Movie Review Monday: Olympus Has Fallen
Welcome everyone to another edition of Movie Review Monday!
Our film this week is Olympus Has Fallen, the 2013 action film starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, and Morgan Freeman.
* A quick caveat before we begin, this isn't going to be as much of a hard recommendation as I usually give, but in an attempt to keep a diversity of reviews coming, I checked out this movie this past week. It is a fine film but it is certainly not great. That is all.
Last year, two White House centric action movies came out that were very identical in their premise; White House + Die Hard = White House Down & Olympus Has Fallen. I saw the former as well, and it is a PG-13 comedic action romp with Channing Tatum and Jaime Foxx, while the latter is a hard R, with as much blood, explosions, death, and expletives as they can fit in the course of the movie. This is the only major difference between the two films. Otherwise, their plots are the same; dude gets stuck in the White House and has to save the day from terrorists and betters himself in the process. Neither are going to stimulate the noggin but they are fun rides.
So speaking mainly about Olympus Has Fallen, since it is the one available to stream on Netflix, the movie isn't bad but it isn't great either. I guessed the plot turns before they happened so I wasn't surprised and everything just seemed cliche in the wake of five Die Hard films. I feel like I'd rather just watch the original Die Hard (which is a modern classic if you ask me). I can't say much bad specifically about Olympus other than it seems unoriginal and redudant, which as someone who watches a lot of movies and television, is a major turnoff for me. With that being said, it is something good to put on and have some simple fun with. Gerard Butler is a capable action lead (which I feel like he needs to do more often and he seems to be listening based on his IMDB page) and the rest of cast does adequate jobs. The action scenes are well done, but there are some spotty special effects. The pacing is good enough, and the movie definitely doesn't hold back punches (a lot of nameless soldiers, guards, etc. die in this movie). It is just crazy enough to work and won't challenge any notions you have, so take it as you will.
With a sequel in the works (really?) for next October, check out Olympus Has Fallen for some simple, fun, action on Netflix ready to stream into your eyeholes.