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From: jimc@haddock.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Red Dawn (slight spoiler)
Message-ID: <229@haddock.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 19-Aug-84 23:39:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: haddock.229
Posted: Sun Aug 19 23:39:18 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Aug-84 03:08:12 EDT
Lines: 44
Nf-ID: #N:haddock:13900001:000:2154
Nf-From: haddock!jimc    Aug 18 22:16:00 1984

Red Dawn:

I am not going to take the time to write a description of this movie --
preceding authors have all done a good job with that already.  Instead,
I am going to indulge myself by expounding my opinions on this movie
from the beginning.

First of all, the movie is not bad.  It's well paced, and solid in theme,
and it certainly maintained my interest and the interest of the audience
who saw this with me in Boston.  Unfortunately, its consistency in theme
and action is about all it has going for it.  It is not really explained
just how such a large scale invasion of the American Midwest could have
taken place.  At one point, a downed American jet pilot explains to our
heroes and heroines what happened -- something to the effect of an airlift
of troops from the Communist southern hemisphere in planes which are
disguised as commercial airliners.  Come on, gang; wouldn't any radar
operator get just a little suspicious of a fleet of commercial jets large
enough to carry an invasion force?  Also, it is said that the Soviets
invaded through the Bering Strait and down through Canada to aid
their Latin comrades.  Sorry, but I can't believe a Soviet army
advancing down through North America to hit the mainland U.S. would have
been allowed as far as Kansas.

This illogical premise aside, then explain to me this:  how is it
that a military force brilliant enough to secure all the
territory between the Grand Canyon and the Mississippi can't
defend itself against a band of children?  Egad, they even let
them roam around their hometown without a single guard giving
them trouble.

Also in this movie, we have a limited nuclear war, the only
casualties being Kansas City (sounds familiar, TV fans?), Omaha,
and a couple of others.  The rest is fought by conventionals.  To
believe that is to accept a tactical standpoint that might be the
most dangerous of all military ideals in the world today.

It is unfortunate that so much energy and even intelligence could
be wasted on such an obvious propaganda ploy.  Oh, well.
Reaganites will love it.


			   --- Jim Campbell, INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation
					     Boston Technical Office