Red Dawn isn’t a
film I had any interest in seeing and certainly wouldn’t have gone out of my
way to see but as with Cloud Atlas, I
took the opportunity to see it on a recent flight. And as with my Cloud Atlas review, this will be half
remembered, rambling and make little sense. A bit like the film – who’s with
me? No. Ok. The movie’s ridiculous plot is based on the 1984 movie of the same
name, a film I remember seeing when I was in my early teens but a film which
left no impact on me. The story is set against a North Korean invasion of the USA. When his
small Washington
town comes under a surprise attack by the North Korean army, on leave U.S.
Marine Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth) escapes to the woods with a group of teens
and begins a fight back against the new regime.
I remember playing a video game with a similar premise to
this film about twelve years ago which I really enjoyed. From what I recall you
played a plumber in New York City
and had to take back the city from the Soviets using guerrilla tactics. It was
a lot of fun. Red Dawn isn’t. In 1984
the idea that the Soviets could attack, let alone invade the US was far
fetched but you go with it. In 2013 the idea that North Korea could invade the US
West Coast is preposterous (famous last words) but the movie makes use of
current tensions and enemies to provide an adversary. As ridiculous as the idea
that the North Koreans could successfully invade the US is, the idea that all that is
left to defend the country are a group of unbelievably attractive teens and
Thor is perhaps the most ridiculous part of the entire movie.
