Olympus has Fallen



I really try not to be biased against action movies and give them a chance, but when they're as painful, bland, and bloated as Olympus Has Fallen I find it really hard to jump ships into the action genre boat.

What's up? Gerard Butler plays Mike, a bodyguard whose decision on the job results in the death of the wife (Ashley Judd) of President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart). It's clear the president isn't happy as Mike receives a huge downgrade in jobs, but he soon gets a chance to redeem himself as the White House is overtaken by terrorists from North Korea.

What's good? Olympus Has Fallen was clearly casted to impress. Gerard Butler is rootable and believable as the hero, Aaron Eckhart gives good likeability and credibility to the presidential role and Morgan Freeman also delivers a solid turn as the Speaker of the house.

The early scenes of chaos in Olympus Has Fallen are so ridiculously authentic looking it's horrifying. Some of the early scenes of distruction are so frantic and frightening that they look as if they came out of 9/11 footage tapes. It really draws the viewer in as to what is to come.

What the fuck? Sadly, after these initial scenes of horror, you're left yawning more then anything else with Olympus Has Fallen. The villains are given no personality so it's really difficult to care when the material starts moving in their focus more then anyone else.

The action scenes feel terribly repetitive as if you're stuck on the same level in a video game for two hours. There really isn't enough going on of intrigue to justify this ridiculously unneeded running time as you're often wishing a terrorist would strap something to your head to end what you're viewing.

Olympus Has Fallen just feels so stock and routine, every you think will live ends up living and vice versa for those who you think will die. How can a tragedy leave you so unmoved and catatonic?

Overall: Olympus Has Fallen had the cast and the visuals in its' favor but chose to throw them away and torture the viewer with the world's longest and most tedious video game. At least those that are shot down quick receive a quick finish as you're envious due to the billion hour length of film that you have left to go.

1/4