Why the Red Dawn Remake Denies the Reality of Today’s Geopolitical World
By Lucas Eaves on 11/20/2012 in Cold War, foreign policy, red dawn, world politics with 10 CommentsRead Time: 3 - 4 minutes
Tomorrow, the Red Dawn remake, the original movie dating from 1984 which describes the Soviet Union invading America and the resistance of group of teenagers, will be released in theaters in an attempt to capitalize on America’s remaining Cold War-era fears.
The original Red Dawn was made in the middle of the 1980s, during the very real Cold War and, like Rocky IV or other movies of that period, symbolized a time where threats of another world war seemed real beginning with America’s main enemy, the Soviet Union. The 2012 remake, which narrates a North Korean invasion of the United States, is void of any sense of reality — which would not be that important if it did not deteriorate an already mediocre American general knowledge of foreign policy.
The long 2012 presidential campaign was punctuated by ignorant comments on foreign policy, which included that Russia remains America’s arch enemy. The movie perpetuates similar disinformation by describing a surprise attack by North Korea with hundred of planes and thousands of soldiers. In reality, North Korea has been facing famine for the last decade, this year will be even worse and its army, while numerous, has been underfed and under equipped for years. The recent missile launch fiasco is an example of it. Meanwhile, polls shows that the North Korean threat remains very real in the American psyche and entertaining this fear does not serve any good.
The fact that the movie originally featured China as the invader, before the hopes of capitalizing on the Chinese market convinced the producers to change the flags in post production, further illustrates the gap between reality and fiction. But, as this story goes out in the media after the film’s release, many viewers will likely substitute North Korea for China as the real enemy, therefore encouraging a misunderstanding of the American-Chinese relations. The election period has done its share of damage to popular trust in the United States major trade partner and banker, immortalizing China as a potential military threat to the United States will not help.
The common link between China and North Korea is that they are the last vestige of a communist threat, Cuba being negligible. In a time, when so many confusions and fears are projected on Obama’s rampant “socialism,” reviving the ghost of communism seems somehow inappropriate. I do not believe that today’s complicated world relations, especially since 9/11 and the rise of trans-boundary terrorism, and the lack of clearly identifiable enemy should justify a return to the “less” complicated period of the Cold War, where the world could be painted in black and white.
The entertainment industry has shown its capacity to produce quality products that adequately paint today’s elaborate geopolitical relations in shows like 24 or the recent Homeland. It is time to completely abandon in the cloakroom any pre-Berlin wall fall’s ideas and stop blinding the American public from the complexity of the real world.





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10 Comments
Alex Gauthier
11.21.2012
@alexg
when will they stop with these terrible remakes?
Matt Metzner
11.21.2012
@mmetzner
NEVER! Heard this movie was put on the shelf for a while and is now being released as several of the stars have picked up big roles in other films. I’ll see Lincoln instead.
Michael Higham
11.21.2012
@michaelhigham
I actually really appreciate ambitious movies like Lincoln with a ton of dialogue. A history professor at Grossmont College actually emphasized watching good, accurate history films because it really brings history to life. I absolutely loved HBO’s John Adams, although a mini-series.
Blake Bunch
11.21.2012
@blakebunch
John Adams was great. Had to read the biography for a Politics of the Revolution course in college. One of my favorite civil war-era films, aside from Gettysburg (a series as well) is Glory. Biased because it was set in my state, but it really does bring the history to life.
Cassidy Noblejas Bartolomei
11.21.2012
@cassidynb
Plot is negligible when you’ve got this on screen: http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&rlz=1C1RNRA_enUS502US502&authuser=0&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=aKA701CY8-TxDM:&imgrefurl=http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/chris-hemsworth/images/14163874/title/chris-2010-comic-con-photo&docid=XChMxy9EPgMAqM&imgurl=http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/14100000/Chris-2010-Comic-Con-chris-hemsworth-14163874-879-1222.jpg&w=879&h=1222&ei=fRKtUK_lIIqc2QXCtIHoDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=850&vpy=267&dur=1528&hovh=265&hovw=190&tx=75&ty=198&sig=101484197699631161532&page=1&tbnh=134&tbnw=88&start=0&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0,i:214
Michael Higham
11.21.2012
@michaelhigham
I’m sure movie-goers and conscious citizens won’t take it seriously, it is entertainment after all. It’s saving grace is actually Chris Hemsworth.
Zachery Abramson
11.21.2012
@zabramso
Looks awful. I think this mentality isn’t that dated considering Charlie Sheen is still alive.
kevin allen
11.23.2012
You got to be kidding. First off america is more likely to be invaded now then ever befor. Far as north korea alone no i say them russia and china. as far as korea being to poor to fight well keep reading. There hungray cause every thing they buy is for war with us. and the notion that nobody will attack cause of our econmey lol thats like saying sactions work lol they dont care
Marc Schenker
11.24.2012
@marcschenker
Am I the only one who is upset that this remake can’t have Patrick Swayze and C. Thomas Howell in it?
JennyJo
11.25.2012
I think it is incredibly naive for Americans, or any person really, to sit content in their starbucks, sipping a latte thinking that “an invasion could never happen to us”. I am 100% sure anyone who wishes to invade would do their damnedest to spread comfort and contentment through the territory they wish to strike. What more could they ask for? A consumerist, non independent, complacent society, unwilling to fight for what they believe in, confused who the enemy is.
America’s forefathers are rolling in their graves, I’m certain, of how lazy, dependent on government and corporation, unable to provide for themselves (fake paper money means jack in times of dire need), forgetful of history and common sense knowledge and wisdom passed down by their elders, that modern Americans have become. It is like no one’s grandmother or grandfather taught them how to fix things rather than just buying new everytime a small thing goes wrong, or never taught them to always be prepared, for ANYTHING, because it is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
What does this have to do with Red Dawn? Nothing.. other than the fact that the original movie displays a good lesson, (even though it has not yet happened), that we are not impervious here.
People who brush off history as if things cannot happen again… No one could use communism to oppress people in 2012? No one could divert attention to usurp current powers or institute poor policies leading to a downfall or a loss of American identity? Young liberal naivety at it’s finest. (progressive liberal, not classical). I think it really is ironic to be honest that Hollywood in general is extreme leftist, yet this article criticizes them as blinding the American public, while also insinuating we should be complacent, because NK or China or Russia could never have a chance. I’ll tell you what… something I’ve learned in the past 50 years, the starving dog fights the hardest.