- IMDb page: Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
- Rate: 7.1/10 total 17,459 votes
- Genre: Action | Thriller
- Release Date: 17 April 2013 (UK)
- Runtime: USA:120 min
- Filming Location: Louisiana, USA
- Budget: $70,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross: $83,708,936 (USA) (17 April 2013)
- Director: Antoine Fuqua
- Stars: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman | See full cast and crew
- Original Music By: Trevor Morris
- Soundtrack: Christmas with the Man I Love
- Plot Keyword: White House | Terrorist | Rescue | Attack | Secret Service
Known Trivia
- Winona Ryder was the studio's first choice to play the First Lady.
- It was so hot in Louisiana during the filming of the White House tourist scenes that the Humane Society representative insisted that the German Shepherds being used as K-9 watch dogs be kept in an air-conditioned van between shoots.
- Morgan Freeman was filming the crisis room scenes in Louisiana at the height of his Internet death hoax. He often began each day of filming by serenading the extras with old jazz songs and endeared himself to the unsuspecting crew with pranks.
- Gerard Butler was once in consideration to star as CIA operative Mitch Rapp in the now-aborted film adaptation of Vince Flynn's novel Consent to Kill. The first novel that Rapp appeared in was Transfer of Power, which has an extremely similar plot to Olympus Has Fallen - terrorists seize control of the White House, and Rapp must get to the President in his bunker before the terrorists do.
- This is the fourth film in which 'Morgan Freeman' and Ashley Judd have appeared in together, but this is the first time that their characters do not share any screen time together. The first three films they worked together in were Kiss the Girls , High Crimes and Dolphin Tale.
- While the film's choice of North Korea as the driver of the plot and source of the villains was widely viewed as prescient when a number of real-world tensions between the DPRK and the U.S. emerged in 2013, the script and production made that choice years earlier. Director Antoine Fuqua said in an interview that he did not want the film's villains to be from the Middle East, a choice he felt had been covered to the point of saturation in other films, and that North Korea was interesting to him because it was a country that was completely closed off to the outside world and therefore projected a sense of no one really knowing what it wanted or was capable of doing.
- The role of the Secret Service director was originally written for a man. Director Antoine Fuqua persuaded Angela Bassett to audition and then had the role re-written for a woman.
- This is the second time Dylan McDermott has played a Secret Service Agent. He also played a similar role in "In the Line of Fire" with Clint Eastwood.
Goofs: Miscellaneous: There are several shots in the movie where news TV channels display "Whitehouse" instead of "White House".
Plot: Disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped inside the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack; using his inside knowledge, Banning works with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers. Full summary » »
Story: When the White House (Secret Service Code: "Olympus") is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning's inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger disaster. Written byFilmDistrict
Synopsis: The film starts before Christmas at Camp David. President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) is preparing to attend a fundraiser with his wife Margaret Asher (Ashley Judd), and son Connor (Finley Jacobsen). Also on the President's security detail, is Secret Service agent, Mike Banning (Gerard Butler). Banning is on good terms with the family, sparring with Benjamin in a private boxing ring, helping Margaret deciding on earrings to wear, and on friendly terms with Connor, whom Mike has been giving tips on being a good agent.
As the group leaves the Camp for the fundraiser, the snowfall outside begins to come down harder. While Ben and Margaret ride in the Presidential Limo, Connor is riding with Mike in an SUV following them. As they near a bridge over a river near the camp, the lead vehicle in the convoy hits a deer, causing a chain reaction of vehicular damage. One Secret Service SUV plows through the side of the bridge and crashes into the waters below. The Presidential Limo ends up skidding near the edge, balancing precariously.
Mike and several other agents rush to Ben and Margaret's aid, but Margaret's door is jammed, and the limo is still sliding over the edge. Several agents attempt to try and keep the vehicle from going over, but as their attempts fail, Mike makes a split-second decision, and cuts Ben out of his seatbelt, saving him, but unable to save Margaret, who goes over the edge in the limo.
The film then cuts to 18 months later. Since that time, Mike has taken a desk job with the US Treasury, still upset regarding the Camp David incident. He is unable to concentrate when his girlfriend attempts to tell him something, and he decides they should see a movie later that evening.
Mike meets with Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs (Angela Bassett), who knows Mike is still distressed over his failure to rescue the President's wife. She assures him that he did what was necessary, and even the President knows that.
