This deceptively dark film starts with a the death of a
character who you might presume would be one of the leads played by Ashley Judd.
But her departure heralds the fall from grace of the Security Chief played by Gerard
Butler and who ultimately the President, played by an effectively real Aaron
Eckhart, holds responsible for her death. Of course Butler does a fair amount
of self reflecting, bordering on pity, before he is caught up in the attack
that sweeps upon the White House to result in the President being held a
captive in the bowels of the old building.
Yes, believe it or not, North Korean is attacking the
White House and then has a master plan which could wipe out most of the
American mainland. The story unravels in the shell of the defeated presidential
building where we see the super efficient Butler taking on the enemy single
handily.
The problem with Olympus has Fallen is that the concept
is so fanciful that it is staggeringly unbelievable. In some unexpected way this
makes it fascinating and it is strangely interesting to see how an aggressor
might taken over such an icon building. It smacks of American paranoid
propaganda and the aim is to show that even if you attack America at its
symbolic heart it will overcome and stand strong in the face anti-democratic
threat.
Rick Yune plays a completely unbelievable but fun villain
and perhaps the slick kind of baddie that is currently very trendy. Morgan
Freeman appears as the Speaker of the house and takes control of America,
seeing the vice President is also trapped in the White House, and the amazing Radha
Mitchell does her best with a bit part when really it might have been more
interesting if she had been the one saving the President and the world as we
know it.
But despite all this badly hidden double meaning the film
is full of action and is more adult than child, the type of violence sometimes
surprising. The thought that someone could have the balls to attack the white
house is an entertaining idea and keeps you in the story, despite there being a
predictable ending.
61/100
To pick up the Olympus Has Fallen DVD click here and to pick up the Olympus Has Fallen Blue Ray click here. Thanks because following these links helps supports this blog.
