
2023-08-29 16:50:28 +0000 UTCYes… that’s exactly my point.
Alex Gorell
2023-08-29 16:44:45 +0000 UTCOh yea that remake is a total disaster in several ways. Soulless Hollywood cash grab remake through and through.
KTVindicare
2023-08-29 15:08:59 +0000 UTCPoint made. Understood. Thanks.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 14:40:33 +0000 UTCYou shouldn't ASSUME. You're not very good at it, young man.
Bill Hayden
2023-08-29 11:18:48 +0000 UTC@Jim- Who didn't live through the Cold War?
Mike Lemon
2023-08-29 09:04:49 +0000 UTC@Larry Darrell: I don’t believe I said anything about the relatability of the characters. My point was simply that the underlying premise of the film was unbelievable. I also acknowledged, in a later post, that films such as this have to be accepted for what they are, rather than what we would have them be.
Just Plain Bob
2023-08-29 07:57:37 +0000 UTC"WOLVERINES" haha, I love saying that outloud lol! Great reaction Cassie, the look of shock on your face is priceless as always! It's kinda no surprise you probably didn't like this movie much, but at least you can appreciate it! I'm still glad you watched this movie, I watch it every year around 4th of July along with the other 8 films I've mentioned to you before! Me on the other hand, I've loved this movie growing up as a kid, what can I say, I'm an action movie junkie lol! As an adult I kinda put things together to get a better understanding of this movie and what's it's plot is! This is my own speculated opinion, so don't quote me on that, as shown in the opening credits about how certain areas around the world were disolving due to the cold war and NATO is completely down, this movie demonstrates a "what if" senario, if Russian and Cuban special forces were able to invade and occupy U.S. territories, disbanning freedom and capitalism and communism reigns supreme! The main premise is, not only that, but also "what if" a group of individuals, in this case teens forced to become men, became a splinter faction of freedom fighters and forming a resistance group to rise up and take back what's ours, kind of like a reverse revolutionary war, so to speak! That's just my speculation of this movies plot! To answer some questions you've had throughout this movie, the KGB is a Russian intelligence agency that no longer exists, it was disolved in 1991, the best equivalent to describe it like one of our own agencies is the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) One question I noticed you said in the reaction was "How did they get all these supplies?" Well, when you're fighting back against the enemy, it's usually wise to take their resources so you can use it against them, instead of using them against you, plus when it comes to bigger armaments like those jets, you got to destroy them! The element of surprise is a powerful ally in warfare! I must say Cassie, I'm impressed you recognized Jennifer Grey from Dirty Dancing also, this was the first time Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey worked together before Dirty Dancing, unfortunately they didn't get along to well while filming this movie! The capital of TX is Austin lol🤣 The actor playing the Air Force Colonel is Powers Boothe (RIP) you'd recognize him from Tombstone, he played Curly Bill Brocious! This movie isn't perfect I know, but it's still an entertaining movie! I know there's a lot of plot holes in this movie as well, like the part when the Spetsnaz (Russian Special Forces) were tracking them and it turns out one of them, Darrayl, went into town, got caught, and they made him swallow a tracking bug so that way they could be located! I know the ending is a huge bummer, seeing two of it's main characters, Swayze and Sheen, getting killed off, but it's the price you pay for freedom, the sacrifice in war, they had to do it as a diversion so the other two could make it out! I will admit, I'd probably change the ending as well, by having them both survive! One of the things that appeals to me about this movie, besides the action, guns blazing and explosions, it's the musical score by Basil Poledouris, who is also well known for making the music for Robocop, Conan the Barbarian, The Hunt for Red October, Free Willy, and Quigley Down Under, I highyl recommend you react to that one! His music in this movie really intrigues me, especially the end credits theme, I always listen to it while playing Fallout 4 the game lol! Anyway, really long comment, sorry lol! There's my commentary as I promised! Great reaction Cassie as always, I'm glad you somewhat enjoyed this movie! Have a great week, love and support, you (and Carly) are the best, [virtual hug] God bless you and your family, and as always [snaps fingers & winks] stay classy Cassie🥰😁😉😇🙏👍🌹
Wesley White
2023-08-29 07:55:29 +0000 UTC@Larry Darrell: Not that I noticed. You did liken the invasion depicted in the movie to a similar film being shown to Poles prior to the Nazi invasion of their country. I took your meaning to be that it's easy to find such things unrelatable until/unless you've lived through it or experienced such times for yourself. And the Cold War was scary. I thought it was a point well made. As for the Nazi/Communism debate - both are indefensible, reprehensible political philosophies that have resulted in the murder of millions. And both place the good of the state above the rights and dignity of the individual. I've always thought it was odd that the Nazi and Communist philosophies were so at odds, since they're more alike than they are different.
Just Plain Bob
2023-08-29 07:46:14 +0000 UTCWell said. Unless you lived it, you do not get it. The fears that us young kid had in the 80's (87 graduate) just do not resinate to todays young people. Cassie looks at his as a "fantasy" or "alternate reality" film, but for us, it was REALITY, which is why it resonates so much with us.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 07:22:01 +0000 UTCWell said.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 07:18:08 +0000 UTCAnd only people of that time can understand this movie. Younger than 50 will never get it.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 07:16:16 +0000 UTCA great point. BUT... this movie did not once metion Vietnam. Many people in this thread want to make this movie into "We won the war" scenario. But I LIVED through the cold war, and this movie IS NOT THAT. Watch the last 5 minutes! This is an ANTI WAR MOVIE!
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 07:10:52 +0000 UTCAs said by a person that did not live during the Cold War.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 07:07:13 +0000 UTCWAR GAMES!
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 07:05:55 +0000 UTCMovies are fantasies. I was involved in the internet years before "The Network Effect" movie came out, but I never shouted "FOUL!" It's a MOVIE!
