Red Dawn (1984)

[Bada0Bing]

I feel this way about Goonies.

Sheesh Mulli, kids' movies don't get any better than this!

 

[Mulli]

Sheesh Mulli, kids' movies don't get any better than this!

Wasn't my thing for some reason.

 

[NJCardFan]

What's interesting about this movie is the career paths of the actors:

Patrick Swayze-Had a pretty phenomenal career. Unfortunately he died way too young.

C. Thomas Howell-Following his successes in The Outsiders and this movie, his career, while didn't go stagnant, didn't exactly take off either. He's remained busy but mostly in b-level movies like a horrible, horrible remake of War of the Worlds(not to be confused with the Tom Cruise vehicle). He did pop up in the Amazing Spiderman as a crane operator as well as a bunch of popular TV shows but he never again reached the success of this movie.

Lea Thompson-Even though she went on to be in the mega hits Back to the Future 1, 2, and 3, she never really got many starring roles. Like Howell, she too has remained busy but never really reached the same level as with BTTF or this movie.

Darren Dalton-After this movie he went onto mega success as catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...oh, not that Darren Daulton. This movie was his last good successful movie. While not having that much trouble finding work, he didn't do much mainstream work. He did team up with C. Thomas Howell in the immensely horrible War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave but his work involves movies of the same caliber.

Jennifer Grey-After this, she, as well as Charlie Sheen, ended up in the hugely popular Ferris Beuller's Day Off, a movie some would say really launched her into stardom, then she teamed up once again with Patrick Swayze for Dirty Dancing. She was able to find work from time to time but never really got the success of her 80's movies until she appeared on Dancing with the Stars.

Charlie Sheen-Don't think anyone needs a synopsis of his career. To put it mildly, he's had an interesting go at it his entire career.

Brad Savage-Needless to say, he had a better career as a child actor than an adult. Since Red Dawn he's appeared in 3 other vehicles. He spends most of his time teaming up with other celebrities in a band called Band from TV.

No one else had any real type of career outside of Powers Booth who went on to star in vehicles like Tombstone and 24.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Sheesh Mulli, kids' movies don't get any better than this!

AFAIC, it's one of those kids movies that doesn't hold up all that well for the adults that are stuck watching it.

Steve

 

[Brian in Mesa]

No one else had any real type of career outside of Powers Boothe who went on to star in vehicles like Tombstone and 24.

I would say that Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Pepe Serna, Roy Jenson, Ron O'Neal, Frank McRae, and even William Smith had decent (even prolific) careers. Some before Red Dawn, some after.

 

[Cheesebeef]

What's interesting about this movie is the career paths of the actors:

Patrick Swayze-Had a pretty phenomenal career. Unfortunately he died way too young.

C. Thomas Howell-Following his successes in The Outsiders and this movie, his career, while didn't go stagnant, didn't exactly take off either. He's remained busy but mostly in b-level movies like a horrible, horrible remake of War of the Worlds(not to be confused with the Tom Cruise vehicle). He did pop up in the Amazing Spiderman as a crane operator as well as a bunch of popular TV shows but he never again reached the success of this movie.

actually, his career did kind of lift-off right after Red Dawn, as he was the lead in three studio movies right after Red Dawn - Mr Secret Admirer, The Hitcher (which is a CLASSIC cult horror film) and then he kind of committed career suicide with Soul Man.

He's also revitalized his career as of late as a character actor after putting in a pretty strong multi-episode arc on TNT's Southland. I'd say he's a relatively solid success story.

Lea Thompson-Even though she went on to be in the mega hits Back to the Future 1, 2, and 3, she never really got many starring roles. Like Howell, she too has remained busy but never really reached the same level as with BTTF or this movie.

she was the leadstar of an NBC Sitcom for 6 years. That's pretty damn solid for anyone in the business.

and she was in HOWARD THE DUCK!!!!

Jennifer Grey-After this, she, as well as Charlie Sheen, ended up in the hugely popular Ferris Beuller's Day Off, a movie some would say really launched her into stardom, then she teamed up once again with Patrick Swayze for Dirty Dancing. She was able to find work from time to time but never really got the success of her 80's movies until she appeared on Dancing with the Stars.

oddly enough, her nose-job killed her career in many people's eyes.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I would say that Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Pepe Serna, Roy Jenson, Ron O'Neal, Frank McRae, and even William Smith had decent (even prolific) careers. Some before Red Dawn, some after.

Nobody puts Big Bill Smith in a corner! He was great in everything and he's had a very long and successful TV and film career.

Steve

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Nobody puts Big Bill Smith in the corner!

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

Even though it came out in the prime of my childhood I didnt see the Goonies until like 10 years later, without that childhood touch that movie does nothing for me. But I totally get the nostalgia factor, Flight of the Navigator always does it for me and I bet if you didnt see it in its time you'd hate it.

As for Red Dawn. AMAZING MOVIE! How can anyone not like this? You've got the commies, the 2nd best action villains (after Nazis)! You get to watch Jeanie Bueller get blown away by a chopper! The same chopper swings around and takes down Ponyboy while he yells "WOLVERINES!!!" I mean... all you would need to add is Danny Larusso getting ran over by a T-72 and you'd have the greatest 80s movie ever.

By the way, Sheen plays Swayze's bother, Charlie would later hook up with Jennifer Grey in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Swayze would hook up with her in dirty dancing... and its a good thing all three of them die in this movie or that would have made for some awkwardness between their characters. Also Jennifer Grey's sister in the movie, Lea Thompson, hooks up with her own kid in Back to the Future! Moral of the story... dont mix family and romance. Its gross.

80's callback EDIT!

Also worth noting. C Thomas Howell and Swayze played brothers in The Outsiders, a movie that featured no incestual themes or love triangles involving siblings. They both survive that film. But you know who does not? Thats right. Danny Larusso. All the Karate in the world wont save you from a fire.