Movie Review: Olympus Has Fallen
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Olympus Has Fallen is this year’s Independence Day, without all of the special effects. I found the film to be very relevant given all that’s going on in North and South Korea. It’s a scary premise folks, and most likely not that far off from reality. However, I did find it very hard to believe that the White House could be taken over in just 13 minutes; one would like to think that this would be completely improbable.
Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is head of presidential security only to be demoted to a lower position after having failed the president in an intense scene where in which the story begins. Banning’s new position at the Treasury Department is unfulfilling and he is missing working directly for the president (Aaron Eckhart) and his son Connor, played by Finley Jacobsen. Mike and Connor have a special relationship as Connor idolizes Mike and learns the ins and outs as to what to do in an emergency situation in the White House.
The film starts out a bit on the slow side, but quickly excels as the attack on the White House (otherwise known as Olympia) ensues. It is pretty mind blowing to think that there is even a slight possibility that this could happen. The assault is methodically planed with no mercy and an incredible amount of violence and bloodshed. Astonishingly, Banning is the only one that can get into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and he makes it his mission to redeem himself and try and save the president and Connor. Demands are made, and the acting Commander and Chief, Speaker Trumbell (Morgan Freeman) is being pressed to make some devastating decisions that will directly impact America and South Korea, all in hopes of saving the president’s life.
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I do not want to give too much away, because this is definitely a movie worth viewing, but I’ll say that the film is powerful and action packed. Gerard Butler did a good job (not great) as an American secret service agent, with the exception of slight hints from time to time of his Scottish accent. I appreciated seeing him act in something outside of a romantic comedy. Morgan Freeman on the other hand fell short. Probably one of the disadvantages of always bringing a powerful presence in films is that our expectations are often so high. When we don’t see the level of excellence we have experienced in past performances, we are left disappointed. As far as Angela Bassett and Dylan McDermott, just fair performances as well. Bassett played the secret service director, and I found her to be unbelievable in her role – she was just too soft, something unrealistic for the position. McDermott was somewhat better as an independent agent, but still unsatisfactory.
With all that being said, Olympus Has Fallen is entertaining and the entire premise alone and all it entails is captivating. It makes you wonder what if…?
Betsy Cizek
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