RED DAWN (Theatrical Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.5|5.0 Stars ììì

The Red Dawn remake just doesn’t ‘cut it’ like the original 1984 release of Red Dawn with Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen. The remake has the same premise, but it’s definitely not the same strong portrayal of story by any means. There seems to be a casting challenge in that the remake’s characters, Chris Hemsworth and Josh Peck, do not play off each other as well as the characters in the original release of this movie. The rest of the casting choices such as Josh Hutcherson and Conner Cruise seem conflicted as if their character personalities have not been solidified enough or understood enough to portray them well. But, the upshot is: the realism, action, and general execution of the remake works.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The movie begins, unlike the original, as if it has to explain the setting with news blurbs of real and recent talks of international conflict. The camera fades in to show a parking lot with a football game going on in the distance, then switches to show the main character, Jed, sitting in a 1990 Dodge listening to the game while watching it through his front window. The camera switches to the football field where his brother, Matt, plays in the game. Jed walks toward his father, Tom Eckert (Brett Cullen), to see how his brother’s team is doing and Tom nods to the score board which reads Home 14 and Guest 17. At 13 seconds on the clock, a goal kick fails and the home team loses the game. Jed walks back to the parking lot and the movie is off and running.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Dan Bradley for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Kevin Halloran and Vincent Newman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth), Matt Eckert (Josh Peck), Robert Kitner (Josh Hutcherson), Toni Walsh (Adrianne Palicki), Erica Martin (Isabel Lucas), Daryl Jenkins (Connor Cruise), Danny (Edwinn Hodge), Tom Eckert (Brett Cullen), and Julie (Alyssa Diaz).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a good flick but Director Dan Bradley seems challenged by the casting choices for the film.

Video Critique Available :Here

Ben Meyers