Asher is with Connor, who are preparing to go back to Camp David for a retreat, but Connor would rather go to the beach. Asher invites him to get some ice cream, but he is called in immediately. He meets with Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan (Melissa Leo), Speaker of the House Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman), and Vice President Charles Rodriguez (Phil Austin) over their impending meeting with the Korean Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Lee (Keong Sim) and his aide, Kang Yeonsak (Rick Yune) arrive at the White House. Somewhere over West Virginia, a large AC-130 gunship comes in and shoots down two American jets. Asher is taken out of his meeting with Lee and moved somewhere safer as he is alerted of the situation. He asks for Connor, but he is nowhere to be found. The enemy plane begins to open fire on civilians before making its way toward Washington DC and finally toward the White House.
Mike sees the chaos from his office. He rushes into the streets to protect civilians while other troops attempt to shoot down the enemy plane. The shooters even manage to blow up oncoming missiles, but it is finally shot down, crashing its wing into the Washington Monument before finally crashing and exploding. The top of the monument collapses and falls, killing several tourists.
While Asher, McMillan, Rodriguez, and others are taken down to the bunker, Mike runs toward the White House, where he finds suicide bombers blowing open the front gates. Other Korean terrorists begin coming in, firing on the Secret Service, who return fire and manage to kill some of them.
Jacobs meets with General Clegg (Robert Forster) and others at the Pentagon where they are briefed on the situation, namely that the President is hiding in the bunker. Inside the bunker, however, Kang and several other terrorists, along with ex-Secret Service agent Dave Forbes (Dylan McDermott), take Asher and the others hostage.
Outside, Agent Roma (Cole Hauser) and other men continue fighting off the incoming terrorists. Roma declares "Olympus has fallen" to signify that the White House has been invaded. He manages to kill one goon before getting killed himself.
Trumbull comes into the Pentagon, where he is made acting president. Kang patches through to the Pentagon and begins by executing Prime Minister Lee in front of them. He orders the Americans to pull back the Seventh Fleet from Korea immediately.
In the bunker, Kang tells Asher this is retaliation for all the damage that was brought upon Korea by Americans. Forbes is in on it since he is against Asher's policies. Asher headbutts him in response.
Mike discovers that the terrorists know about Connor and that they are looking for him. He manages to override Kang's security system and makes it into the Oval Office and patches through to the Pentagon. He gets in contact with Jacobs, who is surprised to hear from him, but she assures the other men that they can trust him. An assassin enters the room, but Mike takes him down and bludgeons him with a bust of Lincoln's head.
Kang interrogates Admiral Hoenig (James Ingersoll) for a code. He nearly slits his throat, but Asher tells Hoenig to give it up. The Pentagon learns that a Cerberus code has been activated. When Mike sends them a tattoo on the neck of the assassin he killed, he is informed of the Cerberus code, which would allow the terrorists to deactivate all of the country's nuclear weapons.
Mike continues moving forward to look for Connor. He finds the boy hiding in a room and safely gets him out just as more goons come in firing at them. Mike assures Connor that his father is going to be okay, and he gets him up a ventilation shaft to get out safely. Connor is rescued by some troops as Mike takes down other goons. He interrogates them, and they laugh in his face. He responds by stabbing one of them in the throat until he gets an answer. He lets Jacobs know Kang's name and to learn something about him.
Kang learns about Mike's presence from Forbes, and so he is sent to get rid of him. Forbes comes across Mike, who is still unaware of his deception. When he accidentally slips Kang's name, Mike realizes the truth and the two get into a fight. Forbes tries to stab him, but Mike gets the knife from him and stabs him. As he lies dying, Mike asks him why he did this. Forbes reveals it was because he lost his son. Mike has him tell Kang that he got Mike, which he does before Mike fatally stabs him in the throat.
Kang attempts to get another code from McMillan, who is utterly defiant. Kang starts to brutally assault her, but she still won't give up the code. When she is an inch from being beaten to death, Asher orders her to give up her code, which she does. The second Cerberus code is activated, and the Pentagon becomes aware of this. They also learn that Kang is a well-known terrorist who lost his mother to an American landmine and is very much infamous.
Mike manages to get through to Kang's security and taunts him. He lets Kang know that Connor is safe and that he is going to put his knife through his brain. Asher listens to all of this.
Several troops start flying into Washington to retaliate. Mike informs General Clegg that the terrorists possess Hydra Six, more powerful weapons than what the Americans have. Regardless, Clegg has the troops come in, but the terrorists shoot down one helicopter that crashes into the White House and causes a big explosion that severely damages the building.
