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Here's a look at my full review for "Red Dawn."

Red Dawn
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Adrianne Palicki
Synopsis: In 1984, in the midst of the Cold War, everyone was afraid World War III was about to start. The United States and Russia — the world’s two remaining superpowers — were at odds. Into that atmosphere came “Red Dawn.” The film was about a Russian invasion of the United States and the plucky teens in Colorado that decided to repel them. Sure, it was probably escapist fantasy, but it seemed fitting with the cultural times. In 2012, we live in a different world. There is no Cold War, and in fact one could argue the biggest threats today are shady lenders who helped create the housing market collapse, the rising global temperatures, or terrorist cells waiting to blow up famous landmarks during inspirational holidays. But since Hollywood seems intent on recycling every semi-successful idea from the past, “Red Dawn” is reborn. This time the plot involves North Koreans, some sort of magical device that cripples defense systems but leaves cell phones, vehicles, and TVs intact, and teens in Spokane, Wash. seeking to repel the invaders and blow a lot of stuff up. Hooray America! If the original film was meant to be relatable to the fears of the times, the new version is meant to be pure escapist, action fantasy. There is little that feels grounded and believable about the film — from the flimsy plot device that spurs the invasion to being invaded by North Korean in the first place. Most of the “plot” feels like filler strung together as a means of linking action pieces, such as shootouts and explosions. Consequently, little time is spent on building characters, either. The new “Red Dawn” benefited from studio financing problems that led to years of delay. Now, several of the film’s stars have become household names. Hemsworth starred in the biggest film of the year, “The Avengers,” while Hutcherson has a leading role in the “Hunger Games” series. But as it is, some of the performances are raw. Hemsworth does a decent job in the leading role, but some of the supporting actors struggle. Peck is probably the least believable performer in the film — yet he’s somehow tasked with carrying a bulk of the plot. That doesn’t help. The actions pieces work well, and the film is generally fairly easy to watch — as long as you let go of logic and lingering questions created by the unbelievable narrative. But there’s not a lot too it as the film mainly consists of action pieces with no real purpose, depth, or connection. When characters face peril, you hardly know them well enough to care. It feels more like an elaborate video game than a film with real stakes. And all that makes the final act a bitter pill to swallow. After one of the more impressive action set pieces and sequences, the film limply meanders to the finish. It’s weak, unimpressive, and unsatisfying. That, in fact, might be the biggest failing of the film. Those looking to escape for a bit and watch a lot of fight sequences will be impressed. But those nostalgic for a story of substance should look elsewhere — or at least find the original at the video store.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense war violence and action, and for language.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

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