Red Dawn Remake!

[kato13]

I am aware of America's complex historical relationship with China and that they are perhaps our biggest conventional military rival at the moment. Unfortunately, the likelihood of an armed confrontation between China and the U.S. in the next century or so is probably more likely than not. This kind of stuff certainly won't help ease the tension. It certainly won't encourage moderation, diplomacy, and cultural understanding.



Seriously You think the good of employing some Chinese-American actors outweighs the negative message that this film will send to every American ignoramous out there Not likely, IMO.

I am interested in seeing how they handle a Chinese-American fighting against ethnic Chinese and especially how his other American comrades approach him.

Most films are seen by fewer than 10% of all Americans and this film will undoubtedly be banned in China so I think you are overestimating it's impact. As you admitted conflict with China is the most likely so why not be realistic. So what it comes down to censorship and treating race as more important that it really is IMO.

Maybe it is my upbringing (in the most ethnically diverse zipcode in the US and the fact that over 30% of the couplings in both my near and extended family cross racial lines), but I really do want to move into a world where focusing on race is not even part of the equation. Naivete on my part perhaps, but I still want to move in that direction.

[Raellus]

Most films are seen by fewer than 10% of all Americans and this film will undoubtedly be banned in China so I think you are overestimating it's impact. As you admitted conflict with China is the most likely so why not be realistic. So what it comes down to censorship and treating race as more important that it really is IMO.

OK, but only .0001% (or less) of Asian-Americans will actually be gainfully employed in this film so...

Maybe it is my upbringing (in the most ethnically diverse zipcode in the US and the fact that over 30% of the couplings in both my near and extended family cross racial lines), but I really do want to move into a world where focusing on race is not even part of the equation. Naivete on my part perhaps, but I still want to move in that direction.

I agree. I wish for the same thing. Unfortunately, I see racism every day in my classes. It's really sad and frustrating for me as a person and as an educator. If only 10% of my students see this film and start (or keep) thinking of the Chinese as bad guys, then the damage will have been done. I'm not saying it'll lead to war or anything, but it's not going to produce anything good. Ignorance, fear, and suspicion don't lead anywhere good. And with Japanese internment in our not-so-distant past, the precedent for knee-jerk, essentially racist responses to crises, perceived or real, I don't think this is anything to sniff at.

[sglancy12]

This may kick the thread over into "Locked" because it is too polarizing, but I am less disturbed by the Chinese racial aspect than I am by another racial aspect of the film.

I can't help but notice that the role of the collaborating mayor is played by the actor Michael Beach. His son, is played by Connor Cruise. Both actors are African American.

So, if the film stays loyal to what happened in the first film, this "race change" is going to result in two uncomfortable things.

One: an African American elected official is going to collaborate with a foreign invader impose communism on America by force of arms.

Two: the white characters who play the Wolverines are going to have to shoot the black character for not being a loyal American.

While both of those images are a bit thorny, I have to wonder about whether the use of a black politician as a communist collaborator is at all connected to the current debate over health care reform. Since the film isn't out yet, we don't know how Mayor Jenkins and Daryll Jenkins are going to be treated in the script. My discomfort is only based on what happened in the first film coupled with some of the uglier aspects of the anti-health care reform protests.

A. Scott Glancy, President TCCorp, dba Pagan Publishing

[sglancy12]

And if this is getting too political, I would recommend deleting the political posts rather than locking the thread. I think we should keep a thread about the Red Dawn remake going. I'd rather see my posts deleted than the thread locked.

A. Scott Glancy, President TCCorp, dba Pagan Publishing

[kato13]

I don't think this thread needs to be locked at least not yet.

From what I have heard the script is close to the original but "quite a bit has been changed". I will admit I can see a potential black Mayor collaborator being exploited by some people for his race in the current political climate. That casting decision is very interesting to me as you are correct in that it potentially invites controversy. There is another black wolverine, Edwin Hodge. So perhaps if the "traitor in the midst" part of the story stays true he is the one who delivers the killing shot (in an effort to mitigate some potential backlash). I will be totally honest that even in the original I was never comfortable with that part of the story.

Given that the screenwriters and director are really unknown entities I honestly don't know what to expect from this film.

[kato13]

If only 10% of my students see this film and start (or keep) thinking of the Chinese as bad guys, then the damage will have been done.

The Chinese government are bad guys IMO (I still remember Tiananmen). I have a feeling that the average Chinese soldier in the film will be presented with some sympathy just like the fake translating soldier was in the original. Even the Cuban Colonel had some sympathy at the end of the film. There are also Russians in the mix so again I don't know exactly what to expect (maybe they will have Russians commit all the mass killings). I am optimistic given that there is an Asian American freedom fighter in the film. I hope that this film is about being an American not about any particular race.

[kato13]

OK, but only .0001% (or less) of Asian-Americans will actually be gainfully employed in this film so...

Sorry the math nut in me was bothered by this statistic so I had to double check it. .0001% of 15 million would be 15. Including extras and stuntmen I expect that hundreds were probably employed so lets call it .001%

Oh I was just reading the script history and originally one of the female leads was to be Asian American. However Isabel Lucas was cast for that part (female transformer from Transformers II)

[kato13]

Here is the IMFDB page for the original Red dawn

http://www.imfdb.org/index.php/Red_Dawn

Brings back good memories.

[kato13]

Some pics



















Edit some more here

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5042c5310100gjxt.html

Interesting from my reading of the translation the Chinese blogger seems proud that China has supplanted Russia

In Hollywood's movie, takes frequently Russia the simulated enemy, now this simulated enemy turned China, looked like China indeed is formidable in US's heart.

[Webstral]

Based on the handful of shots we have seen of vehicles, it looks like the remake has abandoned the commitment of the original to using the right vehicles for the enemy.

How many of us would have our photos on the wall, I wonder

Webstral

[kato13]

How many of us would have our photos on the wall, I wonder

I found an updated version and apparently there are many dangerous American and Canadian Citizens here.

[Webstral]

Tell them danged Canucks to get themselves on a wall in their own danged country.

Webstral

[pmulcahy11b]

Here's a possibility: The Chinese don't invade with a military army. They simply impound the US due to lack of payment of the loans financing our national debt, and send an army of accountants, bankers, and auditors...

[pmulcahy11b]

Based on the handful of shots we have seen of vehicles, it looks like the remake has abandoned the commitment of the original to using the right vehicles for the enemy.

How many of us would have our photos on the wall, I wonder

Webstral

The Chinese do seem to be using primarily Canadian vehicles and HMMWVs -- hey, are the Canadians helping the Chinese in this invasion!!

As for me being on the wall -- I'd sleep through the war, due to the side-effects of my medication...

[Legbreaker]

Good to see us Australians aren't on the wall. Probably because we're supplying China with all the iron ore and coal they need to make their war machines.