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Red Dawn
1984
In the heartland of America, Russian and Cuban paratroopers begin to drop outside while classes go on in the high school. When the soldiers begin killing everyone in sight, local teens take to the hills to avoid the new totalitarian regime established in their little town and, as we later learn, throughout the world. As country .. Read more
| Starring | Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Lea Thompson |
|---|---|
| Director | John Milius |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Thriller |
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Red Dawn
In the heartland of America, Russian and Cuban paratroopers begin to drop outside while classes go on in the high school. When the soldiers begin killing everyone in sight, local teens take to the hills to avoid the new totalitarian regime established in their little town and, as we later learn, throughout the world. As country folk, they are well familiarized with survival tactics and hunting, which allows them to carry out sophisticated acts of military sabotage, upsetting the balance of power in town with their guerilla warfare.
| Starring | Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Lea Thompson, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O'Neal, Powers Boothe, William Smith |
|---|---|
| Director | John Milius |
| Studio | MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 49 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | French, German, Italian, Spanish |
| Hearing-impaired | English, German |
| Released | DVD: 18 Sep 2000 Production year: 1984 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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A small band of American teenagers wages guerrilla warfare against Russian and Cuban troops staging an invasion of their small town in a ludicrously gung-ho fantasy from director John Milius, who co-wrote the script with regular Kevin Costner collaborator Kevin Reynolds. Some of Hollywood's finest — including Patrick Swayze, Powers Boothe and Ben Johnson — struggle with highly unconvincing dialogue to justify the bombastic militarism, and the result is a scrambled action adventure smothered by political and dramatic insensitivity. Get caught up in the mock heroics, by all means, but take everything else — especially Milius's preaching — with a huge pinch of salt.
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Ludicrous and somewhat dangerous Cold War throwback with little entertainment value to commend it. Violent teenage nonsense.
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Most helpful member's review
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Not your average brat pack film!
Ok, so this film does read like a who's who of the 80's film world and as such you might not be expecting too much from it. I expected the usual popcorn fodder with a nice uplifting happy end.
WRONG! I got a thought provoking sometimes disturbing look into the paranoia that infected America in the 1980's. It is gung ho and hurrah for truth, justice and the American way but it is also quiet good. The acting is exactly as you expect but the story is enough apart from the norm to keep you watching to the end. I recommend sticking through to the end because although towards the middle of the film it does get very formulaic the ending pulls an unexpected turn.
Good Sunday viewing. Good for remembering who we all fancied in the 80's and also a nice little tale that is not completely as expected. definately worth another look. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
What a Load of Rubbish - Teen Flick, and a poor one
The secret of a fictional film - particularly a Combat or SciFi one, is to have the plot just on the edge of believeability, that allows the Director very wide Artistic licence to do what he feels like, whilst the audience are comfortable enough suspending disbelief. This one is too incredible for words. We are meant to believe that a Cuban invasion paved the way for the main Russian force of 60,000 soldiers crossing the baring Straits, taking Alaska, marched through Canada and took most of the US. On top of that an ad hoc force of local teenage guerillas become National Celebrities, throwing the whole invasion into disarray. The Film Studio spin doctor must have originated from the local mental institution. Its an appauling film, badly shot, a plot that must have been born whilst wacked out on Coke, and a complete lackof respect for the viewing Public, who contrary to the Directors belief do have a brain cell or two. A complete Dog - so much so that even the Teenagers dumped it quickly when it was released. Excrutiatingly awful. How the Film Investors could even bring themselves to think about it, let alone release the funding, beggars belief. It gets 1 Star only because the Cast clearly gave their all to make up for a madmans script - but even their hurculian efforts could not rescue this appauling travesty - dont waste your time, do something more interesting and credible, like watching paint dry.
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News and features
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Morgan in talks for Red Dawn
- 15 Sep 2009
Watchmen star Jeffrey Dean Morgan will trade in his superpowers to join mere mortals in the U.S. Special Forces - he's set to join the remake of 1984 movie Red Dawn. The actor is in final negotiations to join the action project, directed by Dan Bradley, which has already begun filming in Michigan. Red Dawn follows the adventures of a group of teenagers who come together to defend their home town when it is invaded by a joint Chinese and Russian army, reports Variety.com. Tom Cruise and Nicole... Read more
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