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 07:04:50 +0000 UTCI disagree, Swayze character is an ex-jock and older then the others, therefore presented as the leader. These ar teenagers in a small town. High school students don't need a backstory. What I loved about this movie was in the first 15 minutes, we knew exactly what was going on. I love character development, but when it is not needed, it can sometimes make a movie better.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 07:00:50 +0000 UTCDid I defend the Nazis?
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 07:00:31 +0000 UTCNot sure what this has to do with anything. Alexander Haig was involved in the development of this film? I did not know this, but it makes me love the movie more. It makes it more credible. Did you NOT get the Cuba commanders note at the end of the film? This is NOT an US VS THEM film. This is an ANTI WAR film. C Thomas Howell's character is not a hero.. but a blood thirsty vigilante. Everyone but TWO survive. WAR sucks. THAT is the message of this film. FREEDOM COSTS. If anything, this is an ANTI Vietnam War movie. Sheen and Swayze are not HEROES. They start out that way, but devolve into the very people they are fighting against. The two that survive are the most innocent of the froup, representing the best of us all.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:56:59 +0000 UTCAbsolutely!
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 06:51:17 +0000 UTCI still don’t understand how poking holes in the Logistics of the Invasion, makes the characters’ stories and emotions they experience, unrelatable.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 06:48:41 +0000 UTCAgree.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:43:39 +0000 UTCThanks for explaining that
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:42:49 +0000 UTCWas this a "teeny bopper" movie? NO. Was this a movie appealing to teens that where dealing with the Cold War fears? Yes. But to compare this to a YA novel type of movie, shows me that you are too yong to experience the Cold War. This was REAL to my generation.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:41:48 +0000 UTCI mentioned "Threads" and "The Day After" in my review, but I like this movie, because it asks the question... What if no country reserved to nukes? Certainly the midwest is a total "soft target".
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:36:36 +0000 UTCFun story. Spielberg and Lucas swapped (Gross) Points for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Star Wars (1977), with Milius, for Points on Big Wednesday (1978). https://deadline.com/2010/05/how-steven-spielberg-and-george-lucas-caught-surf-bug-and-waved-bye-to-points-on-close-encounters-and-star-wars-39792/amp/ I Recommend… The Wind and the Lion (1975), written and directed by John Milius. Starring Sean Connery and Candice Bergen. John Milius also did Script work on the first 3 Jack Ryan films. The “Old Adversary” speech Connery gives to his men, was Milius.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 06:36:18 +0000 UTCAgain... Says a person that did'nt live though the Cold War.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:33:45 +0000 UTCSays a person that did'nt live though the Cold War.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:32:49 +0000 UTCYup
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:31:21 +0000 UTCSo after watching the live reaction... I have a few thoughts. Cassie said "this is so weird" during the first 15 minutes. As she was watching, she could not comprehend such a thing happening. But for us OLD people, this was our reality. We were in the middle of the Cold War, and an assault on the USA by Russia with Cuba's help was a REAL thing. Launching Nuclear weapons was a REAL thing. Hence movies like THREADS, and THE LAST DAY. These movies were REAL to us. Red Dawn and War Games meant so much to my generation, because they were REAL to us. Unless you lived through the Cold War, you will not understand. I grew up in Connecticut, and was thankful that the Navy base in New Haven was so close, that I would be target #1 and would be killed in a mili-second. These were the thoughts of a 13 year old boy. So next time you think you are living in a "bad" world... think of my generation. Hiding behind desks to protect ourselves from a nuke strike, knowing that we would be ash in seconds. This was not propaganda, like so much news is today. This was on the news every night. On the cover of TIME magazine, and what spawned movies like this. COLD WAR movies were a part of my life. Because we lived through it. You should watch WAR GAMES. That movie, like this one, changed my life.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 06:29:33 +0000 UTCAfter our Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, I felt a Red Dawn remake was just in poor taste. It didn’t feel right and it totally missed the point of the Original.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 06:19:06 +0000 UTCPretty sure if you're defending the Nazis as an acceptable alternative to living in the Soviet Union, and smearing the 20 million Soviet men and women who gave their lives to destroy the Axis powers in WWII, then you've lost the plot completely. Capitalism and colonialism has plenty of blood on its hands. Coups d'etat and assassinations against democratically elected regimes across the planet, training and arming fascist death squads, bombing North Korea and Indochina into the stone age (millions dead in pointless wars), aiding and abetting the Indonesian genocide, turning a blind eye to the Rwandan genocide, unleashing a civil war in Iraq which killed hundreds of thousands...come on guys, open a history book...
Patrick Flanagan
2023-08-29 06:17:59 +0000 UTCTrue. I sure think so.
Richard Bourne
2023-08-29 06:07:06 +0000 UTCThis was NOT a pro-war film, but it was a Patriotic film.
Richard Bourne
2023-08-29 06:06:38 +0000 UTCThere were A Lot of misunderstandings in this Reaction.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 06:02:31 +0000 UTCDanny: You’re never gonna know who won. Matt: Who will? I’ve always thought it strange that people saw this as a Pro War Film.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 05:58:33 +0000 UTCWell said Mike. After reading some comments, I do worry about your ending question. People don’t think of these things anymore, and assume it’s unrelatable. I wonder, if a similar type film was shown in Poland in the early or mid 30s, would they have found it relatable.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-29 05:56:42 +0000 UTC“Boaty” 😂 I think for someone seeing this film in 2023, your assessment was fair Cassie. I think if you saw it back in the 80’s, your opinion might be slightly different. I still think you wouldn’t like the end though! 😉 The movie hasn’t aged the best, but I still like the film!
Robert da Spruce
2023-08-29 04:59:15 +0000 UTCI am now watching this review again because it matters to me the review and some of the comments have surprised me. I am starting to think if you are under age 47 you just don't get this do you. I presume poeple younger than that do not remember the Sandinistas taking over Nigaragua in 1979 ... that was like another Cuba being taken over by communists, and it was scary. Would that lead to the fall of several other Central American countries, esp. if supported by the USSR? Check out the Tom Cruise movie AMERICAN MADE (2017) which explores this from the drug cartel perspective. Also, I don't understand why the subtitles were not working for Cassie, and yes that would make this movie more difficult to understand.
