Green Light for Red Dawn

It was a normal fall weekend in Spokane, Washington.  Then came the Saturday morning unlike any other.  First came the explosions, then the paratroopers.  Only at the last minute did most of the people of Spokane realize what was happening;  the United States was being invaded by North Korea.  The disturbance woke Jed Eckert, a Marine home from Iraq, and his younger brother Matt.  In an effort to follow their Dad’s orders to “go to the cabin,” they hop in Jed’s car, picking up stragglers along the way whilst dodging soldiers.  After a couple of days, their cabin is discovered and they must flee into the wilderness.  For Jed there is only one response: fight back.  Jed trains the ragtag group of young people into a team capable of war-trained resistance.  Meanwhile, Matt waits for the moment he can rescue his girlfriend, Erica.  But his desperation to do so may result in the complete ruin of this unusual group of teen heroes who have come to call themselves the Wolverines.

Stars: Chris Hemsworth (Jed Eckert), Josh Peck (Matt Eckert), Josh Hutcherson (Robert Kitner), Adrianne Palicki (Toni Walsh), Isabel Lucas (Erica Martin), Connor Cruise (Daryl Jenkins), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Sergeant Major Andrew Tanner).

Content:     Rated PG-13                                              
Sexual- There is some kissing.  Not a lot and nothing goes past that.           
Language- The language in this film is quite strong.                                              
Violence- There is lots of combat, guns, and explosions.  Several people are gunned down.  It never gets too gory and bloody though.               

Viewer discretion advised

There are many mixed feelings and opinions about this remake of the 1984 Red Dawn.  I personally do NOT think it was a waste of time and pointless.  It does have points where it seems rushed and the plot is a little bit murky and confusing.  That and the amount of language were the only big downsides for me.  The positives themes that really stood out were: fighting for our freedom, being brave and courageous in times of turmoil, standing up for our beliefs and convictions, being selfless, and defending the little people.  This movie, however, cannot even hold a mirror to the real horror and awfulness of war.  But was thought provoking and worth the watch.  Considering all that I would give it a 3.8 out of 5.0.

~Ariel Iven~