It really bugs me how remakes of classic movies pop up first in searches. Take Red Dawn for example. This new one with Captain America doesn’t even come close to the original. Honestly, I can barely think of any remakes that top the originals, except maybe Mad Max: Fury Road or technically Casino Royale. Still, I’d choose Road Warrior over Fury Road any day.

The original Red Dawn is an absolute masterpiece from the ’80s. It kicks off with such a memorable scene — just mention “Red Dawn” and you think of soldiers parachuting into town and causing chaos. It’s a story about the onset of World War III from the perspective of a small Colorado town. It reminds me of Jericho, a fantastic series that’s also set in a small Colorado town during the nuclear onset of World War III. It follows a similar theme of community resilience and survival under extreme circumstances.

In Red Dawn, Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, and a bunch of other kids retreat to the mountains, planning their survival and ways to free their town’s captives. Throughout their ordeal, they cope with loss, betrayal, and the harsh realities of war. The movie delivers a roller-coaster of emotions — excitement, fear, loss, brotherhood, and heroism. The genuine acting and practical effects make the stakes feel real, keeping you rooting for the young heroes.

Despite all the wars currently going on, something like this playing out is not too realistic. America is far too distant for a full-scale invasion. It’s just not practical to move that much military hardware unnoticed. Today, our real threat lies in long-range missiles, capable of leaving and re-entering the atmosphere to strike targets. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s a very real part of our modern world.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