Kang gets through to the Pentagon, and executes Vice President Rodriguez. He orders them to finally recall the Seventh Fleet and to have a helicopter filled up and ready to get them out of there by dawn. He pulls McMillan out and takes her outside.
As the news is getting coverage of the situation, they inform viewers of South Korea's response to the situation, as well as getting footage of McMillan slowly stepping out into plain sight. With her back turned, Kang nearly shoots her, but Mike gets there first and opens fire, distracting Kang and allowing McMillan to run out and be rescued by troops.
Kang makes it back to the bunker and has several hostages, including Asher, with a bag over their heads, along with the terrorists, just as their requested helicopter is coming down. The Seventh Fleet is called out from Korea, as well.
The hostages and terrorists get into the helicopter just as troops are locked on them. They are unable to fire, fearing they will hit the President. Just as the helicopter takes off, it explodes in mid-air and crashes to the ground. The Pentagon panics and they fear the worst - that Asher was killed in the explosion with everybody else. Mike is informed, but he knows that it doesn't add up since Kang would not try and go out that way.
Sure enough, it was a diversion. Kang and the other remaining terrorists are holding Asher in the bunker and get the final Cerberus code out of him. Kang's true plan is revealed - he plans to detonate ALL of the nuclear weapons to completely obliterate the United States.
Mike is heading back down, but Clegg orders him to stand down. However, Clegg is put in his place by Trumbull, and Mike proceeds down to the bunker. Just as the terrorists are getting out, Mike shoots some of them. Asher knocks two of them down and struggles in a fight with Kang. He gets shot in the side as Mike attacks Kang. The two engage in hand-to-hand combat, with Kang nearly overpowering him. Kang taunts Mike and tells him he's failed again, but Mike gets the upper hand and takes Kang down. True to his word, he grabs his knife and sticks it in Kang's head, killing him.
Mike rushes into the bunker and informs the Pentagon that Asher is alive, but he needs to stop the detonation sequence as there is barely a minute left. Jacobs, Trumbull, and Clegg rush to give Mike the deactivation code, and, with seconds to spare, Mike successfully shuts down the detonation sequence, much to the relief of everybody else. Mike takes Asher outside, where he is reunited with Connor, and Mike is reunited with Leah.
Asher delivers a speech to the nation, commemorating those who were killed in the terrorist attack, but assures them that the attack gave them the hope and confidence to stand up and rise from fear to defend themselves. As he concludes, he walks off the stage and shakes Mike's hand. Mike stands proudly, knowing he has finally redeemed himself.
As the group leaves the Camp for the fundraiser, the snowfall outside begins to come down harder. While Ben and Margaret ride in the Presidential Limo, Connor is riding with Mike in an SUV following them. As they near a bridge over a river near the camp, the lead vehicle in the convoy hits a deer, causing a chain reaction of vehicular damage. One Secret Service SUV plows through the side of the bridge and crashes into the waters below. The Presidential Limo ends up skidding near the edge, balancing precariously.
Mike and several other agents rush to Ben and Margaret's aid, but Margaret's door is jammed, and the limo is still sliding over the edge. Several agents attempt to try and keep the vehicle from going over, but as their attempts fail, Mike makes a split-second decision, and cuts Ben out of his seatbelt, saving him, but unable to save Margaret, who goes over the edge in the limo.
The film then cuts to 18 months later. Since that time, Mike has taken a desk job with the US Treasury, still upset regarding the Camp David incident. He is unable to concentrate when his girlfriend attempts to tell him something, and he decides they should see a movie later that evening.
Mike meets with Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs (Angela Bassett), who knows Mike is still distressed over his failure to rescue the President's wife. She assures him that he did what was necessary, and even the President knows that.
Asher is with Connor, who are preparing to go back to Camp David for a retreat, but Connor would rather go to the beach. Asher invites him to get some ice cream, but he is called in immediately. He meets with Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan (Melissa Leo), Speaker of the House Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman), and Vice President Charles Rodriguez (Phil Austin) over their impending meeting with the Korean Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Lee (Keong Sim) and his aide, Kang Yeonsak (Rick Yune) arrive at the White House. Somewhere over West Virginia, a large AC-130 gunship comes in and shoots down two American jets. Asher is taken out of his meeting with Lee and moved somewhere safer as he is alerted of the situation. He asks for Connor, but he is nowhere to be found. The enemy plane begins to open fire on civilians before making its way toward Washington DC and finally toward the White House.