Richard Bourne
2023-08-29 04:43:11 +0000 UTCCheck out the remake (2012), it is really bad and makes no sense. Interestingly, it was made in Michigan (movie making tax breaks) and the original invasion was by the Chinese. Then MGM went bankrupt and it was held from release for several years. The Chinese then pressured MGM to spend a million dollars remaking the film to make the invading forces North Korean, which is impossible and makes no sense at all. I'm with Steve, this was a VERY important movie to those of us who were there back in the 80s, esp. as I was in High School at the time.
Richard Bourne
2023-08-29 04:22:33 +0000 UTCNever seen this before, and yeah it was not great IMO. No doubt it's a product of its time and seeing it in the 80's was a much different experience. Milius is responsible for some GREAT things in film history, but this was a rough one. I did think the third act was pretty good though, and Swayze gave a very good performance.
SeanATX
2023-08-29 03:43:29 +0000 UTCI'm very close to your age, actually slightly older. I have owned the DVD, and I think the VHS before that, and certainly have seen this at least 25 times over the years. Watching reactions of younger generations to movies like this which meant so much to us back then is a big reason I am here. It is of great interest to me, and I have to admit I have somewhat dissapointmed with Cassie's review. I wish Carly could have seen it with her as the best reviews usually involve both of them together.
Richard Bourne
2023-08-29 03:30:29 +0000 UTCI don’t understand the subtitle thing? I had subtitles for all of the foreign language, so I would think it is understandable if you watch it without that dialogue, you have missed a third of the character development, and a third of the story. I was trying to imagine what it would be like to watch the movie without the antagonist’s dialogue? I don’t think you can make a fair assessment of a movie that way? this movie does have a message, but you have to see both sides to get that message. My 2 cents anyway, Cassie.
Steve Russell
2023-08-29 03:29:59 +0000 UTCAs the old guy in the room (54) this was a VERY important movie to my generation. Probably seen it 50-70 times.
Super Powered Design (Jim)
2023-08-29 03:01:09 +0000 UTCCassie, check your PO Box, there is a "Goat Gun" 1/4 scale die cast metal replica of the Soviet/Russian RPG as seen in this movie, and many others including CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. I thought you might appreciate it more with this well made replica, and hopefully your husband and kids might like it.
Richard Bourne
2023-08-29 01:25:51 +0000 UTCThis is a period movie, you really had to live through the Cold War of the 80s to get it. In 1984 I was in High School and a varsity football player so I could really relate to the beginning. I had done several wilderness treks as a Boy Scout canoeing, camping, and hiking, so I could also relate retreating up into the mountains. The US economy was terrible with super high interest rates, inflation, and unemployment. There was the "Misery Index" where these factors were put togther to show how bad things were. This movie was just before Rambo, which is actually First Blook part 2. In First Blood, the US National Guard was basically shown to be a bunch of fools. Viet Nam was still fresh in the minds of many Americans as the War America Lost. The Gulf War of course changed that in 1991. Red Dawn played on fears many had at the time, and I remember discussing this movie with friends of mine many many times. It made an impression. This came out a year after "The Day After" .. a nuclear war movie which aired on ABC and as students we were required to watch it. It is free on Youtube and helps you understand the fears of the time. Sad to say those fears are about to make a come back I fear.
Richard Bourne
2023-08-29 01:19:21 +0000 UTC"How did they know they were coming? How are they so prepared?" Because they ARE WOLVERINES!!!
Philip Alan
2023-08-29 00:54:46 +0000 UTCWhat I love about the last scene is we see the memorial and the inscription. I've seen many from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam. We see them and we remember the glory/acts but often miss the pain and suffering that made them, these sites can be too "clean" When I see this memorial, I know the horror, and it helps me understand that at real memorials. I was 16 when this came out and then we worried about the USSR, Cuba, and other communist states. Also, I am a member of the Elite Para-Military organization...Eagle Scout!
Keith Jones
2023-08-29 00:47:35 +0000 UTC52 years old here, this film came out when I was in Junior High here in Minnesota and based on the atmosphere in the rural/suburban areas here it fit right in. Virtually every kid here went through firearms safety in elementary school...AT the elementary school. The vast majority of us were out in the woods learning survival techniques in Cub Scouts, so that by the time we were 13 and going into Boy Scouts we could almost immediately earn the "Wilderness Survival" Merit Badge, which in my Council meant you could choose a hatchet or a knife and off you went to "survive" on your own for 5 days (pro tip: pick the hatchet). Obviously the Scoutmasters kept an eye on you so nobody died, but injuries weren't rare. From that point you just got better at it as you went off into the woods with your parents for longer and longer periods of time without coming back to civilization. The survival skills are not out of the question in the slightest. As to the way the war went down: Remember the text at the beginning. The film's opening prologue states: "Soviet Union suffers worst wheat harvest in 55 years. Labor and food riots in Poland. Soviet troops invade. Cuba and Nicaragua reach troop strength goals of 500,000. El Salvador and Honduras fall. Greens party gains control of West German Parliament. Demands withdrawal of nuclear weapons from European soil. Mexico plunged into revolution. NATO dissolves. United States stands alone". Then the Colonel's description of the invasion itself: Col. Andy Tanner : [Describing the invasion] West Coast. East Coast. Down here is Mexico. First wave of the Soviet attack came in disguised as commercial charter flights the same way they did in Afghanistan in January 1980. Only they were crack Airborne outfits. Now, they took these mountain passes in the Rockies. Jed Eckert : So, that's what hit Calumet? Col. Andy Tanner : I guess so. They coordinated with selective nuke strikes and the missiles were a hell of a lot more accurate than we thought. They took out the silos here in the Dakotas, key points of communication. Darryl Bates : Like what? Col. Andy Tanner : Oh, like Omaha, Washington, Kansas City. Darryl Bates : Gone? Col. Andy Tanner : Yeah. That's right. Infiltrators came up illegal from Mexico. Cubans mostly. They managed to infiltrate SAC bases in the Midwest, several down in Texas and wreaked a helluva lot of havoc, I'm here to tell you. They opened up the door down here, and the whole Cuban and Nicaraguan and Latin American armies come walking right through, rolled right up here through the Great Plains. Robert : How far did they get? Col. Andy Tanner : Cheyenne, Wyoming... . across to Kansas. We held them at the Rockies and the Mississippi. Anyway, the Russians reinforced with 60 divisions. Sent three whole army groups across the Bering Strait into Alaska, cut the pipeline, came across Canada to link up here in the middle, but we stopped their butt cold. The lines have pretty much stabilized now. Robert : What about Europe? Col. Andy Tanner : I guess they figured twice in one century was enough. They're sitting this one out. All except England, and they won't last very long...The Russians need to take us in one piece, and that's why they're here. That's why they won't use nukes anymore; and we won't either, not on our own soil. The whole damn thing's pretty conventional now. Who knows? Maybe next week will be swords. Darryl Bates : What started it? Col. Andy Tanner : I don't know. Two toughest kids on the block, I guess. Sooner or later, they're gonna fight. Jed Eckert : That simple, is it? Col. Andy Tanner : Or maybe somebody just forget what it was like. Jed Eckert : Well... . who is on our side? Col. Andy Tanner : Six hundred million screaming Chinamen. Darryl Bates : Last I heard, there were a billion screaming Chinamen. Col. Andy Tanner : There were... .
