VIDEO

'Friends of North Korea' Protest 'Red Dawn' Remake in NYC

A video from last Fall shows what's got them so upset with the B-movie

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Jan 7, 2013 by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t

"This movie is crap, just like the first Red Dawn!" / Image: YouTube

It's funny, you know, the way the marketplace of ideas manages to attract folks who truly despise the market.

One such example of discontent with capitalism's output was a protest by the Workers World Party, a "revolutionary Marxist-Leninist organization," at the premiere of the "Red Dawn" remake in New York's Times Square last November. We're alerted to the demonstration, which included at least one member of the Occupy movement, via David Frum's outpost at The Daily Beast. Frum of course has no sympathy for those who'd call attention to the "fascist" depiction of a fictional attack by North Korea on the American homeland, the gist of "Red Dawn's" plot.

"Red Dawn is lying War Propaganda!" proclaimed one sign-waver.

"The Workers Party of Korea is on the forefront of a battle against US imperialism and its decadent, sick, stupid culture!" screamed another attendee.

But one demonstrator took a more empathetic approach: "There is no sense of responsibility in the United States about what messages we're putting out there," said a representative of the Korean Friendship Association. "How would you feel if the biggest country in the world made movies saying you were going to invade?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1JBZRm8pnk

Via The Daily Beast.

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?	What is your reaction to the sentiments on display in the video?

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Comments (view in Forum)

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Jan '13

woodtick57

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Wow! People get upset over even the remakes of bad movies.

(Actually, you'd think N. Korea would be glad anyone ever mentions them at all) even bad press is better than being ignored by the world, which would be thier case...
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Jan '13

Polusalo

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Wooooooah woah woah. Are you saying the original was bad or the remake? Cause the remake has Jeffrey Dean Morgan in it and if you say he's bad, well, dem are fightin words.
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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My reaction...stupid people making pointless rants? I never saw the remake but I heard it was delayed to change all the Chinese references to North Korea lest we not offend our Chinese banker friends who own all the US debt. I thought the first movie sucked too.
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Jan '13

woodtick57

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Most of the US debt is actually owed to ourselves...
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Jan '13

kirbstomp1

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@woodtick57 like 7/8 of it is owed to ourselves.
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Jan '13

kirbstomp1

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China only hold a little more than 1/16 of our debt
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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I think this fact alone is one of the funniest concerning the movie, and now this outrage via a political group. China was originally the bad guys, then got scrapped and N. Korea took its place. Hilarious!
N. Korea couldn't invade its own back yard, let alone the US homeland, the movie is really asking us to suspend more than just disbelief. Its asking us to warp to another dimension entirely.
"I thought the first movie sucked too."
Hmph! I guess you wouldn't make a fine Wolverine! I liked it personally, but I remember a lot of the movies that were made in that era, were geared at being propaganda pieces. You at least have to admit that the mighty Soviet (we found out later it fell WAY short of this) Empire made a better enemy than the freaking North Koreans. The latter is so laughable that it wouldn't have even made a good comedy.
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Jan '13

Polusalo

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@Fishbone345

Well, during the movie, they do mention a few times it wasn't JUST North Korea. North Korea just happened to be in that area where it was set. They mentioned Russia and China were in the other parts of the US.
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Jan '13
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

Mogal

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Oy vey.
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Jan '13

Thegrif

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My reaction? My reaction is, "SO."
They are mad, they are upset, they didn't get enough attention as a child?

If the movie upsets you, or may upset you, or you disagree with the premiss of the movie, we do not care.
Don't go watch it.
Dang, it's a movie, get over it!
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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I say this about every movie. Do you? Or are you just saying it now because the people upset are Communists?
Would you tell Christians to shut up and not go see Red State too? I'm just curious.
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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@Fishbone345
I think Christians should see Red State. Help them see what happens when you act on their beliefs.
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Jan '13

Thegrif

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I sure would tell anyone, if you pay for a ticket to go see something that upsets you, then that is on you.
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Jan '13

Thegrif

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@Cheenoguy tell me, what is going to happen to a Jesus follower?
And whatever happens because of a persons faith or belief, then I would imagine that would be fine.
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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@Thegrif
Never actually met a Christian who was actually following Jesus.
What I was referring to is this absolute non-Jesus like hatred for homosexuality. Red State is a movie where "Christians" actually treat homosexuals the way Bible says too.
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Jan '13

Politicskid

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I'm sorry, but I can't take anyone with that naked seriously, regardless of what's in this video. Maybe I'll watch it later.
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Jan '13

