Red Dawn (Original)
(Note: This posted was originally written in November 2012)
For those who are unaware or too young to remember, the '80s have been making a resurgence. Fashions have drifted to the colorful layers of that decade, including the off-the-shoulder sweatshirt and tights and/or leggings made famous in the movie, 'Flashdance,' among others.
Speaking of movies, iconic '80s movies are being released or filmed even as I type this post. Movies like 'Footloose' have been 'updated,' as they say, and rumor has it there will soon be a remake of 'Dirty Dancing,' which starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Swayze and Grey also starred together in 'Red Dawn,' which has also been 'updated.'
'Red Dawn' marked a lot of firsts in cinema. It was the first credited role for Charlie Sheen. It was said to be the most violent movie ever made up until that time. It was also the first movie to be released with the then brand-new 'PG-13' rating.
I wanted to do this one, so you (and I) could see how the characters in the remake stack up against the originals. In the original, there were actually three layers of characters - three mind, three body, and three spirit. I will only address the first layer mind, body, and spirit characters here, since the lower layers characters may have been changed drastically for the remake, even though all nine characters appear in it.
I urge you to go back and see the original and look at the second and third layer characters. They have relatively little screen time, but the characteristics are all easily identifiable.
All of the male characters appear early, but their characteristics do not come out until after the initial attack and they make their way into the mountains. Robert's true nature comes to light when the group is out hunting deer. Robert takes the shot, making him the first in the group to take a life once the war begins. He is also instructed by other hunters in the group to drink the deer's blood, which would make him a 'real hunter.'
When the colonel joins the group, he sees Robert sitting near the fire, carving notches in his rifle stock indicating his kills. The stock is covered with earlier marks. The colonel, the second layer mind character, tells him, 'All that hate's gonna burn you up, kid.' Robert takes this as a compliment and replies, 'Keeps me warm,' with a grin.
Matt talks to Jed, alone, and tells him everyone in the group is ready to give up, except Robert. When the helicopters attack the group, Robert decides if he is going to die, he's going to die fighting. Knowing he can't win, he steps out of hiding and fires his rifle at the helicopter and is shot and killed. It was a needless death, as evidenced by the survival of several other group members.
When Robert shoots the deer, Jed explains why he should drink the blood, but Matt empathizes with Robert. Robert asks how the blood tastes, hesitant to drink. Matt says it's a little salty, but makes it out to be no big deal.
Familial relationships are very important to Matt, and the evidence is in his actions. When Matt and Jed find their father in the re-education camp, Jed wants to know what's going on, but Matt asks about what happened to their mother. When their father is executed, Matt is the one who cries. Matt is also the first one to agree to follow Jed when they finally made it to the woods.
Matt is concerned about doing what is right. He even asks the colonel if they are doing the right thing by attacking and killing enemy soldiers. Matt confronts Jed when he is getting ready to execute a Russian soldier and a traitor from within the group. Matt believes that executing them in cold blood puts them on the same level as their enemy. He wants to take a higher moral road.
As they prepare for the final battle, Matt tells Erica and Danny (the second and third level spirit characters) that someone has to live, somebody's got to make it, suggesting he knows he is going to die. He and Jed will create a diversion so the others can get away. Once he's with Jed, he changes his tone, saying that they could possibly survive and make it back to the mountains. He wants to give hope to everyone.
When paratroopers appear and killing and chaos ensue, Jed is the only one to keep his head. His plan is vague - we're getting out of here; we're getting to the mountains - but it's still a plan. Once the get to the mountains, Daryl (the third level mind character) wants to go back and turn himself in, but Jed wants to stay "'til we don't hear that {jets and bombs} anymore." He knows he can stay alive in the mountains, but going back would likely mean getting killed.
When they are hunting, Robert shoots a deer, but it does not die immediately. Jed kills the deer with a knife, explaining that shooting more than once would let the enemy figure out where they are.
While Matt cries when their father is executed, Jed forces him not to cry, telling him to keep it inside and turn into something else.
The group meets with a sympathizer who tells them they are becoming legends. He says that there are rumors that special forces will come in and join them in the spring. Jed replies that spring is a long time away and it's just a lot of talk until then. He is strictly a 'believe it when you see it' type of person, a typical mind character characteristic.
Matt approaches Jed and speaks in a whisper, and Jed asks why he's whispering using a normal tone of voice. Matt says it 'feels quiet,' but Jed knows there is no one else around to hear them, so whispering is not necessary. During that conversation, Matt notes that Jed is 'lean on feelings.' Jed answers he can't afford feelings.
Jed rationalizes executing the Russian soldier because he is the enemy and has invaded their territory, but he can't rationalize killing Daryl, who betrayed them. This particular scene is a great look at the conflict between mind, body, and spirit. Matt doesn't want to execute anyone because he wants to take the high road; Jed rationalizes executing the Russian soldier, but can't kill Daryl, the traitor; Robert doesn't care what's smart or what's right. He is able to kill Daryl and walk away without the burden of guilt.
