Comments on: Heroes, Commies and the American Face: A Commentary on “Red Dawn 2010″

By: shadow

shadow — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:43:21 +0000

yes the history has change through all these years, at the beginning all this conflict was used to create rumors and misunderstandings between this two nations.

By: Robert Bagwell

Robert Bagwell — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:10:01 +0000

@Larson – In support of what you’re saying there is a good book by Ian Bremmer called “The End of the Free Market: Who Wins the War Between States and Corporations?” in which he discusses the parallels between mercantilism and state capitalism. (Same thing and it is indeed war).

It is more than simple entertainment and Hollywood understands all to well the power of the movie medium in influencing thought within the American public but as MaiQiang points out the Chinese public are a far more gullible and literal population. I’ll bet that we’ll see more of these types of movies in the future.

By: Red Dawn: A Contemporary Remake of Yellow Peril Hysteria? « reappropriate

Red Dawn: A Contemporary Remake of Yellow Peril Hysteria? « reappropriate — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 17:52:07 +0000

[...] simultaneously praised as one of the best right-wing films of all time, and criticized as ”xenophobic,” “survivalist porn” that caters to crazed militiamen. It comes as no surprise, [...]

By: ganzhoulin

ganzhoulin — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:14:44 +0000

Great observation, Aimee. Especially your comment ‘reckless propaganda’. This is NOT just a movie. Those who choose to hide behind that facile notion need to educate themselves. If a ‘movie’ was just a ‘movie’ and nothing more then why would the Penta-goon and the CIA jump into bed with certain elements of Hollywood…?

The answer? Because they know that a ‘movie’ is MORE than just a ‘movie’..

By: Dave Larson

Dave Larson — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:36:33 +0000

As a currency trader, I can tell you that starving tigers and lead paint on toys is not the issue. The issue is the Chinese economic practice of mercantilism (it’s definitely worth looking up mercantilism in Wikipedia so you understand China’s primary economic strategy; one they are pursuing openly). Mercantilism is about domination, and that IS scary.

Contrary to what is stated in this blog, the Chinese yuan is not strong. It is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed exchange rate making it ~40% cheaper than it should be if it were allowed to rise in a free market. That makes Chinese goods 40% cheaper than they should be and fuels a massive trade imablance between China and the US (because it also makes our goods 40% MORE expensive for the Chinese to buy). Economists estimate this is costing the US between 1 and 2 million jobs that would not otherwise be lost if the yuan were traded fairly. Unfair loss of American jobs, I think that’s the root of what’s upsetting people…

That said, I am very concerned about xenophobia and extreme nationalism on both sides. Having lived in Shanghai for a few months and being currently married to a Chinese born American, I have definitely seen a rising sense of pride/nationalism coming out of China. I was asked several times in Shanghai by locals if I was “scared of China yet.” The answer is yes.

And if a liberal democrat like myself feels scared, I can’t imagine how Americans in the mid-west feel. If this movie does a good job of tapping into that fear then this movie is going to break box office records.

By: ross

ross — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:45:12 +0000

Great points made. Some commentors are missing the point; the writer is not defending all of China’s actions thorughout history, obviously. This post is about a ridiculous movie, and not about how America is terrible and China is the best. (Are you reading the article?)

I’d hope most people realise that Red Dawn (is this a real movie?) looks like straight up propaganda, and cheap, uncreative propaganda at that. If this were an anti-American movie made by China, it would be terrible too. Nationalism is bad, always.

The vitriol some Americans have towards China can be shocking.

By: Kedafu

Kedafu — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:54:24 +0000

The movie is going to be EPIC!

am very worried about all the 愤青s，小皇帝s, 红段子博客s, 第四 crazy 医院人， are going to grab some 外人 and beat the shit out of him/her。

remember Carrefour incident

Dalai Lama visits,

the Belgrade bombing,

jet figher collision,

am telling you its going to be “art imitating life”

It has happened before, will not happen again!

So yes, this movie will affect relations,

and yes, we will ALL behave

小心吧！

nationalism is a bitch!

五毛党万岁！

By: Will

Will — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:41:29 +0000

Sorry Aimee, I fall squarely in the “doesn’t take his entertainment too seriously unless it’s a documentary or non-fiction” camp. Why not make a movie about a possible future (albeit an incredibly remote possibility because an invasion with a goal of forced annexation is all but impossible to achieve) where China invades the US? Yes… I do know two colonels who embarrassingly admit that they went to West Point in part because of Red Dawn, and they spent their years there singing running cadences about killing Ruskies… But what’s the harm? They grew up, albeit eventually. The original was over the top, unrealistic, completely implausible, and a helluva lot of fun. Why can’t a movie about a fictional US-China war be the same?

Also, let’s not forget that the big movie studios are having a hard time making (as much) money these days, and their stated business plans are to use franchises and tested properties. I didn’t see Red Dawn until my mid-’20s, and many people (i.e., 18-35 males, THE demographic) were flabbergasted that I hadn’t seen one of the favorite movies of their childhood.

Red Dawn 2010′s about making money, pure and simple. Those who are actually politically offended by it belong in the same camp as those who are politically effected by it. It’s just tasteless entertainment… At least we know enough about Chinese weapons systems that Red Dawn 2010 won’t have horribly inaccurate props such as Red Dawn’s laughable Mi-24. Even Rambo 2′s was better.

By: MaiQiang

MaiQiang — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:38:32 +0000

The release of Red Dawn shouldn’t mean anything but it most certainly will. To many of the people I have met in China, what they see through film and television literally defines their perception of the country that film or t.v show came from. I’ve spent a lot of time explaining the satire, exaggerations, and generalizations found in American films and television to Chinese people who would have otherwise taken it as fact.

This movie will surely effect peoples perceptions on both sides and I know I will be discussing it with my Chinese friends in the future.
Ultimately though I think that if people want to accept generalizations, relate a film to a ‘country’s thoughts’ or relate a film to a country’s government that’s their problem.

Nice blog, will be coming back soon.

By: Do Chinese Cheer On American Misfortune, Fantasize Invading? | china/divide

Do Chinese Cheer On American Misfortune, Fantasize Invading? | china/divide — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:02:05 +0000

[...] Invading? 0 comments by Kai Pan on March 21, 2010In response to my post yesterday promoting Aimee Barnes’ commentary on the upcoming Red Dawn remake for discussion, I got this response on Google Buzz from Thomas [...]