Watching Red Dawn...

[Nightcrawler]

If I recall correctly, at that time China and the Soviet Union were at odds.

You could put it like that. The fallout between China and the Soviet Union began in the 50s; Mao and Stalin stopped getting along so well. By the late fifties and sixties, with such goings on as the Great Leap Forward (where millions died) and the Cultural Revolution (where a lot of people died, too), Moscow had all but severed ties with Beijing. China and the Soviet Union actually had a bloody little border war in the 70s that nobody remembers.

 

[Razor]

Actually, it was Raiders of the Lost Ark, which came out two years earlier.

Nope.


From the Red Dawn trivia page on IMDB.com :

"Red Dawn was the first motion picture released with the PG-13 rating, which had been created after difficulty rating some movies in 1984, most notably Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) (Flamingo Kid, The (1984) was the first film to be *given* a PG-13 rating, but sat on the shelves for five months before being released)"

 

[dischord]

PG-13 -- I was wrong.

The best source to verify this is the MPAA, and it says the pg-13 rating wasn't created until July 1984 (http://www.mpaa.org/movieratings/about/content2.htm).

Funny how we remember things. I was out of high school by July 1984, but I could swear I remember going to PG-13 movies while in high school.

 

[joab]

I always considered RD to be a statement against guncontrol more than a commentary on the cold war

Always wondered... why would China be on our side?

A bible scholar friend of mine told me that it's from the Bible. Something about the white man from the west uniting with the yellow man from the north to defeat the white man from the north, or something to that effect. He's not around anymore so I can't ask for clarification.

 

[Langenator]

Think from a strategic point of view-USSR gets in a nice big fight with the NATO. This is going to cause the commitment of the bulk of the Soviet military. There's a whole lot of natural resources in Siberia. I could see the Red Chinese trying to exploit that situation-and then getting nuked.

 

[jobu07]

What are you talking about? A classic of the 80's? This is a classic of all times! Seriously a great movie, i've just about worn out my dvd of it I think. It's a perfect way to unwind after a long day, by putting this on and sitting down infront of it with your ak in your lap.

 

[Gewehr98]

It is a classic.

But I've always questioned the value of urine as a substitute for antifreeze.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Gonna have to watch it again this weekend.
This has been a good thread for raising questions.

As for the 4473 concern:
The only dealer that has 4473's on me and myself were dicussing that issue when I was in his shop yeterday. If something like that actually happened, he would have an accidental fire. 'Cause at that point all bets are off anyhow.

 

[SodaPop]

Somebody needs to come out with a Chine or UN invasion movie next.

Who's afraid the Russians and Cubans invading us?


I know people that have recently seen Red Dawn and totally didn't understand why it was such a big deal for people that grew up in the 80's.

Same thing with the movie 'The Day After'.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Dang, this is bringing back some memories! I haven't seen this movie since I was about 9 years old. A bunch of my friends had seen it in the theater but my mom threw a fit when I asked if I could go, so I had to sneak off one day with them. To this day she still acts like PG-13 movies are worse than XXX.

It became one of our favorite games. Instead of playing "Cops and Robbers" we would be playing "Red Dawn". Hiding under blankets that were our dug out holes in the ground to pop up and shoot the commies! It was great!

I was just reading some of the comments on IMDB and it seems like a lot of people didn't like the movie simply because it is "Pro-NRA". I'm not just going to rent this now but DEFINITELY will be adding it to my movie collection.

 

[JPL]

Bad movie, bt lots of fn to watch.

I liked it enough that I boght it on tape.

 

[TheOtherOne]

I have a question about 4473's. They were around in 1984? I thought that they were started with the Brady Bill?

 

[Nightcrawler]

4473s have been around since GCA '68, I'm pretty sure.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Ya, in the early 60's you could order Lugers, 1911's, P-38's, etc direct.
$29 to $39

Webly 45 and 38's, $15.

My first NIB Gov Model 1911A1 was $17. I still have it.

The good old days, before we handed the country and our rights over to the liberals.

 

[SodaPop]

Ya, in the early 60's you could order Lugers, 1911's, P-38's, etc direct.

AUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rayra]

The T-72 from the film is sitting inside a small movie museum located on the 'Melody Ranch' western backlot in Santa Clarita, CA.
The museum is open during their annual 'Cowboy Poetry Festival', which was just a couple weeks ago.
They also have (claimed) a few lever-action rifles from John Wayne and The Rifleman, a slew of old ganster-movie cars, a couple other specialty movie cars like one of the Dukes of Hazzard Genl Lee chargers(?).

 

[jmcc11]

I read somewhere that Red Dawn was Ronald Reagan's favorite movie.

 

[SodaPop]

Is there a DVD of this movie ?

There is a picture on the back of the VHS tape that I have with a couple Russian soldiers standing in front of a McDonalds sign, but its not in the movie?

 

[Nightcrawler]

Is there a DVD of this movie ?

Yep. I have it on DVD. Nothing really in the way of special features, though.

It's possible that the photo was just a promotional thing.

 

[TheOtherOne]

There is a picture on the back of the VHS tape that I have with a couple Russian soldiers standing in front of a McDonalds sign, but its not in the movie?

The original trailer that comes on the laserdisc shows a scene with a tank rolling up to a McDonald's restaurant where enemy soldiers are eating. This scene does not appear in the final cut, and may have been removed due to a mass murder at a San Ysidro, CA McDonald's just weeks prior to the film's opening.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087985/trivia


I've been reading up on IMDB!

 

[OEF_VET]

I watched it again today and noticed a firearms faux paux. Towards the end of the movie, the Russian / Cuban forces attack the Wolverines in the forest. One of the girls (Lea Thompson, IIRC) was firing a machinegun at the advancing enemy forces. The weapon has spade grips and a Dshk-style muzzle brake on it. If you look closely though, she's firing an M-60. (IINM, the -D model has the spade grips for use as a helicopter doorgun.)

 

[JeepDriver]

I was 10 or 11 when that movie came out, I think it was that movie that started my down the road to gun ownership. I know it was that movie that started me on the SHTF stockpiling.

I have seen that movie atleast 50 times. I have 2 copies of it on DVD, just in case something happens to one.

 

[Langenator]

That MG appears in a couple other scenes as well, but that's the only place where you get a good look at anything besides the barrel/muzzle break.

Watching it last night, I kept wondering how and why they were hauling a big, heavy HMG and tripod all over the place. I'm guessing they couldn't find a mock-up PKM to use.

 

[wardog]

"The early bird gets the worm."

It's a classic. Anyone know where it was filmed?

 

[SodaPop]

I find this incredible ironic:

"The plot for the movie, a Russian invasion from Mexico, etc., was based on CIA and War College studies of US weaknesses at the time."

I wonder if they still teach the same thing, but with different enemies.