Sean Novack
2023-08-29 00:30:42 +0000 UTCJust a thought I was having while reading some comments. I may get more thorough tonight after watching the reaction. The thought had to do with people I had talked to in the past who didn't like The Walking Dead, because they didn't understand the whole Zombie thing and didn't think it was something that interested them. That it was some horror thing they couldn't relate to. When actually, the show is not about Zombies, but instead about the people having their lives upended and having to survive a horrific situation, while watching many of their family and loved ones die. This is how I've always watched Red Dawn and always thought it was very relatable to anyone. The Russian and Cuban invaders are just a tool to create this horrific situation. Whether or not the Invasion is plausible or not, I never felt was a major issue. The major issue is what are "you" the viewer going to do if some force comes into your City, Neighborhood or Life and begins to control it. And goes so far as to Execute you if you Resist. This film came out in the 80s, during the Cold War. So Russian invaders was a somewhat believable, even if implausible, way to get Americans thinking about these things. There's another film I'm thinking of, that is based on a True Story, that deals with these same issues as Red Dawn. That film is Defiance (2008). Sorry, didn't mean to go that long.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-28 23:37:06 +0000 UTCThe first 3 seasons or so, why do you ask?
Choof
2023-08-28 22:56:42 +0000 UTCCurious... did you watch The Walking Dead?
Larry Darrell
2023-08-28 22:55:35 +0000 UTCI thought Charlie Sheen was surprisingly good in this. Didn't expect him to be on this level. The movie could have benefited from a bit more peacetime in the beginning. Also, I think you need to be able to pause a movie to turn on subtitles! Shouldn't be that hard to fix in editing.
Grad
2023-08-28 22:44:28 +0000 UTCYes. I saw this when I was 13 living in Northern Utah at the base of some of the Rocky Mountains. It got me thinking about could this happen to me in my little town. It was a time when tensions were high between the west and the Soviets.
Rick Williams
2023-08-28 22:27:22 +0000 UTCI was a young army guy at this time. and I loved this movie.
zynjams
2023-08-28 21:48:27 +0000 UTCThis was a "worst case" scenario during the height of the Cold War. The Soviet Union was still in the business of "exporting the revolution" to several third-world countries. The title cards at the movie's beginning were supposed to give you the background and setup that led to the invasion. Without living through the era or some knowledge of the time I can see why this movie might be hard to understand 39 years after it was made. Although it seemed unlikely in 1984 when it was released, the scenario did feel plausible if the world situation mimicked the movie. I had graduated from army basic training that summer and all our training was focused on the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. No, the film wasn't pretty, but that's war. The only comfort I had walking away from the theater when I watched it the first time was the last scene, narrated by Lea Thompson. The only way we knew we had triumphed was the American flag flying at Partisan Rock. Side note: I was never taught the Gettysburg Address in school. I didn't know where the quote came from at the bottom of the plaque on Partisan Rock, but I found out years later. I always remembered, and it made a real impression on me.
T J
2023-08-28 21:34:51 +0000 UTCOh no I made a simple typo. I’m clearly a drunk. You totally got me. 🤡
djKENTO
2023-08-28 21:25:48 +0000 UTCYou been hitting the bottle a little yourself today, or just fat fingering it? ;-)
Larry Darrell
2023-08-28 21:18:02 +0000 UTCI’m sure a loyal fan begged you to watch this, but it’s way off brand. Good on you for giving it a go, but it’s just not you. 🤷♂️
Rollo Tomassi
2023-08-28 21:14:57 +0000 UTCThere is nothing more evil than Communism or Socialism. The 20th century saw over a 100 million souls extinguished to take over and then sustain their poisonous ideology. However this is a movie and compared to the garbage being put out today we should be thankful we can go back and get some decent entertainment
Jason Mangen
2023-08-28 21:03:50 +0000 UTCThis was actually a scenario that was developed by the pentagon and think tanks and just one of many thousands. They took it and turned it into a movie.
Jason Mangen
2023-08-28 20:58:53 +0000 UTCI couldn't disagree more. It would be one thing if they made it realistic or kept it silly, but since they couldn't seem to choose, I really didn't like it.
Steve Colletti
2023-08-28 20:47:12 +0000 UTCFifth Generation warfare is all-inclusive and focuses a lot on narratives.
