Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

You have seen this movie a hundred times on TNT (with commercials, and editing) but it might be worth an hour or so to watch it again, without distractions.

Directed by John Milius, the same guy that gave us the original CONAN movie and the much acclaimed APOCALYPSE NOW , this movie came out of no where in 1984(literally, and I will explain) and rocked the charts. It was a low budget flick, filmed on location (not in California) with players virtually unknown in the industry. The headliners on the flick were a few guys most people wouldn't buy a ticket to see, unless they were in a movie with say, John Wayne (Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton) and their parts were small.

The movie was banned in Europe, and considered dangerously full of anti-communist propaganda. At the time, however, Cold war politics left everyone edgy, and the shock value of having a hand-to-hand battle in our own backyard was enough to capture our attention. How would we respond, had this happened? The threat of nuclear war, ever present, was the big concern. But what if there was some COMMON sense involved,and the warring nations realized that nuclear war would destroy the WHOLE world? What if a war was brought to the American people (as it has been to so many nations globally?) Would we fight? How much would we risk to be free?

I lived in a small town in Colorado. It could have BEEN this (mythical) small town, in many ways. The actual film was made in Las Vegas New Mexico, a place famous only as being the site of a state mental institution. The "cave" was an abandoned grocery store. The tanks were manufactured in California, and real paratroopers dropped from the skies. Most of the movie is filmed in the vast wilderness areas of the southern Rockies.

THE PLOT

The movie opens in a small town high school, in a history class. As the teacher lectures, paratroopers are dropping from the sky, in the field outside the window. The teacher goes outside, and is promptly shot down by the invaders. The invaders are from communist affiliated Latin American countries, and promptly and brutally surround the town and either kill or confine the townspeople. Calumet Colorado is now occupied territory.

Jed Eckert is a "small town" hero, a former quarterback, working at a gas station. His brother Mat is still in school. Jed makes a daring escape, with a few boys, in the truck. They stop at a small convenience store for supplies and head for the hills. When they surface again in town, they find that oppression rules. All the potential trouble makers have been confined in a "camp" including Tom Eckert the boys' father.

It is this reality check that creates the determination to fight. They fight to avenge their dad, and they fight for freedom. They begin a brand of guerrilla warfare, making small important strikes. They are joined by a couple of girls, who go to escape rape and torture, and become part of the guerrilla band.

A wilderness outfitting store supplies many of their needs, especially outdoor clothing, guns and ammunition. The kids are isolated from their families, and some have watched their parents gunned down by a firing squad. The fighting continues.

A stranger, a gunned down fighter pilot, joins them for awhile but is killed. There is betrayal, and disillusionment, that builds with time. Although not really addressed in the movie, these kids live out the winter in a survival mode. Some want to quit. Then the soviets send in a guy to destroy the troublesome teenagers. One by one, the teenagers fall, until the climax scene of the movie.

Is everyone happy? Do the good guys win? Is there a message to keep with this movie, besides the jolting "what if" premise? I won't tell. Watch and see.

A MESSAGE

There is one part of this movie that no one talks about, and yet, to me, is the most eloquent part of this then-controversial film. It happens in the private study of Colonel Bella. The troops invading were doing what they were told, as good soldiers. They were fierce and brutal as ordered. But what if we could see in the private mind of an intelligent human being? We would see Bella, whose final act at the end of the flick, is the most important gesture made in the movie. Would we be able to kill if we recognized humanity in the enemy?



THE CAST

PATRICK SWAYZE -as Jed Eckert the hero of the story. Swayze is outstanding in this role, and is believable, as the older brother. He is bound by duty to his father and brother. He is called upon to lead, and he does. He protects his band of guerrillas, but loses his enthusiasm when the losses become unbearable.

CHARLIE SHEEN -as Mack Eckert, the younger brother. he balances the leadership of Jed, by being the only person who openly questions him without reprisal. They act in every way as brothers. This role, though subdued, may have been Charlie's best. He maintains a youthful innocence and loyalty. He and Jed participate in a final heroic act, that is impressively brave.

LEA THOMPSON as Erica, one of the girls to join the band of guerrillas. It is her question that is the title of this review, as she and another guerrilla escape through the mountains to the free zone. Lea did not have much of a speaking part, and I would have liked to see her in better films, because she is a talented actress, in my opinion.

JENNIFER GRAY as Toni, the other girl to join the guerrillas in the hills. She says even less than Lea, and is ALMOST a romantic interest for Jed. She has a single fine moment as an actress after she is shot. She later starred opposite Swayze in DIRTY DANCING.

C. THOMAS HOWELL as Robert, one of the first boys in the Wolverines, as the guerrillas called themselves. Robert is a little gun crazy, and love to kill the enemy. A little unbalanced, the role is good, but subsidiary.

BEN JOHNSON as Mason, the wilderness store outfitter. I have always liked this actor, because I was forced to watch all the John Wayne movies, at least 4 times, and Ben could act a little. He is a competent performer, and solid.

HARRY DEAN STANTON as Mr. Eckert, the boys' father. In his one scene, he reveals everything about the upbringing of the two major stars of the movie. He is not in any other scenes, but the one was memorable.

POWERS BOOTH as Andy Tanner, the fighter pilot. I think Booth's performance was outstanding, and it amazes me to see it barely listed in the credits. Of course the guy was unpopular, showing up for an award while his fellow actors were out on strike. But this is a performer with some real ability. (He played Jim Jones in the two part series about the suicide cult leader).

PROBLEMS WITH THE STORY

It was unrealistic and unlikely, although small town boys in Colorado do know how to hunt, and could probably survive in the hills. (None that I know would WANT to). The story is linear, and little was done to develop character traits for any but Jed and Matt. The girls remained a mystery to the end.

I think the harsh reality of surviving winter in the Rockies was underplayed. The kids were too well fed, too well outfitted and too clean to have really lived this drama. But no one really wants to watch reality. After all, this is only a movie.

A WORD ON THE DVD VERSION

This DVD is dirt cheap, and comes with no frills. The movie was not enhanced digitally, but was visually stunning nevertheless. There is no accompanying commentary, and I am starting to see this as an asset, since I have only recently realized how boring some of these directors are!

FINAL RECOMMENDATION

You need to pull yourself out of your suburban comfort to watch this movie. Put yourself in small town Calumet, and think about what you would do, should invaders drop from the sky. Would you escape to the mountains and fight, or be "political" and try to get along with your oppressors? What is the price of freedom? If you stop to think about what is really important to you, this movie has served it's purpose.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older