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Red Dawn
- Review Date: November 20, 2012
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Forgettable remake has lots of explosions, war action.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Red Dawn is a remake of the 1984 teen-soldier drama. As in the original, there are several battle scenes that feature character deaths (mostly from shooting, but also from explosions and hand-to-hand combat). There's a some strong language ("s--t," "ass," "bitch," and one "f--k") and a couple of passionate kisses, but it's really the body count and some iffy racial issues (all of the minority characters die, and the North Korean enemies were originally Chinese) that are most likely to raise eyebrows. But the movie, especially if seen in conjunction with the original, could still provide some good discussion fodder about the historical threat of Communism versus today's more technological threats. And you can expect teens to be interested, thanks to stars Chris Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson.
What's the story?
RED DAWN is a remake of the iconic 1984 war drama about a group of high schoolers who band together to fight off a Communist invasion. Unlike the Cold War context of the original, the new version features the North Koreans as the enemy (originally it was the Chinese, but the studio decided to change the invading army's nationality, supposedly for marketing reasons) and Washington State as the setting. Between deployments, Marine Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth) is home visiting his younger brother, high-school quarterback Matt (Josh Peck). When the North Koreans invade the morning after the Wolverines' big game, the Eckert brothers escape to their country house with their friends Robert (Josh Hutcherson) and Daryl (Connor Cruise). After assembling a tight crew of other young adults, Jed trains them all in military tactics to subvert the enemy.
Is it any good?
This updated take on Red Dawn was filmed more than two years before its release, long before Hemsworth wielded his godly hammer in Thor and Hutcherson competed in The Hunger Games. With their box-office appeal, there's no doubt audiences of a certain age will want to see them fight as very different young warriors. Unfortunately, the remake, while passable for those solely interested in eye candy holding guns and spouting patriotic cheers, is in every way inferior to the original. Even Hemsworth's authoritative charm can't save the lackluster material and overly subdued performances (including a truly terrible acting job by Isabel Lucas as Matt's beautiful but personality-less girlfriend, Erica). Props are in order, however, for Jeffrey Dean Morgan and two other 40-something actors who show up for the final act as the Wolverines' experienced soldier backup.
It's not just nostalgia speaking to prefer the original; some remakes do offer an inventive twist or a realistic modernization (21 Jump Street and Let Me In come to mind). But here the powers that be decided it was OK to digitally alter the invading army's nationality from Chinese to North Korean (so they're saying all East Asians look alike?) and to not-so-subtly kill off every ensemble member of color. It's almost like watching a stereotypical horror movie -- every single black and Hispanic teen meets his or her end, but nearly all the white kids survive. And while original Red Dawn stars Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen had an authentic emotional connection and conversations, the brotherly talks between Hemsworth and Peck here feel forced and forgettable, much like the movie itself.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about Red Dawn's violence. How does it compare to what you've seen in other action movies? In horror movies? Which has more impact, and why?
The movie's antagonists were originally the Chinese, but the studio changed the enemy to the North Koreans. Why do you think the change was made? Do you think the Koreans pose a real threat to America? Does that affect how you experience the movie?
For those familiar with the original, how does this iteration compare to the '80s version? Some critics have accused the remake of being racist, both in its depiction of Asians and the way it kills off all the kids of color. What do you think?
Talk about the enduring popularity of remakes. Does this take on Red Dawn seem as relevant as the first film?
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Kid, 11 years old
November 23, 2012
AGE
explosive
it has a lot of explosive stuff, but really good
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Teen, 15 years old
November 25, 2012
AGE
Freakin Awesome!!!!!
I think that Red Dawn was a perfect action packed adventure, like the original movie made in the 80s. It has what every teen wants, war! It was intense and crazy. It is freakin awesome!!! I loved this movie because it kept you interested.
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Adult
November 24, 2012
AGE
Awesome movie
Really good I think its awesome and a cool movie. This should be kids for 14 and up because of its language.
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Teen, 16 years old
November 25, 2012
AGE
Red Dawn the remake is an improvement over the original
Red Dawn the remake is actually an improvement over the original. I say this because the action scenes, the explosions, and even the acting are better than the original. This one is serious but has some really funny moments in the middle of the movie. With the original there was nothing funny in it. Now Content wise the remake has potential offensive content. The language consists of between 55-65 curses and includes about twenty-five s-words, one f-word towards the end of the movie, and an obscene hand gesture. The action is frequent once the North Koreans land. It is more carnage than blood though. The movie doesn’t have any suggestiveness in it so that is a plus. Overall I say you should see Red Dawn the remake if you like war movies, action movies or liked the original.
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Teen, 17 years old
November 30, 2012
AGE
Good movie for older teens and up
I went in to this movies with pretty low expectations, because of what other people were saying about it, but I ended up really liking it. I know people are complaining about this being a remake, but since I never saw the original, I had a different perspective.
