Today’s quick review: Olympus Has Fallen. When a North Korean terrorist attack turns the White House into a war zone, it falls to Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), a disgraced Secret Service agent and personal friend of the President, to rescue President Ben Asher (Aaron Eckhart) from the White House’s secret bunker. Elsewhere, Speaker of the House Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) assumes command of the government in the midst of its greatest crisis.
Olympus Has Fallen is a gritty action thriller that posits a devastating attack on the White House. The movie features a solid cast, a well-constructed plot, and a steady stream of destructive action. Its high body count and willingness to put the U.S. through the wringer give Olympus Has Fallen higher stakes than most action movies. Although the movie doesn’t venture far from the basics, good craftsmanship and a sizable budget make it an enjoyable watch.
Olympus Has Fallen covers its bases well. The film takes the time to establish Banning and Asher as characters before dropping them into the action. The plot finds plausible ways to keep Banning at the center of the action without cutting Trumbull and the rest of the government out of the loop completely. The action is a high-octane blend of large-scale destruction and brutal close-quarters combat that never lets up for more than a few minutes at a time.
Still, Olympus Has Fallen has its weaknesses. President Asher has potential as a character, but he comes off as weak and ineffectual during the crisis and never gets the chance to redeem himself. Mike Banning has more depth than many action heroes, but he’s still a shallow character as far as drama is concerned. The movie’s high stakes also come with a price, taking it just a little too far outside the status quo and hurting suspension of disbelief.
Watch Olympus Has Fallen when you’re in the mood for a competently executed, modern-style action thriller. Neither its characters nor its plot is enough to make it distinctive, but action fans will get what they are hoping for. Skip it if you prefer lighter action movies. For action thrillers with a similar setup and a more memorable protagonist, check out the Die Hard series. For an airborne take on a similar premise, check out Air Force One.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid execution of a good premise.