Finally Watched "Red Dawn"

So with all the references and seemingly talk about this 1984 film, I decided to pick it up since I saw a new copy for $6. With the seemingly huge impact it had (The U.S. Military called the capture of Saddam "Operation Red Dawn"), and the idea of the U.S. being invaded by a foreign nation... I thought it was an awesome concept.

The movie... the movie left a lot to be desired.

Admittedly, on my part, it most likely because I had fairly high expectations.

The film uses an overall "less-is-more" technique in a few areas. The setting of the film is Kansas and the movie seems more like a bunch of guys going into the woods to make a film, using a few abandoned blocks in a small town to create the idea of a Soviet state, and a ton of explosions lying around. I was having a hard time imagining an actual Soviet Invasion since the full extent of what I saw was a small detention camp, 4 blocks of a town, and a bunch of tanks.

Then again, I'm being fairly picky. The film is less about the invasion and the conflicts and story surrounding it and more about what American's, normal everyday Americans would do in a situation where they were the rebelling army against their imposers for the first time in over 100 years. Granted, 2 of them have survival and hunting tactics, but it still works well. The idea of seeing a group of 10 -12 teenagers rebel against a massive army, losing more and more people along the way, their families, their homes... it's fairly deep stuff.

The problem, though, is that in the end it was less about telling an interesting story that revolved around developing these characters and more about the actual violence. It's worth noting that this film was made in 1984 when the MPAA finally came out with the PG-13 film rating. Because of this, the film may have been in a sort of limbo where either film maker of the studio wanted to get either a PG or R rating. So we get a film that was considered one of the bloodiest at it's time while trying to mix a sense of realism in the characters and how they would function.

But to say there was none to little character development would be wrong. There is some, but not much. One example is when the troop picks up two girls who were put into hiding. Their transformation into members of the group is never actually explained, and their history and path is shrouded in too much secrecy for you to connect with. One of the main characters goes from being scared, to drinking deers blood, to being one of the strongest of the group. His transformation isn't fully explored, but the information we get works and make sense. With so much going on, I can understand the need to cut out certain parts.

There is, though, a lot of the film that works well. The initial 25 minutes of the film, where we see the Soviets paratroopers land and invade Kansas, the getaway by the band of high schoolers, and heading to the shop for ammunition and food while all they know and love is being destroyed... eventually arriving in the woods and creating their new order. It was nothing short of great to watch it and the fact that the rest of the film only had small highlights harmed it in my eyes.

Some other choice parts? The emotional exchange between the father and two brothers at the detention camp, watching them come back to the occupied town, and the meeting of the Soviet leader to his men when he declares the Wolverines are to be hunted were great scenes. They took on the idea, the concept, and the emotion's that one would expect during World War III.
If anything, the overt patriotism was lost on me. I found it cheaply used in the film because, as I've stated before, the film barely gave you an idea of the full scope of what was going on. The interaction between other freedom fighters was minimum, same with those who were captured. Admittedly, again, I have to take into account that this film was released in 1984 when American was in the middle of another "Red Scare" and this film would have been, in a sense, a call to arms or a somber reminder that freedom isn't free.

I'm going to give this film a 3 out of 5 skulls. In the end, the film doesn't entirely disappoint. The ending left a bit to be desired because I didn't feel the film build up to it, but the your left with a feeling of wonder and intrigue about both the plot and what you would do if you were put into a similar situation. Would you be able to hunt and kill your own food? Would you be able to take another life if it meant surviving? The film is worth the price of admission, but don't put your hopes to high.

The Return of Russian Bear

Yesterday, Russia attacked Georgia. This has launched the 2008 South Ossetia War. The war stated after hostilities between Georgia and Russia reached a peak over South Ossetia. South Ossetia want's to become part of Russia, and Georgia was not exactly happy about it. On August 7th, Georgian troops invaded the South Ossetia capital of Tskhinvali. In response, Russia attacked Georgia.

When I began writing this article, in my mind, I wanted to paint Russia for the corrupt, incredibly hostile nation it has become since the rise of Putin. Instead, I'm stuck asking the same questions anyone else would in this matter: Why did Georgia begin the invasion in the first place? The answer was simply this; the amount of uprising in South Ossetia was reaching a boiling point, and to a degree, they saw a need to invade.

But what really strikes me, and anyone who not only has any sense of personal well being in the fact that Russia has become an attacking force once more, is the threat this truly signals as well as the timing.

Vladamir Putin is a tyrant who hides behind Democracy in order to stay in power. The last election in Russia was an obvious farce to anyone outside their country, and nothing more than Putin ensuring his political party stayed in power and a virtual guarantee that, as Prime Minister, he would still have control. Russia saw a decline overall in the 90's and, with Putin in control, the nation has basically rebounded. But that return to power has also seen a return to military strength.

It is my honest and learned opinion that this was, in fact, in the works longer than anyone now learning about this (myself included) could truly have imagined.

In 2006, the real troubles began with a sabotage of a pipeline that ran through North Ossetia. Following that, Russia banned wines from Georgia and a controversy alleging to Russia spying on the nation soon followed. There have been various problems since then, including violations of airspace and anti-government protests around the nation. By no means am I saying Georgia is clean in all of this as well, but I am agreeing the majority that, yes, Russia is going to far in their actions and, in fact, are using this for something more.

The recent attack is what I think will be the beginning of Russia flexing it's military might and Vladamir Putin's master plan to make Russia, with it's alliance with China, the most dominate nation on the planet. The attacks happened right at the dawn of the Olympics, begging to ask if the "uprising" was not staged by Russian supporters with the help of the Russian government, or the government of Georgia using information they received and forcing their hand.

This may be the beginning of a display of military might, and it may be the start of something more, something even worst. I do see this as a return of the Russian Bear, an aggressive force that will try and force it's will down the necks of others. This is not about supporting democracy to them or anything of that nature, just pure force.

8/8/08 - One of the Most Unlucky Days Ever

Got some personally bad and terrible news, but at the same time, it's manageable. I won't bore you about it... at least not yet.

Too late in the day for me to wax poetic about everything, but the three most important things are this:

• 1. Russia attacked Georgia, basically starting a war.
• 2. John Edwards admitted he cheated on his wife after she was diagnosed with Cancer.
• 3. China started the Olympic Games, despite countless human and civil rights violations.

It's been said, namely in China, that the number 8 is a incredibly lucky number. I'm sure a lot of people are going to disagree after today.