John Milius has given us a striking template of a movie with Red Dawn. Resistance to foreign occupation follows certain patterns no matter where or under what circumstances, and the movie pushes a remarkable number of emotional buttons along the way. I have watched it many times.

Consider: Collaboration with the occupiers. Young people as the most passionate among the resistance. Conflicted occupiers, some believing themselves righteous and others with doubts. Ambush as the main tactic of the resistance. Resistance fighters operating right under the noses of the occupiers. Occupiers baffled by what they see as an alien culture. Soldiers of the occupied country clandestinely helping the resistance.

Now think about Iraq and Afghanistan -- and who the Wolverines are there.

The parallels are striking.