Mike sees the chaos from his office. He rushes into the streets to protect civilians while other troops attempt to shoot down the enemy plane. The shooters even manage to blow up oncoming missiles, but it is finally shot down, crashing its wing into the Washington Monument before finally crashing and exploding. The top of the monument collapses and falls, killing several tourists.
While Asher, McMillan, Rodriguez, and others are taken down to the bunker, Mike runs toward the White House, where he finds suicide bombers blowing open the front gates. Other Korean terrorists begin coming in, firing on the Secret Service, who return fire and manage to kill some of them.
Jacobs meets with General Clegg (Robert Forster) and others at the Pentagon where they are briefed on the situation, namely that the President is hiding in the bunker. Inside the bunker, however, Kang and several other terrorists, along with ex-Secret Service agent Dave Forbes (Dylan McDermott), take Asher and the others hostage.
Outside, Agent Roma (Cole Hauser) and other men continue fighting off the incoming terrorists. Roma declares "Olympus has fallen" to signify that the White House has been invaded. He manages to kill one goon before getting killed himself.
Trumbull comes into the Pentagon, where he is made acting president. Kang patches through to the Pentagon and begins by executing Prime Minister Lee in front of them. He orders the Americans to pull back the Seventh Fleet from Korea immediately.
In the bunker, Kang tells Asher this is retaliation for all the damage that was brought upon Korea by Americans. Forbes is in on it since he is against Asher's policies. Asher headbutts him in response.
Mike discovers that the terrorists know about Connor and that they are looking for him. He manages to override Kang's security system and makes it into the Oval Office and patches through to the Pentagon. He gets in contact with Jacobs, who is surprised to hear from him, but she assures the other men that they can trust him. An assassin enters the room, but Mike takes him down and bludgeons him with a bust of Lincoln's head.
Kang interrogates Admiral Hoenig (James Ingersoll) for a code. He nearly slits his throat, but Asher tells Hoenig to give it up. The Pentagon learns that a Cerberus code has been activated. When Mike sends them a tattoo on the neck of the assassin he killed, he is informed of the Cerberus code, which would allow the terrorists to deactivate all of the country's nuclear weapons.
Mike continues moving forward to look for Connor. He finds the boy hiding in a room and safely gets him out just as more goons come in firing at them. Mike assures Connor that his father is going to be okay, and he gets him up a ventilation shaft to get out safely. Connor is rescued by some troops as Mike takes down other goons. He interrogates them, and they laugh in his face. He responds by stabbing one of them in the throat until he gets an answer. He lets Jacobs know Kang's name and to learn something about him.
Kang learns about Mike's presence from Forbes, and so he is sent to get rid of him. Forbes comes across Mike, who is still unaware of his deception. When he accidentally slips Kang's name, Mike realizes the truth and the two get into a fight. Forbes tries to stab him, but Mike gets the knife from him and stabs him. As he lies dying, Mike asks him why he did this. Forbes reveals it was because he lost his son. Mike has him tell Kang that he got Mike, which he does before Mike fatally stabs him in the throat.
Kang attempts to get another code from McMillan, who is utterly defiant. Kang starts to brutally assault her, but she still won't give up the code. When she is an inch from being beaten to death, Asher orders her to give up her code, which she does. The second Cerberus code is activated, and the Pentagon becomes aware of this. They also learn that Kang is a well-known terrorist who lost his mother to an American landmine and is very much infamous.
Mike manages to get through to Kang's security and taunts him. He lets Kang know that Connor is safe and that he is going to put his knife through his brain. Asher listens to all of this.
Several troops start flying into Washington to retaliate. Mike informs General Clegg that the terrorists possess Hydra Six, more powerful weapons than what the Americans have. Regardless, Clegg has the troops come in, but the terrorists shoot down one helicopter that crashes into the White House and causes a big explosion that severely damages the building.
Kang gets through to the Pentagon, and executes Vice President Rodriguez. He orders them to finally recall the Seventh Fleet and to have a helicopter filled up and ready to get them out of there by dawn. He pulls McMillan out and takes her outside.
As the news is getting coverage of the situation, they inform viewers of South Korea's response to the situation, as well as getting footage of McMillan slowly stepping out into plain sight. With her back turned, Kang nearly shoots her, but Mike gets there first and opens fire, distracting Kang and allowing McMillan to run out and be rescued by troops.
