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Red Dawn movie remake hits big screen thanks to $16.7 million from Michigan taxpayers
Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 11/20/2012 | Tom Gantert

Posted on 11/21/2012 1:10:07 PM PST by MichCapCon

In the upcoming remake of the movie Red Dawn, the United States is invaded by North Korea.

But it wouldn't have happened without Michigan taxpayers.

The remake of the classic Patrick Swayze 1984 movie debuts Nov. 21. It was filmed in Michigan in 2009 and the film company received $16.7 million in film credits from Michigan taxpayers.

Now Michigan residents will get a chance to see what they paid for.

After it was shot, it was widely reported that the filmmakers changed the enemy to North Korea for fear that having China as the villain again would hurt sales in that country. In 2010, movies in China brought in $1.5 billion in revenue, according to The Los Angeles Times.

"We are far more likely to be taken over by North Korea than we are to actually benefit from the Hollywood film subsidies," said Leon Drolet, chairman of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. "The premise behind film subsidies relies more on science fiction than any movie plot ever produced by them."

Red Dawn was the biggest benefactor of film credits in 2009. The Michigan Film Office reported the movie makers spent $44.4 million in the state and got back $16.7 million, which was more than twice as big as the second largest award of $6.1 million. Although the movie was filmed in 2009, its release was stalled when MGM filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

In 2009, the state gave a refundable tax credit of up to 42 percent for production work in the state. That was changed last year to 32 percent. Earlier this year, the Republican-led legislature doubled the film subsidy program from $25 million to $50 million.

"These things are really expensive and ineffective at providing economic development," said James Hohman, a fiscal policy analyst with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: film; hollywood; moviereview; reddawn
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1 posted on 11/21/2012 1:10:18 PM PST by MichCapCon
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To: MichCapCon

Michigan? I’d expect an inside job by the Muzzies.


2 posted on 11/21/2012 1:12:53 PM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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To: MichCapCon
. . . having China as the villain again . .

China ? Thought it was Cuba.

Wolverines !

3 posted on 11/21/2012 1:18:01 PM PST by 1066AD
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To: Springman; Sioux-san; 70th Division; JPG; PGalt; DuncanWaring; taildragger; epluribus_2; Chuck54; ..
You would think the least they could do is let us in for free with a Michigan ID.

If anyone wants to be added to the Michigan Cap Con ping list, let me know.
4 posted on 11/21/2012 1:18:01 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: MichCapCon

If North Korea invaded Detroit, promised even MORE section 8 housing along with greater food stamp benefits, Kim Il Jong phones with unlimited free minutes,new Nikes, unlimited cable, and promised to whip whitey, ‘Holder’s People’ in Detroit would surrender without firing a shot....


5 posted on 11/21/2012 1:19:32 PM PST by Le Chien Rouge
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To: MichCapCon

If North Korea invaded Detroit, promised even MORE section 8 housing along with greater food stamp benefits, Kim Il Jong phones with unlimited free minutes,new Nikes, unlimited cable, and promised to whip whitey, ‘Holder’s People’ in Detroit would surrender without firing a shot....


6 posted on 11/21/2012 1:19:53 PM PST by Le Chien Rouge
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To: MichCapCon

China???

Thailand?

I thought it was the Russkies. In the beginning of the 1984 movie they talk about the Soviet’s harvest failing.


7 posted on 11/21/2012 1:21:05 PM PST by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: MichCapCon

I’m not going to watch a film with a ridiculous premise. Totally and completely unbelievable and my mind won’t accept this as entertainmant .

Why didn’t they make the villain state Suriname....


8 posted on 11/21/2012 1:21:55 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: MichCapCon

It will do just about as well as that Total Recall remake.


9 posted on 11/21/2012 1:22:09 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: MichCapCon

“MICHIGAN WOVERINES!!”


10 posted on 11/21/2012 1:23:31 PM PST by TurboZamboni (Looting the future to bribe the present)
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To: MichCapCon

“MICHIGAN WOLVERINES!!”


11 posted on 11/21/2012 1:23:42 PM PST by TurboZamboni (Looting the future to bribe the present)
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To: Vendome
Why didn’t they make the villain state Suriname....

Or The Duchy of Grand Fenwick, heck that would be more believable.

12 posted on 11/21/2012 1:23:42 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: MichCapCon
the United States is invaded by North Korea

Invaded with what?


13 posted on 11/21/2012 1:24:06 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: TurboZamboni

I’m surprised for the remake for equal time, it isn’t “BUCKEYES!”


14 posted on 11/21/2012 1:24:42 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: MichCapCon
China?

FROM Wikipedia: Red Dawn is a 1984 American war film directed by John Milius and co-written by Milius and Kevin Reynolds. It stars Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, and Jennifer Grey. It was the first film to be released with the MPAA rating of PG-13.

The film is set in an alternate 1980s in which the United States is invaded by the Soviet Union and its Cuban and Nicaraguan allies. However, the onset of World War III is in the background and not fully elaborated. The story follows a group of American high school students who resist the occupation with guerrilla warfare, calling themselves Wolverines, after their high school mascot.

Since when has China been considered Soviet?
15 posted on 11/21/2012 1:24:42 PM PST by Lucky9teen (Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.~Thomas Jeffer)
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To: Vendome

My thoughts exactly. I would really like to see the original version with China as the invader, really the only country potentially capable of such an act.


16 posted on 11/21/2012 1:25:41 PM PST by 3Fingas
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To: dfwgator

“Duchy of Grand Fenwick”

Ahhhh...the bar parlour of the Grey Goose beckons...


17 posted on 11/21/2012 1:28:29 PM PST by jessduntno ("Socialism only works...in Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they have it." - RR)
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To: Lx
I thought it was the Russkies. In the beginning of the 1984 movie they talk about the Soviet’s harvest failing.

IIRC, the actual 'invaders' were hired Cuban military in the original.

The TV series, Jericho, gave the impression that China was involved in those atomic attacks. When the provisions were parachutted in, the crates had the red star and sickle emblems. I don't remember there being a real explanation for that.

I have noticed in recent years that more TV series villains are Russians and former KGB. Seldom does a mussie turn out to be the villain. In programs where a mussie is accused, it seems to turn out to be false, and the real culprit is a disgruntled former US military or religious extremist white guy.
18 posted on 11/21/2012 1:36:07 PM PST by TomGuy
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To: TomGuy
IIRC, the actual 'invaders' were hired Cuban military in the original.

They even hired Super Fly as the main General. ;)

19 posted on 11/21/2012 1:37:23 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: 3Fingas

As I recall, China was also attacked in the movie.

Powers Boothe: “Us and 600 million screaming Chinamen”

Kid: “I thought there were a billion screaming Chinamen.”

Powers Boothe: “There were.” (Throws whiskey in fire)


20 posted on 11/21/2012 1:46:00 PM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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