Before he even has a chance, the unthinkable happens – terrorists take over the White House with amazing ease. With the world already on edge as North and South Korea are in the midst of a standoff, this new interloper with a grudge against the U.S., Kang (Rick Yune) is tipping the scales in North Korea’s favor. With the President and key cabinet members sequestered away as his hostages deep in the bowels of the White House, it seems that there is no chance for the survival of the Commander in Chief. But Banning knows his way around the big house and once he has a mission, he will complete it or die trying. For Speaker of the House Trumball (Morgan Freeman), who is made Acting President in the wake of the attack, Banning just might be the edge they have been praying for, but can he stop this madness before America pays the ultimate price?
Olympus Has Fallen reminds me a lot of the first Die Hard film, just without the comic relief. The action is intense and non-stop and Gerard Butler is one all-American Grade A badass. I’ve seen Butler in several films and I enjoy him as an actor, but he is great in the role of action hero, just great. Aaron Eckhart is perfect as a powerful but vulnerable leader, whether he is playing the President of the U.S. of A. or the District Attorney in a little town called Gotham City. Eckhart is a competent actor and does a great job. Melissa Leo as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan is simply fantastic, though. Man, can that woman take a hit! She is quite impressive in her role. Morgan Freeman does what he does best, playing the calm and competent leader, while Ashley Judd barely has enough screen time to make an impression. Overall, Olympus Has Fallen is a fantastic action movie and it’s made all the more believable by current world events and the surprising lack of zombies (since zombies are the "in" thing right now, it seems. Not that I am complaining, mind you.) If you like a good action flick, definitely check out Olympus Has Fallen. Even though some of the special effects are obviously CG and there are no special features aside from the Ultraviolet copy, it’s an intense ride with visual impact that you won’t soon forget.