Kang makes it back to the bunker and has several hostages, including Asher, with a bag over their heads, along with the terrorists, just as their requested helicopter is coming down. The Seventh Fleet is called out from Korea, as well.
The hostages and terrorists get into the helicopter just as troops are locked on them. They are unable to fire, fearing they will hit the President. Just as the helicopter takes off, it explodes in mid-air and crashes to the ground. The Pentagon panics and they fear the worst - that Asher was killed in the explosion with everybody else. Mike is informed, but he knows that it doesn't add up since Kang would not try and go out that way.
Sure enough, it was a diversion. Kang and the other remaining terrorists are holding Asher in the bunker and get the final Cerberus code out of him. Kang's true plan is revealed - he plans to detonate ALL of the nuclear weapons to completely obliterate the United States.
Mike is heading back down, but Clegg orders him to stand down. However, Clegg is put in his place by Trumbull, and Mike proceeds down to the bunker. Just as the terrorists are getting out, Mike shoots some of them. Asher knocks two of them down and struggles in a fight with Kang. He gets shot in the side as Mike attacks Kang. The two engage in hand-to-hand combat, with Kang nearly overpowering him. Kang taunts Mike and tells him he's failed again, but Mike gets the upper hand and takes Kang down. True to his word, he grabs his knife and sticks it in Kang's head, killing him.
Mike rushes into the bunker and informs the Pentagon that Asher is alive, but he needs to stop the detonation sequence as there is barely a minute left. Jacobs, Trumbull, and Clegg rush to give Mike the deactivation code, and, with seconds to spare, Mike successfully shuts down the detonation sequence, much to the relief of everybody else. Mike takes Asher outside, where he is reunited with Connor, and Mike is reunited with Leah.
Asher delivers a speech to the nation, commemorating those who were killed in the terrorist attack, but assures them that the attack gave them the hope and confidence to stand up and rise from fear to defend themselves. As he concludes, he walks off the stage and shakes Mike's hand. Mike stands proudly, knowing he has finally redeemed himself.
Produced By:
- Gerard Butler known as Mike Banning
- Aaron Eckhart known as President Benjamin Asher
- Finley Jacobsen known as Connor
- Dylan McDermott known as Forbes
- Rick Yune known as Kang
- Morgan Freeman known as Speaker Trumbull
- Angela Bassett known as Secret Service Director Lynn Jacobs
- Melissa Leo known as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
- Radha Mitchell known as Leah
- Cole Hauser known as Roma
- Phil Austin known as Vice President Charlie Rodriguez
- James Ingersoll known as Admiral Nathan Hoenig
- Freddy Bosche known as Diaz
- Lance Broadway known as O'Neil
- Sean O'Bryan known as Ray Monroe
- Keong Sim known as Lee Tae-Woo
- Kevin Moon known as Cho
- Malana Lea known as Lim
- Robert Forster known as General Edward Clegg
- Sam Medina known as Yu
- Ashley Judd known as Margaret Asher
- Mike Snyder known as News Reporter #1
- Josiah D. Lee known as Korean Pilot
- Edrick Browne known as Head Technician
- Sean Boyd known as Raptor Pilot
- Hunter Burke known as Army Tech Officer
- Aonika Laurent known as News Reporter #2 (as Aonika Marie Laurent)
- Jace Jeanes known as Sniper #1
- Sione Ma'umalanga known as Sniper #2
- Tory Kittles known as Agent Jones
- Shane Land known as Agent Davis
- Shanna Forrestall known as Mary Jane Fuller
- Ian Casselberry known as Long-Haired EMT
- Dorothy Deavers known as Mrs. Mosely
- Amber Dawn Landrum known as Nurse
- Han Soto known as Male Doctor
- Kenneth Wayne Bradley known as Crisis Room Radio Man
- Bill Stinchcomb known as Watch Officer
- Michelle Celeste known as News Reporter #3
- Met Salih known as News Reporter #4
- Darrell L. Connerton known as CIA Director
- Terry Dale Parks known as Army Commander
- Michael Stallings known as Army Lieutenant
- Elliott Grey known as FBI Assistant Director
- Hamish MacDonald known as Himself
- Lawrence O'Donnell known as Himself
- Rick Chambers known as Himself
- Scott Walker known as Male Reporter
- Catherine Shreves known as Female Reporter
Production Companies:
- Millennium Films
- Nu Image Films
- West Coast Film Partners
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment camera car
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment camera dollies
- Cineworks Digital Studios HD dailies telecine transfer (as Cineworks, La.)
