The Stolen 80′s: Red Dawn Remake

Red Dawn (1984) is a teen patriot film that seemed to belong only in the 80′s.  The “enemy” Russians sneak attacks our country (Colorado in the original), so it’s every man for himself fighting around town. The film had a cast of future stars: Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C.Thomas Howell (not in black face), and Jennifer Grey.  The movie takes place in an alternate timeline where the Russians actually attack the United States. It was released during the Cold War. It also happened to come out one year after Ronald Reagan was elected to his 2nd term as U.S. President where he announced his Star Wars missile defense system as a military necessity to give America an advantage against nuclear attack.  It was a time of paranoia, tension, and bad feelings between the Russians and the U.S.  Red Dawn was a snapshot into the psyche of the times.

Which is why a remake involving the Chinese makes no sense.

The remake is set entirely in Spokane, WA with the Chinese invading the United States. About the remake, writer Carl Ellsworth said:

“The tone is going to be very intense, very much keeping in mind the post-9/11 world that we’re in,” says Ellsworth, who was 11 when the original was released. “As ‘Red Dawn’ scared the heck out of people in 1984, we feel that the world is kind of already filled with a lot of paranoia and unease, so why not scare the hell out of people again?”

If this were a true remake, wouldn’t it make sense to create a terrorism plot, rather than trying to scare us from the Chinese? Russians vs. U.S. + Cold War = Red Dawn; Post 9/11 + Chinese = Remake? Odd.  It’s as if they want to tell a serious story, but really don’t have the balls to really tell it straight. As we all saw on the Christmas Day attempted airline bombing, the tension between the United States and terrorists groups runs strong.  The Red Dawn remake is frightened to acknowledge it.

Another thought. Can this really be called Red Dawn without the Russians involved?

If you loved Red Dawn when you were younger, I’d advise you to steer clear of this potential disaster.

2010 is the new 80′s.

Release Date: September 24th, 2010

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  • Nate

    I love it! My home town of Spokangeles getting some face time once again! Other movies filmed in Spokane…. “Benny and Joon”, and “Vision Quest” (with a scene filmed in my high school).

  • Koushiro

    I find a remake to be utterly stupid.
    and to a certain degree Racist.
    My self being Chinese /African i seen many films in the USA making both Africans and Chinese
    evil and hated. I guess in this day and age America will always portray people of color and other
    nationalities as the evil in this world just like the film from 1915 Birth of a nation by D.W. Griffith.

    Will they ever learn to not make films that make anyone of color look like they are only here to do evil.
    I would think that America itself should really look within because if i remember well after 9/11
    America went to war in the wrong country and performed horrible acts of hate and torture on people.

    So many skeletons in Americas closet and to keep making films of this standard.

    It borders of typical Ugly hateful America.

    Anyway China owns America and its debt.

    America always likes to look like the white knight in shining armor to the world.
    But to the rest of the world America looks like a nation that will never progress past its old hatred
    and racisms.

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