Steve Colletti
2023-08-28 20:38:21 +0000 UTCThis is what happens when the author of Apocalypse Now becomes a massive drunk and mad with power... he make propaganda nonsense. This movie is so ridiculous... jingoistic nonsense. I've never liked this film, i like it's remake even less...
djKENTO
2023-08-28 20:19:23 +0000 UTCCassie, they got the grenades and other stuff from the enemies they killed. A principle of guerilla warfare is that you take the enemies weapons and supplies. You get stronger as they get weaker.
Brent Petty
2023-08-28 20:19:09 +0000 UTCI am one of those that was critical. But my criticism was aimed at the movie’s plausibility. That said, your point about basically accepting and judging the movie for what it is, is a very valid point to make and I’m forced to agree. As for the patriotism elicited by the movie, I don’t consider it jingoistic and I don’t believe the Cold War fear of the Soviet Union was paranoia. Communism is evil. Stalin killed millions in death camps. China is engaged in genocide against the Uyghurs. The Khmer Rouge murdered 1/4 of the population of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. It’s not paranoid to be wary of evil and those that would do evil things.
Just Plain Bob
2023-08-28 20:02:31 +0000 UTC"Please let the dead forget, Oh Lord... Let them be little again." Cassie, you aren't being harsh at all. You are spot on. This movie was just... wrong.
Terry Yelmene
2023-08-28 19:53:50 +0000 UTCNostalgia and and especially casting I think is what has made this one hold out 2 generations of people growing up during the cold war and most the actors were in the beginning of their careers. Swayze and Grey were already making names for themselves, Sheen was about to have a breakout role in Platoon, then Wallstreet and more. Thompson well known for back to the future. Powers Booth a big name as well. An ensemble cast before they were noteworthy.
Bubba Fett
2023-08-28 19:28:56 +0000 UTCWatching this tonight. Did she really not understand any of the foreign language being spoken? What the….?!
Larry Darrell
2023-08-28 19:19:08 +0000 UTCI’ll echo your Recommendation for the documentary MILIUS (2013). Maybe my favorite documentary about a filmmaker. Fascinating indeed… and misunderstood. I think Hollywood needs him now more than ever.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-28 19:15:32 +0000 UTCI'll look for that, love a good documentary.
Joe D. MacGuffinstuff
2023-08-28 18:40:38 +0000 UTCOh yeah I forgot about Flight of the Intruder, and the Dirty Harry bit. I saw a documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now and it's crazy how all those directors were friends and would actually direct scenes in each others' movies, I remember Lucas directed at least one scene in Apocalypse Now, don't remember if Milius did too.
Joe D. MacGuffinstuff
2023-08-28 18:38:36 +0000 UTCSpeaking of how Hollywood looked at the cold war. There were two pretty great Cold War comedies in the 1960's that took great advantage of American cold war paranoia to much comic effect. DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964) and THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING (1966). And I want Cassie to see RUSSIANS much much more than I want her to watch STRANGELOVE, but she will enjoy both.
Mike LL
2023-08-28 18:33:51 +0000 UTCI pretty much loved this reaction, even though Cassie had issues with the movie, and they were all fair issues. I have read through all these comments, especially about how this movie might have been unrealistic, and how this wouldn't have played out like this in real life. But I look on this movie as being like any other fantasy movies, like LOTR for instance, and I don't think of things that way. I don't have any problem about how this movie played out. And then in the outro Cassie mentioned how this looked very low budget and cheesy with sub par dialogue, and so looking at this movie in that aspect, taking that this is a B movie, you gotta admit this is a pretty great movie! Pretty dang good for a Saturday afternoon B movie. And I even got choked up in the end with the patriotic angle. Would people in this country today act like this if our current country got taken over by unsavory people? I'll leave you with that question with no comment.
Mike LL
2023-08-28 18:28:58 +0000 UTCI'm glad I was reading some of these comments as I paused the reaction. I was watching on Amazon Prime, and once I turned off the (English) subtitles for the movie, I got all the foreign language subtitles, so I had to rewatch some key scenes before I restarted the reaction. Thanks!
Mike LL
2023-08-28 18:28:06 +0000 UTCI totally agree.
Mike LL
2023-08-28 18:25:54 +0000 UTCI noticed on this and several others Cassie has reacted, The video I watch has translation subtitles included. Not closed caption but translations. Don't know from where she gets video or if it's a setting in her player that turns off the subtitles but it hides important dialog. actually, now that I think I remembered her saying it was a physical disk,,,, ??
Jon Freezin-Rain
2023-08-28 18:17:00 +0000 UTCSubtitles on older movies can be finicky. You actually have to have them turned off in order to see foreign language translation, otherwise it gets overridden as speaking Spanish or whatever.
Bubba Fett
2023-08-28 17:07:00 +0000 UTCWarfare has changed, gone beyond kinetic, information is king, a team of hackers with a server farm can do more damage than one of the missions of my grandfathers B17 squadron.
Bubba Fett
2023-08-28 17:04:27 +0000 UTC(I meant US forces in the third paragraph, not UA which is Ukraine).