- Cineworks Digital Studios film & digital lab (as Cineworks, La.)
- Digital Post Services quality assurance and world-wide servicing
- Dolby Laboratories sound mix
- Film Production Capital financing arranged and provided by
- Millennium Films funding
- Modern VideoFilm post-production services
- Road Rebel production travel
- Trevor Morris Studios score mixed and recorded at
- West Coast Film Partners funding
- Wildfire Studios post-production facilities
- Millennium Films (2013) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
- Asmik Ace (2013) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Cathay-Keris Films (2013) (Singapore) (theatrical)
- Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2013) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- FilmDistrict (2013) (USA) (theatrical)
- Innoform Media (2013) (Singapore) (theatrical)
- Odeon (2013) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (2013) (Australia) (theatrical)
- SND (2013) (France) (theatrical)
- eOne Films (2013) (Spain) (theatrical)
- E Stars Films (2013) (China) (all media)
- Eagle Films (2014) (Non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
- VVS Films (2013) (Canada) (all media)
Special Effects:
- NAC Co., Effects & Prop Animation (motion base)
Visual Effects by:
MPAA: Rated R for strong violence and language throughout
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database
This film was surprisingly good. It's been a while since I've seen suchan enjoyable action film like this one. Actually, I've been starvingfor one for quite some time. So much so that after being disappointedby crap like the first two Expendables, the Transformers sequels, theTotal Recall remake, etc., I wanted to give this a 10. Of course, thisfilm wasn't perfect but was still a very enjoyable film.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, this was basically a Die Hard film in the WhiteHouse. Actually, this should've been another Die Hard film. But don'thold this against it. It was very well done. In fact, it was betterthan some of the Die Hard movies themselves.
The strengths of this film were the action (of course), the cast, thecharacter development and the story. The action was graphic andrealistic, the cast featured quality actors, the characters had enoughdepth to make us care about them and the story (though not original)did add more weight to the importance of what the protagonist needed todo. Add this all up and you had a film that had enough emotional impactto make you care about what happened, unlike many recent action filmsthat seemed more like mindless video games than movies.
What I really like was the depiction of the bad guys. They were clearlybad and proved they were not messing around. Repeatedly. It's just onemore reason for you to pull for the good guy.
Like many action films, this one wasn't very original. But whatseparated this from the others was that it was well executed and therewere just so many things going for it that it didn't matter. Watch theExpendables and you'll appreciate this a lot more. This was one of thebetter action films in recent years.
Gerard, where did it all go wrong! I remember Butler as a good actor onhis way to being great. He has the personality and the talent to do somuch more with his craft. This was formulaic with an absurd plot -which constantly contradicted itself. The entire US foreign policychanged to save the President. No, don't think that would happen - youjust get another President. A major sequence where they torture staffto get missile codes with the President vowing never to give his up -which he doesn't, but they somehow tap it into the computer anyway.Eh??? The fight scenes are beyond dumb, the assault on the white House- might appeal to a ten year old. The C140 attack, was so cringe worthyas to make me actually rise out the chair. The General in the controlroom!!! Stop it. And the flag waving cringeworthy speech at the end -do any Americans still buy into that type of faux patriotism. I so hopenot.
ReplyDeleteYou take one look at the cast, and think this must be OK. In fact, youlook at the cast and think this might be great.
It's not.
Every year March brings the promise of warmer weather and with it theannual dumping ground for the previous year's failed movie experiments.So it is with "Olympus Has Fallen", Antoine Fuqua's Frankenstein likecreation which appears to have been assembled from dead body partscynically collected from the graves of other, better movies.
ReplyDeleteThe comparisons to "Die Hard" are as unavoidable as they areembarrassing. Multiple scenes are largely cut and pasted from the goldstandard of action adventure flicks to this forgettable piece ofdetritus. Gerard Butler displays every nuance of his acting ability,covering the gamut from angry to very angry to thoroughly angry.Perhaps for his next role he can do a study in confused and perplexed.
At one point, Morgan Freeman actually has to send out for coffee justto keep himself awake through this dreary and interminable exercise.
The plot, such as it is, is an utterly predictable and pedestrianexercise in "let's rip off everyone else's movies and hope no onenotices". The characters are hackneyed cardboard cutouts. The plottwists are telegraphed so far in advance the filmmaker appears to beshowing a 'Previously on Olympus' catch up for those who just returnedfrom a 30 minute popcorn sojourn in the lobby.
