Olympus Has Fallen (FILM REVIEW)
Olympus Has Fallen
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Disgraced Presidential Bodyguard Gets Shot at Redemption in High-Octane Action
Thriller
While serving as the President’s (Aaron
Eckhart) personal bodyguard, Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) grew very close to
the First Family. During his tenure at the White House, the dedicated, detail-oriented
Secret Service agent also familiarized himself with every aspect of the
building’s layout.
Nevertheless, Banning was reassigned
to a desk job after failing to rescue the First Lady (Ashley Judd) before the
presidential limo plunged off a bridge into an icy river en route to a Christmas
party. Although the accident wasn’t his fault, he was left agonizing over a
snap decision that might have been the difference between her living and dying.
A year and a half later, we find
Banning still riddled with guilt despite receiving assurances from the Secret
Service Director (Angela Banning) that there was nothing he could have done.
However, he soon gets that sorely needed shot at redemption when a swarm of
ninjas from North Korea
attack the White House, taking the President and his Cabinet hostage.
With the President and Vice
President (Phil Austin) abducted, the line of succession dictates that the
Speaker of the House (Morgan Freeman) assume power from a well-fortified bunker.
Meanwhile, the maniacal leader (Rick Yune) of the bloodthirsty terrorists
proceeds to torture his hostages, hoping to learn the codes controlling America’s
nuclear arsenal.
The unfolding crisis is not lost on
Banning who observes the slaughter of his former colleagues from an office
window across the street. The disgraced agent springs into action and
surreptitiously enters the White House armed only with a handgun and a
walkie-talkie. But he still enjoys the advantage over an army of heavily-armed
intruders by virtue of his knowledge of the premises’ every nook and cranny.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Olympus
Has Fallen is a derivative action flick which might be best described as a
cross of Die Hard (1988) and In the Line of Fire (1993), except that instead of
Bruce Willis or Clint Eastwood, we have Gerard Butler playing the invincible,
two-fisted protagonist. The fast-paced film is engaging and entertaining enough
to come recommended provided you’re willing to put your brain on hold and not
question any of the picture’s implausible plot developments.
Featuring pyrotechnics worthy of a 4th
of July fireworks display, Olympus Has Fallen is an eye-popping, patriotic,
high-octane adventure that leaves no doubt about who’s the vindicated hero that
kept the world safe for democracy. The Butler
did it! Gerard Butler, that is.
Very Good
(3 stars)
Rated R for graphic violence and pervasive profanity
In English and Korean
with subtitles
Running time: 120 minutes
Distributor: Film
District
To see a trailer for Olympus Has Fallen, visit:
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