Evil Darth Carl
2023-08-28 16:58:53 +0000 UTCSeveral of the "Soviet" paratroopers from the opening scenes were blown off course. One had the misfortune of landing in a farmer's tree and was held at gunpoint until the police arrived, the farmer unaware the paratrooper was a professional skydiver and he was part of the movie being filmed in the area
Evil Darth Carl
2023-08-28 16:56:26 +0000 UTCYes, this movie is pure Eighties Cheese. It actually has a fairly serious premise though. The storyline of this movie is based on a series of scenarios played out by the US War College that examined how the US could be successfully invaded by an outside power (like the Soviets) which included the needed geopolitical conditions that would present such as an opportunity. This is why you get the preamble/explanation at the very beginning of the movie about how the US comes to "stand alone." While the invasion as portrayed in the movie is far fetched there are elements that are given serious consideration, such as the "infiltrators, come up from Mexico." This was and still is a valid concern. It is a possible avenue for a hostile force to successfully insert into the US while remaining undetected. Of course, bringing an entire army into the US is likely impossible. But small groups such as Special Forces belonging to a foreign power or terrorist organizations using this method is a very real possibility. The drug Cartels have been successful in moving somewhat large numbers of their "soldiers" into the US coming across our southern border. The brutality portrayed in the reprisal executions is a long standing Soviet, and now Russian, tradition. These types of reprisals are occurring today in the war in Ukraine. Such reprisals are pretty common in most wars, past and present and will likely continue well into the future. Americans are usually a bit shocked by this as it's not something that was, or is, practiced by UA armed forces. Some fun facts about the making of the movie; The Russian vehicles were so well made the CIA paid a visit to one of the sets, wanting to know how a Hollywood production was able to acquire modern Soviet vehicles.
Evil Darth Carl
2023-08-28 16:53:53 +0000 UTCI highly recommend the documentary MILIUS.
Stick Figure Studios
2023-08-28 16:18:42 +0000 UTCI understood the love for it. I just didn't share it.
Stick Figure Studios
2023-08-28 16:18:18 +0000 UTCYup.
Stick Figure Studios
2023-08-28 16:17:30 +0000 UTCJohn Milius is a fascinating guy (I highly recommend the documentary MILIUS), but I have never cared for this film. Even as a child of the 80s it was too much for me. It's an interesting premise and the handsome young cast is certainly game, but it's just so..... ugly. It's easy to call it a product of its time (which it certainly is), but it was heavily criticized even then. It's become a a cult classic, but a great film it is not. I had a feeling you would not like this one. That this beat the wonderful IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT is shameful.
Stick Figure Studios
2023-08-28 16:10:17 +0000 UTCYep, Roadhouse is probably right around the corner. 😵💫
Bill Hayden
2023-08-28 16:09:19 +0000 UTCIn the early 80's, the dynamic of war movies changed. After Apocalypse Now (1979) studios started churning out movies where "America went back to Vietnam and won". That's how my film history professor put it. Soon we had movies where guys like Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris went back to Vietnam and single-handedly "won the war", in a sense. While they were entertaining and action-packed, they were ridiculously exaggerated and not true to the reality of the Vietnam War. In my opinion, that all ended when Oliver Stone made Platoon (1986). That brought audiences back to the real harsh reality of Vietnam.
Zane From Canada
2023-08-28 16:05:50 +0000 UTCWARGAMES is terrific.
Stick Figure Studios
2023-08-28 16:03:44 +0000 UTCIt’s not really a conspiracy we are in a Cold War with China. But it’s more like a cyber war. Hacking, spying, pushing each others buttons behind the scenes while acting very diplomatic in public.
Alex Gorell
2023-08-28 16:01:54 +0000 UTCThis movie is just a product of the times it was made. During the Cold War I can see this movie being a big hit and entertaining, but 40 years later it just bleh and stupid. The opposite of a timeless movie. They tried to do a remake about a decade ago with North Korea and it just didn’t work. It’s a type of propaganda that worked for how it was intended too at the time but outside of that period it doesn’t mean much. also for an action film it’s surprisingly boring.
Alex Gorell
2023-08-28 15:59:28 +0000 UTCI’m not sure I’ve ever made it through this movie without getting bored
Biggman83
2023-08-28 15:20:39 +0000 UTCWhy vote for an iconic movie when we can vote for a movie she's not going to enjoy nearly as much???
Shawn Kildal
2023-08-28 15:17:07 +0000 UTCIt's one of those absolute must see movies! Good call!
Shawn Kildal
2023-08-28 15:12:56 +0000 UTCWarGames is easily the best 1980s-Cold-War-involving-teenagers movie I think.
Wes Stewart
2023-08-28 15:02:49 +0000 UTCJennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze didn’t get along during the filming of this movie, so she was hesitate about working with him on Dirty Dancing. THANK GOD they were able to work through whatever issues they had.
Tara
2023-08-28 14:55:44 +0000 UTCI was going to mention something about the lack of character development, but Larry beat me to it and worded it better than I could have. Thank you Larry. As for this being confusing, I'm sorry there weren't subtitles for you to understand what was being said. Even if there was and you still didn't like it its understandable. I always liked it because it gave me a somewhat inside look to what my parents and grandparents had a sense of fear of during the Cold War. Granted I understand that this wouldn't play out the way it did in real life, but I can appreciate it for going the "Alternate Timeline" path. That being said. I look forward to the next reactions in the future and I hope you have an amazing day Cassie.
Blaze118
2023-08-28 14:50:15 +0000 UTCI was in my last year in a tank unit in the army when this thing came out, and we all saw it as pure farcical nonsense. From the invasion itself, with Cuban troops in Colorado and not the border states, especially Florida, to the notion that out of all those good ol' gun-totin' "a country boy can survive" adults in that community, only a bunch of teenagers could mount any kind of resistance, to the idea that China in 1984 would launch a land invasion against Russia as a response to Russia and Cuba invading the U.S. And no nukes used because the "Russians wanted to take us in one piece." Seriously?
Baron Imhoof
2023-08-28 14:46:17 +0000 UTCThe lack of deep character development allows the viewer to inject himself or herself into the story and fill out the characters’ history with their own, making it a more personal and cathartic viewing experience. The characters on screen are not strangers… they are you, and your family and friends.
Larry Darrell
2023-08-28 14:38:35 +0000 UTCIt’s been a minute since I’ve watched this film. I do remember liking it though. So, it wasn’t your favorite. I can’t say I’m terribly surprised. It’s OK though. I’m still looking forward to your reaction Cassie!
