Is It Sill OK To Like Red Dawn (1984)?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- In this video we take a look back at the 1984 John Milius film, Red Dawn. Is it still OK to like this movie? Does it still work as an action movie in today's world?
Living In The Past is a channel about revisiting pop culture from the past. Hosted by Jeremy Scott and Devin Kleffer (along with Carl the Intern), these two (three) friends can’t help but revisit the movies and TV shows that they loved from their younger years. Come along and get a little nostalgic with us as we look back, enjoy, and ask the important question: is it still OK to like this stuff?
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Its a great film. Red blooded American males loved it back in the day and still do.
Red Dawn was good because it was a time when the US was united, the "issues" we face today did not exist. I wanted to stockpile ammo to avoid that run to the gun store like in the movie. It made me want to fight for my country.
Loved this movie when I was a kid!
Not a lot of people understand how big this movie was in terms of it's pop culture impact. I live in small northern Canada town and I knew who the wolverines were. This movies timing with the vhs explosion meant even kids north of the 49th parallel were talking about and playing out this movie in the backwoods with wooden guns and pew pew sound effects. I love how John Milius pivoted from Conan the Barbarian in 82' to couple of years later writing and directing, what is essentially a modern young adult battle film, exploring the idea, 'what if there was an invasion on U.S. soil during the cold war'. It's not a perfect movie but it is a perfect 80's movie, and who can ask for anything better than that.
I agree Eli. Well said.
one of the best cold war films. It really manages to give hope to those who fear the worst. the idea that a scrappy group of kids could hold off an army makes one feel like they could stand up and fight back too. the one criticism I had with this movie is that it felt like they didn't really touch on the nuclear aspect of a war like this, which was probably what people feared the most.
Yeah. I agree with the nuclear issue. I think there is a throwaway line about the war being conventional, but that was about it.
Yes, yes it is.
Yes. Yes it is.
An excellent film and a great what-if war story. John Milius is genius.
I love "Red Dawn". People who weren't of the 80's do not understand we lived in fear and anxiety that at any moment we were going to be nuked. "Red Dawn" gave us the idea that we weren't just helpless, that we could fight back somehow, be protected in a way by the "Wolverines". There is nothing offensive.. it's just awesome.
Wolverines!!!!
Well said!
@@livingthepast Thank you. I live in the past, too, because it is that awesome.
I love Red Dawn. I like it as an action film and the uniqueness of having invaders come to America.
As far as complaints from critics about it being 'pro war' or 'propaganda', i don't really care tbh. There were plenty of anti war films in the 80s, so i don't see how its harmful to have a film with a different perspective.
In fact, we need films with different viewpoints, now more than ever.
Could not agree more. Well said.
I like the original a lot more than the remake. It’s held up ok, considering that it was always kind of a b movie, even though it had a great cast. I was around the same age as a bunch of the kids in the movie when that came out. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks for commenting Richard!
Implausible as the scenario is, no, there's nothing inherently '' wrong '' with enjoying the film.
I should probably watch the movie again (been about 3 decades and an Army career since). But to my memory it had a lot of moral turning points that make for good discussion, especially in light of law of war. Had some interesting tactical scenarios.
I would love to hear/read your thoughts on it after a rewatch. Thanks for commenting.
Their was some sympathy like the Russian who you feel some sympathy for like the ones killed at Mt Rushmore and the former Cuban guerilla fighter who struggles between being an imperialist and a former revolutionary like the Wolverines
Yes
It was an action movie, it was good, and I just watched it again.
The fake Mi-24 Hind helos scared the devil out of me when I first saw them on screen. A few years later, I had to memorize their silhouette and learn all about them as a Naval Aircrewman. Not as intimidating after that.
Totally ok to enjoy this movie. Classic 80’s!
Damn right it is.
Of course.
"And you knew who you were then. Grrls were grrls and men were men. We could use a man like John Milius again."
2:34 More like a nationalist partisan who does what nationalist partisans know they have to do (as illustrated by the nationalist partisans of Ukraine whose cause is absolutely just). The principality of Magog will get what it deserves (Ezekiel 38,2). Of course, that means the regime, not the people.
2:46 Don't forget to sand the burs off that muzzle, Rob.
3:28 Valmet M78, the Finnish version of the RPK. Everything Valmet makes tends to be top-notch, so we could say that counts as a "Legendary" weapon.
3:46 It's anti-imperialist and pro-nationalist. In sense of the word, that means CIVIC nationalism like the Czech Resistance when they were fighting Nazi occupation. Speaking of which, if you like this kind of movie, definitely Czech out 'Anthropoid'.
3:52 / 3:57 Czech that chicken-wing, greenhorn!
3:57 Colonel Bella mentions something about sympathizing with insurgents, then laments that his current role is as "a policeman." That illustrates that there was a time when he valued freedom over order, but now is on the side of order and oppression.
4:12 Probably internationalist pinkos that actually love the idea of being oppressed by an imperialist/super-collectivist global government.
4:24 Brandon Herrera even referred to the war as "Red Dawn: Ukraine Edition." May all who praise Putin be buried in a nameless grave.
Sic semper evello mortem tyrannis. Ave vindicta!
4:32 As a hardcore advocate of revolutionary nationalism (in the style of Charles de Gaulle) and resistance against imperialism, I absolutely love it. John Milius's ideals are somewhere between Ayn Rand and Robert Heinlein. May all who attempt to proselytize authoritarian collectivism, auth-left and auth-right alike, meet resistance at the hands of those they intend to oppress. And may they join Abaddon in the abyss. Hail vengeance!
This might be the most glorious and overwhelming comment I have seen on the channel! Thank you and wow!
@@livingthepast Thankee! Oh, you should see some of the essay-length comments I've written! 😅 I'm PASSIONATE and ANALYTICAL at 100% maximum power and I'm not the least bit ashamed. 🙃
People don't like Red Dawn?!? The '84 original?!?
Sill?
Haha!
Any time I come across a large chain link fence, I will grab a hold of it and scream... "Boys! Avenge me! Avengeeeee Meeee!"
My wife just shakes her head. I've got really good sex moves that I learned in China, so she stays with me.
Hahah!!! Classic!