Bill Crider quipped that Olympus Has Fallen was “Die Hard in the White House.” Exactly! Terrorists take over the White House and only former Secret Service agent Mike Banning (played by Gerard Butler) can stop them. The cat-and-mouse games between the terrorists and Butler are suspenseful. And I was surprised that Gerard Butler was a convincing action-movie hero. I hope Butler does more of these kinds of movies. If you’re looking for an above average action movie, Olympus Has Fallen fits the bill. GRADE: A-
I quite liked Butler in LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, which was an amusing if incredibly implausible movie, but I am a real sucker for the DIE HARD formula (although I remember Variety or some such august inductsry rag quipping that the Wesley Snipes flick PASSENGER 57 should have been renamed DIE ALREADY, whcih really cracked me up).
Sergio, if you like DIE HARD, you will love OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN!
This definitely looks like Jackie’s kind of movie. I have disliked the few things I’ve seen with Butler so glad this is better.
Jeff, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN is not as goofy as that episode of 24 when terrorists invaded the White House by secret tunnels in scuba gear.
I always wear scuba gear when going through secret tunnels. I protects me from the tunnel eels and tunnel wall scum. As for this movie, sounds like a retread of a lot of other such films, with a location change. It probably would have been better as a Gold Medal paperback.
Rick, the DIE HARD formula still has its attractions for some audiences. OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN made over $14 million this weekend in the U.S. alone.
Gold Medal paperback?? Uh uh. Try a Gold Eagle paperback (Mack Bolan, etc). This is truly a GE book come to life.
Steve, you’re right about OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN being a Gold Eagle book come to life! I’d be willing to watch a sequel!
Yeah, but come on; a secret switch that completely disables ALL nukes? Why not just have Santa Claus conquer the Martians?
Roy, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN has several dubious plot aspects–and you just identified one of them.