Beyond the novelty of yet another director blowing up Washington, DC,this film has absolutely nothing to recommend it. Just keep repeatingto yourself "Only five more weeks to summer blockbuster season."
First of all this rant is going to be filled with SPOILERS so now youare warned.
ReplyDeleteWhere do I begin? Do I start with how the antagonists all have magicbullets and the secret service agents don't or that the good guys aretoo stupid to seek cover when being fired upon. Maybe I should startwith the plane that decimates DC and how it wasn't even questioned onthe radio till it was flying over DC. Or maybe how Mike Banning (GerardButler) is giving information to Speaker Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) andsays that were forty terrorists and now they are down to twenty-eight.Seriously, I think Banning killed over six so out of all the otheragents they killed the other half.
My biggest angst is that Kang (Rick Yune) is torturing people for somecodes and the President (Aaron Eckhart) keeps saying "Give him the codehe will never get mine." and when it finally comes to the point in themovie where Kang needs his code it is ALREADY in the computer. Whathappened? How did Kang get his code?
Also, the fact that they gave into the terrorist demands over the lifeof the President is hysterical especially when they bring up the phrase"We do not negotiate with terrorists.".
Overall, I thought this movie should have been renamed a comedy becauseI have never laughed so hard at all the ridiculous inaccuracies andweak story line.
If I was a critic I would have written this movie off. Saying that itsjust one of those movies with the same old plot with a bitmodification. This is true, but as an audience I thoroughly enjoyedthis movie.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about this movie is its pace. You won't know how fastthe 110 minutes go. There's not a minute you feel bored. The attacksequences are bit over the top, but if you are a drama lover, you won'tbe disappointed. The storyline isn't much to think about but thescreenplay is apt. Its a good thing that the director Antonie Fuquakeeps things simple, doesn't dig too much into the conspiracy stuff andalso doesn't include any unnecessary twists.
Gerard Butler does what he does best, fight bad guys. Aaron Eckhart asthe stern faced president reminds you of Harvey Dent. Morgan Freemanprobably is there to strengthen the star value in the film. But its thevillain Rick Yune with his evil smile who impresses.
This is an out and out entertainer, don't think too much, just be inthe moment and watch this movie.
I hoped from the previews to see an exciting action flick withspectacular scenes, suspense, maybe some cleverness, heroism andvictory in the end. Hyper violent, anti-North Korean war mongeringoverwhelmed any such values. North Korean "terrorists" are shown asbrutal and ruthless as Nazis. American air defense is incrediblyskimpy, incompetent and late. Our military leaders are weak saps whocave in to every terrorist demand with "Oh, Pleeze don't hurt ourPresident! We'll do what you want." Our control of our own most potentweapons systems is easily overridden by one woman terrorist at akeyboard. The American SuperDuperHero single-handedly kills many of theterrorists and liberates the President. After killing the UberVillain,he even has a moment to put a bandage on the wounded President. Thatscene actually made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I regret we paid to see this. Negative emotions stirred upby the film may cause bad effects, mental, such as tolerance foranother preemptive war, and bodily, like raised blood pressure, heartrate, stomach acid. With tripe like this, if you liked the wars againstViet Nam, Serbia, and Iraq, you'll probably love our wars on Iran and"Second Korea."
At first, I thought that I may not be doing enough justice to the movieand maybe comparing too much which Argo. However after some thinking, Irealized that this movie is truly bizarre. The director and storywriters did whatever they pleased to show some mindless action. Butthere are much better movies for that like die hard (this movie seemsin fact an attempt to be Die Hard), mission impossible and James Bondmovies which at least create those settings where one can still indulgein the action.
ReplyDeleteI think the intent in this movie was to say that the entire US militaryand homeland security is a big failure run by an incompetent managementthroughout and there is only one savior to the White House who is abanished member of President's security team. Maybe I went to the moviewith high hopes. Toning them to the rock bottom might help.
PS: Ordinarily I would have given the movie 4 stars, but have deductedone star for wasting the talent of Morgan Freeman
Mike Banning(Gerard Butler) kicks butt and takes names in this film! Itis like Die Hard in the White House. It actually would be Die Hardexcept there are better fighting scenes and a secret service agenttaking on terrorists is a much more plausible story line than a NewYork cop going all Rambo. The plot is easy to understand, which is justwhat you want for a big action flick. That way there is no need to overthink things - just sit back and watch some awesome explosions andsweet fights!
