Welcome back to my blog. Here’s my recommendation of a movie to check out today and hope you punch your “Ticket to the Movies!” OK, let’s go with the original “Red Dawn” from 1984. “Red Dawn” was the very first U.S. film at theaters to earn the PG-13 rating; it became inspirational to survivalist and ultra right-wing groups; and, while just a so-so motion picture, it is watchable, where its “reboot” from 28 years later is just garbage.
“Red Dawn” stars Patrick Swayze and a group of young(ish) actors including Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, Jennifer Grey, Powers Boothe and C. Thomas Howell. In smaller roles, you’ll find Oscar winner (not for this one) Ben Johnson and Harry Dean Stanton.
“Red Dawn” is the story of a group of high school students that battle invading communist forces. It became a flash-point in cinemas of the U.S. showing its toughness again after the previous decade of leaving Vietnam and the weak-kneed foreign policy of President Jimmy Carter.
As a film, “Red Dawn” is only so-so, but it is a decent action film with a solid cast that does only so-so work. The main character is played by Swayze and he leads his mostly vicious ragtag guerilla force against the invading Commies.
All the elements of right-wing doctrine are present: How the invaders use gun registrations as way to ferret out gun owners (as if they’d need a clue for folks living in rural Colorado); the imprisoning of vocal opponents of the Communists; and the tight controls over the invaded populace.
“Red Dawn” has a collective grade of “so-so” on the acting front, therefore, you’re not watching this one for the thespian talent.
So, I say punch your “Ticket to the Movies!” and watch the “Red Dawn.” You’ll it on a variety of subscription services or for rent on a variety of streaming platforms. You will thank me later, if you watch “Red Dawn.”
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