I think this movie has a pretty strong cast. The story was very interesting and exciting, and it had some good themes of loyalty, honor, and sacrifice. It also had it's funny moments in between the violence. This is a war movie, so there is a lot a shooting and other violence. You should also note, that there is a lot of bad language, including over 20 S-words and one f-word.
So, this movies is definitely not for children, but is fine for older teens and up.
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Teen, 14 years old
November 24, 2012
AGE
awesome, violent, explosive, and perfectly made
this perfect, excellent, and explosivesly violent war thriller is a MUST SEE for everyone. its a wild ride full of guns and heroism, surprises and terror, and fun and action packed. but this epic war movie may be to intense for younger kids. this film is overflowing with action of all types. there are explosions, gun fights, chases, car crashes, bombs, missiles, flamethrowers, mines, grenades, hand to hand combat, and some apocalyptic images of towns in ruins. nearly every gun in the world is used in this movie. pistols, rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns, RPGs, sub machine guns and many more blaze in this wartime actioner. there is also moderate swearing, including uses of sh**, one f**k, a**, da** and others.
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Teen, 16 years old
December 12, 2012
AGE
Exciting action movie, but overkill on the language.
I actually thought this movie was a fantastic action movie, and has great acting. The language was definitely at least a four star, but that is the only thing I would have liked changed about this movie. I think commonsense got the two star rating wrong, but everyone's entitled to their own views :) I would draw the line at fourteen just because of the language.
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Teen, 15 years old
November 26, 2012
AGE
wolverines!
actually good but not something would buy on blu ray.
lots of gun shots and bombs.
mixed in with some language mostly at the begining.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 2, 2012
AGE
Beast
Red Dawn was a really awesome movie. There was non stop action and shootouts so it was like watching someone play Call of Duty for two hours. The violence wasnt as bad as I expected, there was no blood or gore, but there was lots of swearing, like f---ed, s--t, son of a b----, and a-s. I really enjoyed the movie but it is defineley not for little kids.
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Parent
November 27, 2012
AGE
Red Dawn (2012) Review by Shivom Oza – Low-On-Intellect, Bereft Of Action
Spokane, Washington, wakes up to the horrific sight of North Korean paratroopers dropping from the sky, with the citizens finding themselves prisoners and their town under enemy occupation. The Eckhert family finds themselves in the middle of this chaos. The story is about how the two brothers, Jed and Matt, along with their team, fight for what belongs to them.
The film neither caters to the politics aficionados nor does it have enough ammunition to impress the action-film fans. It fails to throw light upon any major political issue that might have led to this sudden invasion. The out-of-place comic reliefs and the poor acting don’t serve the cause either. ‘Red Dawn’ just doesn’t make the cut.
U.S. Marine Jed Eckhert (Chris Hemsworth) returns on leave to his hometown where he reunites with his father, Sergeant Tom Eckhert (Brett Cullen), and his brother, football player Matt Eckhert (Josh Peck). Matt resents Jed for having left on duty after their mother died and staying abroad for six years. So the two brothers don’t really get along!
The morning after their reunion witnesses the surreal sight of their town being invaded by North Korean paratroopers. Soon, the armed troopers take charge of the entire city. Determined to fight back, Jed trains a group of young patriots, who have taken refuge in the surrounding woods, to make them guerrilla fighters. They call themselves the ‘Wolverines’, and while protecting each other, fight against the invaders to liberate their town.
In the middle of it, you have an on-going love story between Matt and Erica (Isabel Lucas), an almost-blossoming-love-story between Jed and Adrianne (Toni Walsh), and recurrent ego-clashes between Jed and Matt. There are a few comical scenes thrown in as well but they’re marred by the terrible acting (courtesy Hemsworth and Peck).
The story, in itself, fails to impress. Even for an action film, ‘Red Dawn’ is quite a nonsensical affair. With no backstory or information whatsoever about the North Korean invasion, it is quite bizarre to buy into the basic premise of the film. The only ‘political’ angle in the film is shown through poorly cut news bulletins and speeches by politicians during the opening credits, which fails to give any idea about the situation. The film is a re-boot of the 1984 hit, starring Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen. This concept doesn’t work anymore especially with such badly shot action scenes and such weak dialogues and characters! The direction (Dan Bradley) leaves a lot to be desired. The only positive aspect about the film would have to be its length (little over 90 minutes). Otherwise, even the supposedly BIG twist in the end will fail to engage the viewer.
The film just doesn’t make the cut. If at all, wait for the television premiere. Not worth the ticket price, surely!
Shivom Oza
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| Studio: | FilmDistrict |
| Director: | Dan Bradley |
| Cast: | Chris Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, Josh Hutcherson |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 94 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 21, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | March 5, 2013 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | sequences of intense war violence and action, and for language |
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