Politicskid

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Sorry, I meant NAME not "naked". Stupid autocorrect.
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Jan '13
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

thejimbo

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Yes, many Americans are poorly educated and uninformed, but they are as
capable of learning as any other population. Never forget that it was
Frum who joined with the stupidest Americans to promote the war in Iraq.
A breathtakingly stupid war. Frum is not stupid, however. He cleverly
used Americans to fight Israel's war.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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I had to stop half way through and go make some popcorn. Korean slaves in Hiroshima? Seriously? This is better than the actual movie, from all I've heard. Chill, people! It's a freakin' movie! Okay, popcorn is ready, I'm going to watch the rest of the show.
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Jan '13

Mogal

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Actually, Japan did have Korean slaves during WW2.
Have you never heard the term "comfort women"?
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@Mogal Of course I have, sweetie :)
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Jan '13

Keyjo

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I don't have time or patience to watch all 21 minutes.
But as my Pops used to remind me, "Ke'li, it's just a movie! Don't take it seriously."
I have been told that it's a better movie than the first because of special effects advances.
The article calls it a "B" movie, so I seriously doubt many North Korean citizens will see it.
Having watched 6 minutes of the comments, I agree that we are Imperialists. We are powerful, aggressive. And yes, we the people do need to occupy Wall Street and rebel against our Plutocratic captors.
But the protests against this inconsequential movie are much ado about nothing.
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Jan '13

AnObserver

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The protesters are free to leave this country and immigrate there...the communist dictator of that country would be glad to have them I'm sure.
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Jan '13

ConserveUSA

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After the election, what else group of people coming out??? Later we will be having people protesting about oh heck, Sky is Blue Protestors.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@ConserveUSA Come to think of it WHY is the sky blue? That is racist! The sky should give equal treatment to all colors of the rainbow. I will join in that protest. The fact you are making fun of it proves you want to continue all the oppression under the sun!
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Jan '13

Thunderchicken

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As my gramps used to say "If you ain't pissing some people off, you ain't living right".

As for me, I think I'll go to the movies soon.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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My reaction after watching the whole thing: I really miss living in New York City. You just can't make this sh!t up! Where else in the world can you get free entertainment of this caliber? All this fuss over a movie just because it might hurt the feelings of those who rule the totalitarian state known as North Korea. Where did they find these asshats?
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Jan '13

Neo_NtheMatrix

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Again we agree. Imagine that.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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@Neo_NtheMatrix - There's hope for you yet, Neo. :)
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Jan '13

Neo_NtheMatrix

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@Denizen_Kate - Funny, I was thinking it was more like the other way around.
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Jan '13

thejimbo

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@Neo_NtheMatrix "Zing!" ;)
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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Kate, I do believe this is the first time I've ever seen you use the word "asshats".
It sorta feels like my Aunt just said f%&k. I'm not sure how I should feel!.
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Jan '13

Speedieg

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Friends of North Korea? Seriously? I think you should move there if you like them so much. Let me know and I'll get you a one way ticket, no charge.
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Jan '13

ConserveUSA

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I agree with that. Man, the "fruit cakes" are coming out of the wood work. LOL LOL!!!
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Jan '13

JustTheFacts

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I knew they remade it but never seen it nor have any attention of seeing it but assumed it was the Chinese attacking us after selling them our bad debt rather than North Korea ... lol!
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Jan '13

Penn1699

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Go live in N Korea then!
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Jan '13

stephen

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who gives a blank . its just a movie.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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How long you been on this site? You should know better then to post rational statements. That type of talk is not allowed on politix! If you continue to make sense people will get very angry at you!
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Jan '13

stephen

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@PoliticalSpice o well i am very good getting people upset...
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Jan '13

paperdragons81

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Wasn't friendly North Korea testing nukes not long ago? Well do have to say one thing for the protesters It takes courage to stand up for what you beleave in and even though I don't agree with them, I admire that. More of us really need to stand up for what we beleave in.
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Jan '13

paperdragons81

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If hordes of people started protesting our government spending, gun rights, and whatever else. More our the politicans would start getting something done.
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Jan '13

ConserveUSA

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Of all the darn things, crazy, and good grief insane.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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The Truth of the matter is that in World Politics it does make a difference to North Korea in the same way that the CIA and Congress is making waves about "Zero Dark Thirty". Except in the case of Zero Dark Thirty, Congress and the CIA are taking offense to reality and a reality that anyone who sees the movie will agree is reality while the North Koreans are taking exception to fiction. So who is the bigger snake in the grass here? USA govt appears to win this one easily.
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Jan '13

Dan_Tien

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"Friends of North Korea"? Dupes of the world unite!
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