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Red Dawn (1984)

  PG-13 HD Closed Captioning

John Milius

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Plot Summary

In this lively (and paranoid) adventure set in the mid-1980s, the US stands alone, abandoned by its allies. The USSR and Cuba start selective bombing, then invade the US and quickly capture the central part of the country. The film takes place entirely in a small town taken by surprise by paratroopers. A band of teenagers (led by Patrick Swayze and C. Thomas Howell) escape to the mountains and become a group of tough guerrillas that launch a series of surprise attacks on the murderous and nasty Red invaders. But the teenagers start getting a bit troubled themselves. In their brutality, are they becoming just like their enemies? The band of teens fights on, becoming a smaller and smaller group. They help pave the way for the eventual victory of the main American Army, busy elsewhere in the Republic.

Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews

TOMATOMETER

53%
  • Reviews Counted: 19
  • Fresh: 10
  • Rotten: 9
  • Average Rating: 4.8/10

Top Critics' Reviews

Fresh: Released in the midst of renewed Cold War nuclear dread, Red Dawn doesn't starve for unintended wackiness. – Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine, Jul 27, 2007

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Customer Reviews

The remake is sure to fail

Excellent movie, and even better acting. It's going to be near to impossible for the remake to live up to this classic. One cannot simply replace Patrick Swayze. It's too bad a classic like this will be butchered by bad acting, an overload of CGI Effects, and super models defeating Chinese commandos.

Great Movie

"(and paranoid)"? Shouldn't be in the description.

Not your usual war movie

From the moment the Russian paratroopers land in the scholl parking lot until the end of the movie, it is action on the scale of Rambo. Is it a little jingoistic, yes. But we do see the Russians, Cubans and Nicarguan troops and officers as more than monolitihic bad guys. Ron O'Neal is superb as the Cuban colonel occupying the town. Patrick Swayze ss always made a star performance. When it came out there were jokes about the "Brat Pack" goes to war and it never got the real recognition it deserves for creativity mixed with the harsh realities of war.
Suspend your disbelief and give it a chance. You will be surprised.