actually this movie isn not all that bad . it fun and certainly not to be take seriously . i recall an interview with milius where he explain that he base this movie on the game he use to play a a kid . apparently many in usa felt a genuine fear of an invasion back then ( whenever that be ) . that aside and the movie be playful and the villain range from faceless soldier to really clever counter insurgency expert . ok and so teenage kid be the main protagonist . big deal . the action be neat even though the fx be slightly weak my modern standard . and besides and who to say that usanians would not fight as hard a any viet cong or mujahedin when their nation be invade by a foreign power . frankly and i think they would . politics aside and i actually think that if this move be redone today and it would reall be way bad than the original . see it . don not take it too seriously . eat popcorn . have fun .