Red Dawn Review: The Tipping Point for Lazy Remakes

Written by Laremy / 11.20.12
Red Dawn (2012)

We only have time for one take … and THIS is that take!

There was a time, about eighteen months ago, when you couldn’t swing a cat without running into someone name-checking Malcolm Gladwell’s “Tipping Point” theory (believe me, I tried, the cat was not pleased). People loved that Gladwell riff, they loved it so much they actually sort of lurved it. Why? Well, it was an easy way for folks to discuss change, and why we rarely saw it coming. Which is why I’d posit that the current “normal” of Hollywood, releasing fantastically awful reboots and hyping terrifically terrible retreads, is all about to change. Red Dawn is that “tipping point,” heralding a bright new era of innovation, even as 2012′s version of Red Dawn is over there in the darkened corner, finger blasting various farm animals.

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Trailer for GI Joe: Retaliation – RIP, Sgt C-Tates

Written by Vince Mancini / 04.24.12

The only question is whether she plays a special forces soldier or a goverment scientist

GI Joe 2, aka GI Joe: Retaliation (sidenote: couldn’t every action movie be subtitled “retaliation?”) has a new director (Justin Bieber Never Say Never‘s Jon M. Chu stepping in for Stephen Sommers), new writers (Zombieland‘s Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese), and as this new trailer shows, basically a new cast. At least Channing Tatum actually gets to show up so he can die in the first five minutes, Marlon Wayans and Dennis Quaid must’ve been too busy (that’s why C-Tates is the Hardest Twerkin’ Man in Show Bizznasty). Anyway, after they kill off the cast of the first movie, The Rock shows up with Bruce Willis and he’s all, “I’m drivin’!” And Bruce Willis is like, “No way, kid, I’m drivin’!” and then The Rock is like, “No way, old man!” and Bruce Willis is like “I’m too old for this shit.” Then the Cobras attack and they’re all “PEW! PEW!” And then 22-year-old Government Scientist Hot Tits Houlihan (Adrianne Palicki) is all “Maybe we can reverse the polarity!”

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Played With Himself At The International Toy Fair

Written by Ashley Burns / 02.16.12

The 109th American International Toy Fair took place this past weekend in New York City, and among the offerings were new action figures related to the upcoming films G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Battleship and The Avengers. Better luck next year, The Descendents Nerf rocket launcher.

On hand to debut their toys were some of the stars of the movies mentioned, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Alexander Skårsgard and Chris Evans. But for the toymakers that didn’t have the luxury of B-list actors hamming it up for the cameras, choosing the toys to bank their futures on is all about what your Cheetos-inhaling brats are into from one minute to the next.

“Toymakers continue to innovate at the speed of light to keep up with trends in other areas – from pop culture to technology – because they know that kids want to be a part of the mix and mimic what’s happening in the world around them,” said Adrienne Appell, TIA’s in-house trend expert. “The toy industry draws upon economic and birth rate data to determine price points and product lines, which accounts for the prevalence this year of big-ticket items and toys for infants and pre-school children.” (Via Market Watch)

That’s dead on. In fact, over the weekend I visited my two-year old niece and purchased her the Kim Kardashian Play-Doh Ass Factory. It’s a far cry from my Pogo Ball.

Not much has changed, though, when it comes to the action figure, which is why these stars were so excited to check out their likeness in a 6-inch figurine, or as it’s referred to in the biz, a Tom Cruise.

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RED DAWN PALICKI BOOM BOOM DOWN

Written by Vince Mancini / 06.17.09

The Red Dawn remake (the Russians invade high school!) picked up two new castmembers today: Josh Peck from Peck will play the role of hotheaded high school quarterback Matt, originally played by Charlie Sheen. Palicki will play tough girl Toni, originally played by Jennifer Grey, who once gave birth to a baby in a corner.

Dan Bradley, a stunt coordinator and second-unit director on “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “Quantum of Solace,” will direct the revamp based on the 1984 Cold War-era film co-written and directed by John Milius. Carl Ellsworth and Jeremy Passmore penned the updated screenplay. [THR]

So yeah, probably gonna suck.  I actually didn’t know there was a stunt coordinator on Quantum of Solace.  I thought they just had the actors stand still and then shook the camera around, Polish-lightbulb style.  But casting Palicki was a good choice. After all, she’s a veteran of operation Spread Eagle.

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