Red Dawn’s New Day [an interview with John Milius, the author and director]

New York Press ^ | December 28, 2003 | Johnny Dwyer

[aculeus]

Why Milius is not popular in Hollywood:

" ... we’re not going to tolerate blowing apart our cities and killing tens of thousands of Americans. We’re not going to roll over."

[goldstategop]

I don't think John Milius has made a movie since. Making a pro-American movie is just going further than Hollyweird can tolerate.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Red Dawn ping

[Snake65]

I was vilified and excoriated to a degree–and I was one who was used to being vilified and excoriated for my movies–but that movie really got their dander up

You can sure see that in the Amazon reviews.

Red Dawn is actually a solid film. It's got several emotionally powerful scenes, including the one where Swayze kills his boyhood friend...or Harry Dean Stanton talking to his sons through the wire at the re-education camp...or C Thomas Howell's progression from scared kid to stone-eyed killer. The politics may have changed, but the situation is timeless.

[cmsgop]

I was definitely a neat movie, also "Invasion USA"

[Conservative_Nationalist]

Red Dawn is a very good movie in my opinion. I loved it when I was a kid. It's a very patriotic film. You can get the DVD online for under $10 if anyone is interested in buying this. I know Wal-Mart's online store carries it for a little less than $10.

[hc87]

He's made a few. Among them, Flight of the Intruder. See:

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0587518/

[StatesEnemy]

I don't think John Milius has made a movie since. Making a pro-American movie is just going further than Hollyweird can tolerate.

Will Smith seems to have survived "Independence Day"

[StatesEnemy]

The politics may have changed, but the situation is timeless

The politics hasn't changed either... Just a different incarnation.

[Walkin Man]

Red Dawn kicked butt! Da*n Russkies!

[Double Tap]

Not to pick nits, but I'm pretty sure that is was C. Thomas Howell who shot the childhood friend for leading the Russian commando attack on the Wolverines. Swayze was pointing the Colt SA at the traitor, the mayor's son, but couldn't pull the trigger. C.T.H. stepped up with the AK and hit him with a burst.

Can anyone confirm this?

[MoralSense]

Please. "Jim Pritchard and Jim Carson"? Jim Bridger and Kit Carson.

I saw part of Red Dawn on TV and appreciated what it was about, but doubted the realism of untrained kids being able to fight successfully against trained soldiers. The Sovs were tough and well-drilled troops.

That doesn't take anything away from American courage or ideals. Even at the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Redcoats ran down and slaughtered a large number of their ambushers. There were just too many of them, ultimately.

In the town square of Arlington, Mass., there's a monument to one of the Minutemen, who had been caught, bayonetted several times and shot more than once, but who survived to a ripe old age.

[Conservative_Nationalist]

Douple Tap, I think you are right. I believe Swayze shoots the Russian soldier but C. Thomas Howell shoots their childhood friend after Swayze can't make himself pull the trigger. I think that's how it happened anyway, it's been a long time since I seen this movie.

[Erik Latranyi]

Red Dawn was a wonderful movie. John Milius is a great director and deserves our unwavering support.

It affected my childhood as well. Especially since my parents came from Hungary and Germany. My father remembers the Russian tanks rolling in and how they could choose to fight with pitchforks or run for the west.

I'm glad he ran, but I know he would have stayed and fought, given some arms.

Another testiment to gun control.

[Snake65]

C.T.H. stepped up with the AK and hit him with a burst.

I'm sure you're right, now that I'm thinking about it. I remember Swayze crying over the picture of them on the same little league team...

[Double Tap]

That is what I remember.

Gives me a reason to watch it again.

[SAMWolf]

WOLVERINES!!!!!!!

[Benrand]

I tihnk he was part of Dirty Harry as well...and Apocalypse Now.

[SAMWolf]

You're right it was Howell.

[Conservative_Nationalist]

I don't know how realistic it was but I don't think much of the Russian military. They seem to lose huge numbers of troops compared to there enemy in almost every conflict they are in. It doesn't seem they are all that well trained to me. Their soldiers seem to die in large numbers on a regular basis. Look how many they lost compared to the Germans in World War 2. The numbers they loss invading Finland was also more than they inflicted. In Chechnya they also have a less than ideal record. Their soldiers aren't much compared to most western Armies when it comes to individual soldiers survivability.

The kid's in Red Dawn were actually about the same age, or just a little younger, than many of the actual soldiers fighting in Iraq today. I agree it's not completely realistic but it's a good movie for kids in my opinion. It's a very patriotic movie that doesn't blame America for everything. I doubt you will see another movie like this come out of Hollywood without them making America out to be the ones who brought it on ourselves. Why haven't we seen a movie about 9/11 and the war on on terror? Because no one wants to make it unless they can put something negative about America in it and they know that won't sell at this time.