From Red Dawn to Homefront, Paranoid Nonsense Thrives

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Hi Stephen,
I think I was in the same boat as you when I watched Red Dawn. The big, bad Soviets were out to get young and impressionable me, but fortunately - as Red Dawn, Rocky IV and pretty much every other movie of the era taught me - they aren't blessed with the same degree of intestinal fortitude and "heart" that a person born in a free country has, and are therefore predestined to lose before the movie is over.
Of course I'm being facetious but I really did - and still do - enjoy Red Dawn, and look forward to its upcoming remake, although find it slightly disappointing that MGM chose to replace the Chinese with North Koreans.
Like yourself, I've spent a fair amount of time in Korea on both sides of the DMZ and find the premises for Homefront and Red Dawn '11 fairly ridiculous. I'll even concede that it is "cheap fiction", and that some wingnuts will invariable take it the wrong way - perhaps instead of kimchi I'll be able to buy "freedom cabbage"?
I do disagree with your overall negative take on this kind of speculative fiction, however. I think it's more likely that the impressionable "man-boys" who play Homefront and watch Red Dawn '11 will reflect on what they would do in a similar situation and ponder the value of liberty than begin stockpiling ammo for the impending fur'ner invasion. The original Red Dawn obviously didn't scare you or myself away from travelling from Communist countries, so why not give Homefront gamers the same benefit of the doubt?
Besides, everybody gets a cheap thrill out of being the underdog punching above their weight. It's pretty hard for a movie to put America in that position unless it's historical, futuristic, or against aliens. It's why we loved Rocky, went crazy over the 1980 Olympic hockey team, and chanted "USA" when Hulk Hogan was picking himself off the mat with the intense look in his eyes. It's fun and usually harmless.
Cheers,

Jim 9:04AM March 31, 2011

What is this ? Game review, or movie review, or you just felt need to tell us that you lived close to North Korea region ?
This is a fiction game and you just don't like the result. There are lot of games where US Military attacking other countries but that seems to be OK. Now it's the other way around and everybody is bend out of shape.
Thank you for mentioning RED DAWN (what a "classic" movie), I'm surprise you didn't name few others like RAMBO and COMMANDO.....oh, wait a minute, is it because American's where "winning"....hmmmmmm

paul of NJ 8:48AM March 30, 2011

It sounds like a great game to me.

Alan of OK 6:36AM March 30, 2011

It's human nature to play games,
Especially all games of war.
Through history, so many names
Have played for real forevermore.
China, a player through it all,
By emperor or communist.
At first defense with the Great Wall,
But now offense with a sly twist.
Fund North Korea to play rogue,
And keep the world in guessing mode.
Let paranoia be in vogue,
And U.S. will will self erode.
China is betting on a guess
That stress will checkmate the U.S.

Ima Ryma of IL 3:51AM March 30, 2011