They're remaking Red Dawn? How could they?

What's the biggest story going through my mind right now?  Is it the deficit?  Higher taxes?  Health care?  Don Cherry's suits and who makes them? No, you ninnies.  It's the fact that they're remaking one of my favourite 80s movies, Red Dawn! (No fair those of you who peeked at the title of this post).

The original movie starred Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson (yum!) and Charlie Sheen as a bunch of Colorado high school kids, and Swayze as the guy who ends up leading them, who face off against the villainous Soviet and Cuban invaders of the United States.  It came out in 1984 during the height of the Cold War and, while it had its campy and cringeworthy moments, was actually surprisingly good.  I know I enjoyed it, even some of the obvious pathos.  Did I find it remotely plausible?  No, but that's ok.  Once you get past the implausibility of the premise, the movie holds together quite well.  I'll never forget the image of these students being in class and looking out the window to see these paratroopers landing on the ground.  Very disturbing, even if I was 14 years old and able to handle it at the time.

But now they're remaking it?  Oh, the horror!

Well, somebody obviously loves the idea.  What's the story this time?  It's not like the Soviets are a threat any more.  Though evidently there are some Russians in there somewhere.  I'm not sure exactly why that is, as they're not really allied with the true invaders that much.  Anyway, this time the invasion is by the Chinese.  What, are they coming to collect on their debt?  Who knows?  It doesn't seem like the North Koreans are involved at all, which is kind of a shame, as that would keep that whole "Soviet Union/Cuba" dynamic from the first film going.  But you can't have everything, can you?

It also appears to be set in Michigan for some reason.  Or at least it's being filmed there, but whatever the case, they've apparently moved it from the mountains of Colorado, which is also a shame.  Then again, that would make naming your rebel group and also shouting the name "Wolverines!"  when you go into battle much more appropriate, wouldn't it?  Let's hope they have more success than this year's Wolverines.  Otherwise, it will be a short movie.

I guess I shouldn't complain too much.  The movie might actually be good.  It's not likely, but it's possible!  It's just that I hate it when they remake something I loved as a kid.  But I'll still probably watch it at some point.  I loved the series "V" about alien visitors coming to steal our water, and loved that.  They're now remaking it, and yet I'm still going to give it a try.  I'll probably do the same with this movie.

At least they're keeping the Commie bastards in it.  They're just changing who the Commie bastards are.  I suppose I can live with that.  For now, at any rate.