REVIEW: ‘Red Dawn’ remake reigns over previous version
What would you do if the United States was invaded? Is it only a matter of time?
The United States is in trouble, the economy is collapsing and foreign operatives bombard the computer networks with cyber attacks and monitor the internet, invading privacy at will.
Jed Eckert, played by actor Chris Hemsworth, watches the local football team, the Wolverines, take on one of their biggest rivals. Jed is a Marine on leave and visiting his home in Spokane, Wash., for a few weeks.
His brother Matt, played by Josh Peck, leads the team as a quarterback with a mind of his own.
Their father and policeman Tom, played by Brett Cullen, does his best to support both his sons, even though his sons are somewhat distanced from each other.
After the game, Matt hooks up with his girlfriend Erica Martin, played by Isabel Lucas, and they head to the bar and grill for dinner where they meet up with other friends from town.
A blackout shuts down the city, so everyone goes home and Tom goes out for duty to keep the peace during the outage.
The next morning, Jed and Matt are shaken awake by loud noises and falling objects. They rush outside and see planes and parachutes soaring over their neighborhood. Gunfire echoes through the area.
Jed and Matt quickly head for the hills, picking up other teenagers along the way. They take shelter in a cabin and Jed instructs everyone to gather supplies.
With his background as a Marine, Jed naturally takes charge of the group, even though he’s forceful at times. He understands what’s ahead and what can happen.
Tom is brought to the mountains with Captain Cho, the leader of the invaders played by Will Yun Lee, to try to bring his sons and the other teenagers in. He announces to his sons that they need to go to war.
Jed rallies his troops and gives them a decision: to fight, or not.
They chose to fight. What would you choose?
“Red Dawn” is a remake of the 1984 movie of the same name. It’s an inspiring film with a haunting undertone.
To really appreciate this movie, you need to first see the original. The world was different in the ’80s, and it shows on multiple levels.
Some critics have been nostalgically unfair to the new movie. If you feel like your opinion of the remake stems from your memories and love of the original, you may want to watch the original again before seeing the remake.
There are many reasons why this remake is better than its predecessor. The Wolverines were led by someone with experience in war instead of a football team captain. They were more hands on in the crisis.
The story was more believable in the sense the foreign invaders would actually have interest in the city they invaded, rather than invading some small midwestern town.
The film effectively balances action and soft moments all while maintaining the ominous feeling of uncertainty, a balance reversed in the first movie.
“Red Dawn” contains all the elements that made its counterpart iconic.
The intensity of the invasions in both films was on equal footing. Both scenes will be remembered for many years to come.
Both the 1984 and 2012 versions of the movie were realistic in their own spheres, making them perfect for their time.
“Red Dawn” is Dan Bradley’s first work as director. He comes with a background as a second unit director in “The Bourne Legacy,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” “Spider-Man 2” and “Quantum of Solace.” He also has a strong history as a stunt coordinator in “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Spider-Man 3” and “Crank,” which gives him a solid foundation to build on in his new endeavor.
Hemsworth is best known for his role as Thor in “Thor” and “The Avengers,” but he’s also branched out in “Star Trek,” “The Cabin in the Woods” and “Snow White and the Huntsman.” He perfectly plays a Marine with a past. He also did a great job at playing an older brother, likely drawing from his experience as an older brother in real life.
Peck hasn’t been in too many large productions, but he’s had varied experience with a start in “Drake & Josh,” the “Ice Age” movie series and most recently “ATM.” He’s a rising actor with potential for greatness who will show off another angle of his talent in the dance movie “Battle of the Year: The Dream Team.”
Hutcherson is easily recognizable for his participation in “Hunger Games” and the upcoming “Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” His talent is better demonstrated here than in his mild-mannered position as Peeta.
Lee is intimidating as a ruthless military leader, which brings to memory his role in “Die Another Day.” Audiences everywhere are going to be thrilled to see him in next year’s hit “The Wolverine,” where he’ll deliver another dose of intense excitement.
Djawandi once again delivers a phenomenal soundtrack. Easily recognized, his work is most known for movies “Iron Man,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Prison Break” and the video game “Medal of Honor.” He created a pounding heavy orchestral score that’s strong enough to stand on its own.
Whether you see this in theaters or in your home, you’ll want to see the “Red Dawn” for the 21st century.
– Spencer Palmer is a graduate student working toward an MBA with a recent bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. Email him at spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu or visit his website, themovieknight.wordpress.com.