Robert da Spruce
2023-08-28 14:32:32 +0000 UTCDefinitely a product of its time. I always enjoyed it. Never loved it though.
nick bell
2023-08-28 14:22:56 +0000 UTCAs a non-American viewer Red Dawn always came across as cheese. It’s definitely an interesting lead in to watching Platoon and Apocalypse Now. Red Dawn is sort of a wish fulfilment fantasy version of a Vietnam War movie where America gets to play the role of the victim instead of the invader. One notable behind the scenes tidbit, former US Secretary of State Alexander Haig was deeply involved in the development of the movie including making changes to the script. Haig was highly decorated for his service in Vietnam where he directly and indirectly ended the lives of many young people of high school age fighting in defence of their homeland.
Jacob King
2023-08-28 13:39:25 +0000 UTCI loved this movie as a typical red-blooded 10-year-old boy. I can totally see how it would be baffling for a Canadian in 2023. Just a totally different sort of vibe from today's movies and geopolitical climate. Like "Commando," you just sorta have to chuckle, shake your head, and say "it was 1984."
Lyle Morgan
2023-08-28 13:25:48 +0000 UTCI'll also chime in with the "it was a product of its time" message. I was in my teens when this came out and loved it. There is also something uniquely American about it with the small town citizens fighting to their last against a foreign power. It just kind of fits even though the plot was based on an incredibly unlikely scenario.
JayF
2023-08-28 13:12:18 +0000 UTCThis is a very unique gem*
Cojuancidence
2023-08-28 13:11:09 +0000 UTCI think you'd really like the show Jericho. It's sorta like Red Dawn, but a lot more character focused. Small Town dealing with the aftermath of a nuclear attack on America. Honestly one of my favorite all time shows
Andrew Hansen
2023-08-28 12:58:28 +0000 UTCI never liked this movie either, didn't get it so I don't feel bad Cassie didn't get it either.
Choof
2023-08-28 12:46:18 +0000 UTCIt doesn't even work as a cult cheese movie because it's so fucking boring. Even the action is boring. I can tolerate Chuck Norris cheese but this is just badness beyond earthly dimensions.
Carol_White
2023-08-28 12:17:54 +0000 UTCThis movie beat out It Happened One Night??? I...I...I better go drink my coffee and be quiet.
Bill Hayden
2023-08-28 12:17:13 +0000 UTCOMG, yes, you are so supposed to know what they are saying. I'm kind of stunned there are no subtitles. It's very frustrating, because the subtitles told you kind of what was going on. I fully get the frustration. For that reason I can understand you being a bit harsh on the movie. Some things you missed because of the lack of the subtitles were the Cubans and Russians talking about the invasion at the beginning, then talking about how they have to control the locals, and then how the "Wolverines" were nothing but inexperienced kids, so nothing to worry about. As time went on, they got more and more worried about them. The Cuban leader said something to the effect of how they'll never win because the Americans have taken to guerrilla warfare, and they'll never lose the will to win, whereas professional soldiers invading a country will--that he saw it in his own country when Castro overthrew the government. That lets you know why, at the end, he didn't kill the two brothers but just waved them on. They reminded him of the freedom fighters back in Cuba. All of this is from the best of my memory, so I apologize if I got a little here and there wrong, but yeah... definitely frustrating not to know what the Russians and Cubans were saying. All of that said, this is still one of my favorite movies because of the depiction of the American fighting spirit and our love of freedom. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. This is really only the second movie I really enjoy that you didn't (Pulp Fiction was the first).
Art of Free Speech
2023-08-28 12:08:39 +0000 UTCThis was a teenie-bopper movie. The only thing missing was Rob Lowe.
Bill Hayden
2023-08-28 12:07:30 +0000 UTC[filled with excitement] OH!!!!!! I can't wait to watch this, I'll be sure to do that after I get off work tonight! Hmm, from the sound of things, sounds like you didn't like it much, probably because you don't understand the concept of this movie, which is fine, I'll be sure to give you my own commentary later tonight and hopefully shed some light to help you understand lol! Though I'm certain many other viewers on here are also putting in their two cents lol! Can't wait to see you react to this 80's action classic lol! Have a happy Monday🥰😁😉😇🙏👍🌹
Wesley White
2023-08-28 12:01:09 +0000 UTC"Wolverines!"... This was made by John Milius, legendary Hollywood-mastermind and self- proclaimed bad ass. Next movie should be: "Invasion U.S.A." Then "The Delta Force"!
Jens Kristensen
2023-08-28 12:01:03 +0000 UTCI love this movie, I saw it when I was younger and it was one of the first movies that even my dad thought might be too violent for us when we saw it with him, and we watched a lot of rated R movies with him when I was a kid. So first off, this movie was only made for 17 million dollars, which was still a pretty decent budget for a movie back then. I like it for several reasons. Back before 9/11 this gave you a terrifying fictional look at what War might look like if it ever came to the United States. Obviously our perception of that has changed a lot since then, but so has our perception of what it means to be a resistance or partisan fighter. Back in the 80's we here in the US were sympathetic to the Mujihadeen in Afghanistan who were fighting to defend their homes from the Soviet Invasion, We had quite a different view of those same fighters many years later when it was our turn to invade the country. Years later this movie sticks with me for being a brutal struggle of an outmatched freedom fighting unit against a superior military. Yea I definitely agree with all of the flawed scriptwriting and dialogue that seem very "80's" nowadays but that's part of its charm as an action classic.
KTVindicare
2023-08-28 11:09:25 +0000 UTCHe's a fascinating guy. Was considered an up-and-comer in Hollywood in the seventies along with Lucas (another close friend), Scorsese, and Spielberg, and the best writer of the lot, but his extreme politics and focus on masculinity, violence, and war probably limited his career a bit. He actually wrote the first draft of Apocalypse Now and contributed the "Do you feel lucky?" bit to Dirty Harry, too. He did direct other films though, including Flight of the Intruder.
David Conroy
2023-08-28 11:01:41 +0000 UTCIt's a good production but "Threads" is transcendental. There are parts of that I still can't watch.