For those who are unaware or too young to remember, the '80s have been making a resurgence. Fashions have drifted to the colorful layers of that decade, including the off-the-shoulder sweatshirt and tights and/or leggings made famous in the movie, 'Flashdance,' among others.
Speaking of movies, iconic '80s movies are being released or filmed even as I type this post. Movies like 'Footloose' have been 'updated,' as they say, and rumor has it there will soon be a remake of 'Dirty Dancing,' which starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Swayze and Grey also starred together in 'Red Dawn,' which has also been 'updated.'
'Red Dawn' marked a lot of firsts in cinema. It was the first credited role for Charlie Sheen. It was said to be the most violent movie ever made up until that time. It was also the first movie to be released with the then brand-new 'PG-13' rating.
I wanted to do this one, so you (and I) could see how the characters in the remake stack up against the originals. In the original, there were actually three layers of characters - three mind, three body, and three spirit. I will only address the first layer mind, body, and spirit characters here, since the lower layers characters may have been changed drastically for the remake, even though all nine characters appear in it.
I urge you to go back and see the original and look at the second and third layer characters. They have relatively little screen time, but the characteristics are all easily identifiable.
The Body Character: Robert (C. Thomas Howell)
All of the male characters appear early, but their characteristics do not come out until after the initial attack and they make their way into the mountains. Robert's true nature comes to light when the group is out hunting deer. Robert takes the shot, making him the first in the group to take a life once the war begins. He is also instructed by other hunters in the group to drink the deer's blood, which would make him a 'real hunter.'
When the colonel joins the group, he sees Robert sitting near the fire, carving notches in his rifle stock indicating his kills. The stock is covered with earlier marks. The colonel, the second layer mind character, tells him, 'All that hate's gonna burn you up, kid.' Robert takes this as a compliment and replies, 'Keeps me warm,' with a grin.
Matt talks to Jed, alone, and tells him everyone in the group is ready to give up, except Robert. When the helicopters attack the group, Robert decides if he is going to die, he's going to die fighting. Knowing he can't win, he steps out of hiding and fires his rifle at the helicopter and is shot and killed. It was a needless death, as evidenced by the survival of several other group members.
The Spirit Character: Matt (Charlie Sheen)
When Robert shoots the deer, Jed explains why he should drink the blood, but Matt empathizes with Robert. Robert asks how the blood tastes, hesitant to drink. Matt says it's a little salty, but makes it out to be no big deal.
Familial relationships are very important to Matt, and the evidence is in his actions. When Matt and Jed find their father in the re-education camp, Jed wants to know what's going on, but Matt asks about what happened to their mother. When their father is executed, Matt is the one who cries. Matt is also the first one to agree to follow Jed when they finally made it to the woods.
Matt is concerned about doing what is right. He even asks the colonel if they are doing the right thing by attacking and killing enemy soldiers. Matt confronts Jed when he is getting ready to execute a Russian soldier and a traitor from within the group. Matt believes that executing them in cold blood puts them on the same level as their enemy. He wants to take a higher moral road.
As they prepare for the final battle, Matt tells Erica and Danny (the second and third level spirit characters) that someone has to live, somebody's got to make it, suggesting he knows he is going to die. He and Jed will create a diversion so the others can get away. Once he's with Jed, he changes his tone, saying that they could possibly survive and make it back to the mountains. He wants to give hope to everyone.
The Mind Character: Jed (Patrick Swayze)
When paratroopers appear and killing and chaos ensue, Jed is the only one to keep his head. His plan is vague - we're getting out of here; we're getting to the mountains - but it's still a plan. Once the get to the mountains, Daryl (the third level mind character) wants to go back and turn himself in, but Jed wants to stay "'til we don't hear that {jets and bombs} anymore." He knows he can stay alive in the mountains, but going back would likely mean getting killed.
When they are hunting, Robert shoots a deer, but it does not die immediately. Jed kills the deer with a knife, explaining that shooting more than once would let the enemy figure out where they are.
While Matt cries when their father is executed, Jed forces him not to cry, telling him to keep it inside and turn into something else.
The group meets with a sympathizer who tells them they are becoming legends. He says that there are rumors that special forces will come in and join them in the spring. Jed replies that spring is a long time away and it's just a lot of talk until then. He is strictly a 'believe it when you see it' type of person, a typical mind character characteristic.
Matt approaches Jed and speaks in a whisper, and Jed asks why he's whispering using a normal tone of voice. Matt says it 'feels quiet,' but Jed knows there is no one else around to hear them, so whispering is not necessary. During that conversation, Matt notes that Jed is 'lean on feelings.' Jed answers he can't afford feelings.
Jed rationalizes executing the Russian soldier because he is the enemy and has invaded their territory, but he can't rationalize killing Daryl, who betrayed them. This particular scene is a great look at the conflict between mind, body, and spirit. Matt doesn't want to execute anyone because he wants to take the high road; Jed rationalizes executing the Russian soldier, but can't kill Daryl, the traitor; Robert doesn't care what's smart or what's right. He is able to kill Daryl and walk away without the burden of guilt.
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