Red Dawn (2012)

Red Dawn, the 2012 remake, is about when the North Korea army invades America. This movie focuses on the events in the city of Spokane, Washington. A group of teenagers who escape the soldiers with help from local marine Jed Eckert. To help their city and the people they love they must use guerilla tactics to slow down the Korean occupation. With war comes loss as the young kids must learn the tolls of war by taking lives, and losing love ones. The Wolverines are found by a marine force who plan to steal a communication device in order to help Free America areas push back the Koreans. Will they be able to steal and survive the force of Koreans, and safe their country.

                The main flaw with this film was the character development of the characters. It was hard for me to relate to them because they did not feel like real people. It is also hard for me to believe that modern day high school kids would be able to adapt to war in the matter of a few weeks. Even if they have a marine who has been through Iraq.  This was not helped by the poor cast choice for an action drama. The only action hero actor was the led Chris Hemsworth. The other lead was Josh Peck a known TV sitcom actor. As the other actors go they just seemed to be picked because they look good holding a machine gun. The ending was too happily ever after, it is hard to believe that these teens would continue to fight the Koreans and be successful at it. That is why I enjoyed the original, because it should the real hardship and a group fighting a losing battle. When they learn of a safe American controlled area they head to it and only two members survive the escape. The writer was able to make Red Dawn more relevant because the recent North Korean relations. Though I feel that many to not feel the same fears as they did during the Cold War with Soviet Russia.

                I feel that Dan Bradley tried to communicate the emotions of citizens during Cold War and how relevant it is today. The problem is that modern day movie goers can not understand those feelings. Also people do not see North Korea as an equal treat that Russians were. While doing research before writing this Netflix description says that the Chinese Army invades, when it is the North Korea.  That was an example how much people see North Korea Also I feel like the producers had too much control and forced these teen movie idols who do not belong in the action genre. I cannot say it was the director’s fault because I feel like he did his best with the script and the actors he was given.

 VS