Wolverines! Rewatching Red Dawn and Feeling All Kinds of Things

Okay, so I revisited Red Dawn (the OG one, not that remake thing) the other night. It's been ages, and wow, it hit differently now that I'm a parent. Back when I was a teenager, it was just a cool action movie about blowing stuff up and sticking it to the man (or, in this case, the Soviets, ha!). Now, seeing these kids, Jed and Matt and the rest, forced to grow up overnight and fight for their lives? Whew. It's heartbreaking to see their innocence just ripped away. I mean, the scene where they bury their friends after the ambush? Gut-wrenching. And Charlie Sheen, bless his baby face, he really sold the whole 'reluctant warrior' thing. I’m not gonna lie, it's definitely got some cheese and the 80s-ness is STRONG (shoulder pads, anyone?). But there's also a raw intensity there that got to me. I kept thinking, 'What would I do if my kids were in that situation?' Scary stuff. I know it's not exactly high art, and the politics are...simple, let's say. But as a snapshot of anxieties from the Cold War era, and a story about resilience in the face of impossible odds, it really stuck with me. Plus, the guerilla warfare tactics were surprisingly engaging, even if a bit far-fetched. I think maybe my husband and I will watch the documentary "By the Dawn's Early Light" next, to give us even a bit MORE perspective on that time period. Anyone else watched it recently? What are your thoughts? Did it hold up for you, or is it just a relic of a bygone era? And honestly, would you let your teens watch it? It's a tough one, because of the violence especially, but the lessons about freedom and sacrifice (maybe a little over-the-top) are super important to talk about I believe.