Dryfesands
2023-08-28 10:55:54 +0000 UTCIt's the opposite of "timeless", being very much a product of both Milius's fascination with war and also late-Cold War anti-Soviet paranoia, when people were no longer afraid of Communism per se, like the Red Scare of the 50's, but still worried about WWIII and the Soviets as a military threat. Plus it plays to the hero fantasies of teenage boys pretty directly. As a teenager at the time I liked it, but looking back from outside that time and mindset it doesn't hold up as a great story.
David Conroy
2023-08-28 10:52:31 +0000 UTCOne of my childhood thought-provoking movies, along with The Outsiders, which Cassie MUST watch.
John Cranberry
2023-08-28 10:45:56 +0000 UTCI remember The Day After. It was a TV movie on ABC. I think it was spread out on 2 different nights if I remember correctly. It was a really big deal when it made its debut.
Shawn Kildal
2023-08-28 10:20:12 +0000 UTCThe "other movie" from that poll you couldn't think of was Frankie & Johnny starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfieffer. You would have really liked that one. Nathan Lane is hilarious in it too. But as soon as this movie became nominated, I knew it was a wrap. Unfortunately.
Shawn Kildal
2023-08-28 10:07:59 +0000 UTCCassie hit briefly on my single biggest problem with this movie and that’s the fact that the invasion occurred without preamble and seemingly without any real resistance (she mentioned that it “seemed too easy”). In reality, the U.S. had an extensive and very high tech early warning system of defense (and still does). The idea that Soviet bloc countries could invade without any warning was far fetched even at the time. Far more likely would be a straightforward nuclear conflagration such as was threatened twenty years earlier with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Failing that, any war with the Soviets would probably be something like that which was depicted in Tom Clancy’s superb novel “Red Storm Rising” in which NATO and Soviet Bloc forces engage in conventional warfare throughout Europe and Asia. This movie didn’t ring true to me when I first saw it back in the 80s and, almost forty years later, it still doesn’t ring true.
Just Plain Bob
2023-08-28 10:07:48 +0000 UTCA big slice of 80's Cold War paranoia schlock. The scenario presented is ridiculous but fun. If you want to watch some 80s movies about the (horrific) reality of what a Third World War may have actually looked like there are two great examples, oddly from the TV movie world. The first is "The Day After" which is about a nuclear exchange and it's effects on parts of the USA. The second is a BBC drama called "Threads" which takes the same subject but relocates it to the North of England (the UK has one of the most dense set of potential nuclear targets per square mile in the world) remains the most shattering and terrifying thing ever put on film. It is horrific. It's also extremely important and a movie everyone should see at least once.
Dryfesands
2023-08-28 09:52:00 +0000 UTCFun Fact. While Red Dawn was the first movie to don the PG-13 ranking, it was because of movies like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as well as Gremlins that caused filmmakers and the MPA to gather and come up with a solution after dealing with a fair amount of outrage from viewers.
Mark Ultimatemusings
2023-08-28 09:47:01 +0000 UTCBreaks my heart you didn't have subtitles available when the imaging commander is introduced. He gives some of the first "big picture" context and amongst other things instructs his subordinate to get to all Form 4473's to get ideas on whom might still be having weapons to oppose them.
Benny50309
2023-08-28 09:38:23 +0000 UTCRight there with you.
Shawn Kildal
2023-08-28 09:27:02 +0000 UTCRegardless of whether Cassie likes or dislikes a movie, I will always appreciate her honest opinions on it. Hope that never changes.
Shawn Kildal
2023-08-28 09:26:15 +0000 UTCI 100% agree. I find this movie to be very overrated and it's mostly nostalgia based. It's a shallow movie with shallow characters and wastes it's potential.
ShazD
2023-08-28 09:18:51 +0000 UTCWhen I was in elementary school in the late 70's, we used to do nuclear attack drills in class. We would jump under our desks and take cover and be ready for the nuclear blast. Pretty crazy and I can remember being scared that this would happen in real life.
Johnny
2023-08-28 09:06:25 +0000 UTCFinally, someone else said it. I never understood the love for this movie.
Mike Lemon
2023-08-28 09:04:56 +0000 UTCJust a few notes on the movie itself, John Milius directed, and probably did some writing, he did a lot of great writing, including the USS Indianapolis monologue in Jaws (Robert Shaw, who played Quint and was also a writer, edited it down some, and that's what you saw in the final cut of Jaws), and the famous "Napalm in the morning" monologue in Apocalypse Now. He also wrote Jeremiah Johnson, although the director altered his script and made it less violent. Other than Red Dawn I only know of one other movie John Milius directed, Conan The Barbarian, which I love, it was Arnold Schwarzenegger's big break, but I'm not sure Cassie would like it, it's a fantasy, sword and sorcery stuff, but no cute little Hobbits lol. One other fun fact, John Milius, who is a friend of the Coen Brothers, is the inspiration for Walter in The Big Lebowski.
Joe D. MacGuffinstuff
2023-08-28 09:02:01 +0000 UTCThere is currently a conspiracy theory, that we are in a very contentious Cold War with China right now. They believe that China is trying to destroy the US economy in order to RESET the world economy, and shift the global power structure to China. But like I said, it’s just a conspiracy theory.
Uncle Phoenix
2023-08-28 08:45:31 +0000 UTCIt’s tough for the later generations to understand, Growing up during the Cold War, there was always that fear of an attack by the Soviet Union and other Communist countries at the time. The Soviets had the same fear about us. It was a “What if??” Movie.
Sean Bleakley
2023-08-28 08:34:54 +0000 UTCHonestly it was kind of crazy growing up in the 80s: nuclear war, the Russians, AIDS, crack, and gangs and drive by shootings were always in the news. And yet we still had a great time lol, part of which was having so many great movies to distract us I guess, that and we still had this magical place called the "outside" to escape to.
Joe D. MacGuffinstuff
2023-08-28 08:27:53 +0000 UTC
