Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart, two of the stars of ‘Olympus has fallen’
Our film buff Austin Lynch looks at ‘Olympus Has Fallen’…
IF YOU like your film’s action packed, with lots of explosions, lots of guns and lots of shooting then ‘Olympus has Fallen’ may well be the next film you need to see.
Starring Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman this is a terrorist thriller romp which, like so many movies, focuses on the White House in Washington.
Olympus, we learn, is the Secret Service code for the White House so when the chilling call ‘Olympus has fallen’ goes out it means the building has been either taken over, or destroyed – neither of which is a good thing.
Butler plays Mike Banning, a now disgraced former presidential guard who just happens to be in the White House when it is attacked, and taken over, by terrorists who kidnap the American President Benjamin Asher (played by Aaron Eckhart).
Banning finds himself trapped in the building during the siege while on the outside the rescue operation is being headed up by Secret Service Director Lyn Jacobs (Angela Bassett) and Speaker of the House Morgan Freeman – good old Morgan, always there to help out in a crisis.
It turns out that months earlier Banning was on presidential detail when the motorcade was attacked and although he saved the President’s life the first lady perished – which didn’t go down too well with his superiors.
Anyway, Banning got demoted but still works close to the White House in Washington.
When delegates from South Korea are visiting the President a gang led by a ruthless former North Korean terrorist attack the iconic building from the air, with ground forces storming the building.
Despite the best efforts of the Secret Service the building is captured and the President, his VP and the President’s son are among those kidnapped – hence ‘Olympus has Fallen’.
As luck with have it Banning is among those trapped inside and it is up to him to free the president, and save the day.
Is it slightly ironic that given all that’s happening in the world at the moment that the baddies in this film should be from North Korea?
Think Bond, think Die Hard, think Under Siege and you won’t be far from what this movie is all about.
You know the one about the disgraced cop/agent who just happens to be in the right place at the right time. And even though those in authority would rather not have to work with said former Navy Seal, or special agent, or New York cop (delete as appropriate) they have little choice but to ‘trust’ his unique skills, and do what he says.
There is lots of shooting and plenty of explosions on land and air -and the poor old White House gets blown up yet again (at least there are no aliens involved this time).
Gerard Butler is a tough looking guy but his credentials at this sort of action hero thing aren’t proven just yet. Lets not forget he’s appeared in more than a few terrible romantic comedies.
‘Olympus has Fallen’ is nonsense but it’s entertaining, popcorn munching nonsense which probably means it will do quite well at the local box office.