ReplyDeleteThere are a few emotional situations that are a bit underdeveloped, butthat is expected. After all, its a rated R action movie not a PG13Nicholas Sparks one! The 2 hour run time was almost entirely focused onthe action which is exactly what you want to pay for when you see amovie like this.
It's R rating comes almost solely from violence, there is littleswearing and no sexuality.
You want my advice? See it! And do so in the big screen.
First, you know this film was pitched as "Die Hard in the White House."Yet, given that limitation, the film manages to avoid a number ofpitfalls that have crept into the many lesser imitations of the first(and still best of them) "Die Hard." It's the characters in the filmthat keep it from being too much of a cartoon. The lead character,played by Butler, has had a fall a grace. In a more clichéd film, he'dbe a broken, embittered alcoholic (e.g., Kevin Bacon in "TheFollowing") who happens upon a chance for redemption and salvation.Instead, Butler's Secret Service agent is getting on with his life in adesk job, disappointed, anxious to be of more use, but not a shamblingwreck of a human. He is a career professional, and when the events ofthe story take place, he reacts like a professional. The wisecracks arefew (he doesn't "kill n' quip") and understated, which makes them moreeffective. Other characters have small touches (especially Melissa Leo)that make them distinctive and worth rooting for. A very welcome touchis the way the film-makers foil our expectations...they've seen many ofthe same movies, and rather than follow the cookie-cutter approach ofbad scripts, they twist those situations to make them new andinteresting.
ReplyDeleteThe action is well done and exciting. It's not a perfect film, but morethan competent, continually engaging, and, in the highest praise I canoffer, worth full price.
I find it ironic that Gerard Butler, a Scotsman, as disgraced SecretAgent Mike Banning, embodies the spirit of John McClane much more thanBruce Willis did in that last dreadful outing. If anything, Butler hasdone nothing more than to cement his reputation as a bankable andlikable action hero for the new generation in this old-school actionmovie. He has a commanding presence on-screen, quips wisecracks, bleedswhen it's crucial, and dispatches the bad guys in a methodical crossbetween Jason Bourne and John Rambo. Not even the fine supporting cast(Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, MelissaLeo, Dylan McDermott) can take away Butler's limelight.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Antoine Fuqua's "Olympus Has Fallen" is not only terrificentertainment but a terrific throwback to the pivotal 90's actionmovie, the Die Hard clone - and this film ("Die Hard" in the WhiteHouse) is another reminder of why the trusted formula works, even if ithas been dormant for nearly two decades (the last good big one beingPeter Hyams' "Sudden Death").
From the moment the film's main action start, the film doesn't stoprunning. The bad guys, hoo boy do they mean business. Rarely, if atall, have I seen this much brutal collateral damage in an Americanaction film. Americans citizens get mowed down by bullets from groundand air forces. The all-American (Scottish) hero represents freedom andjustice, and the bad guys represent every American's worst nightmare. Ihaven't seen this much political incorrectness since "The Delta Force".Having said that, Rick Yune surprisingly makes for an effective andnasty villain, who is relentlessly cold, smug and procedural in hismission, following the formula perfectly. If it ain't broke, don't fixit.
It's fast, it's loud, it's preposterous, and yet I enjoyed every minuteof it. The film is chock-full of sensational and well-shot actionsequences/special effects, but its biggest strength is its cohesion.From start to finish the plot moves smoothly, and you can tell who thegood guys and the bad guys are. The characters are established, theirmotives clear, and that's that. The action sequences do not simply skipto each other, they flow perfectly like a stream, thanks to crispediting. Simplicity is key here, and convoluted plots do not fit in theformula (hear that, "Die Hard 5"?)
Fuqua is no stranger to action, having helmed the solid "Shooter" sixyears ago. Here he ratchets up the action up to a 10 (CGI is presentbut used reasonably), and he remarkably doesn't hold back on thetension. It's no "Training Day", but it more or less hearkens back toan Antoine Fuqua who made "The Replacement Killers". Just thrillingfun.
Of course the plot isn't original. It's a genre picture, and what I payto see in a genre picture is its skillful craft and cohesive plot. Thisfilm has both, and resurrects the Die Hard clone from the grave. Here Ithought I was getting bored of action movies. The genre is dying, yousay? Here's a solid kicker.