Gerard Butler returns to the action movie genre in the recently released Olympus Has Fallen. But is this movie a waste of your night out and popcorn money? Here's what we thought.
Plot
The film stars Gerard Butler as a former secret service agent who has to rescue the president when the White House is captured by North Koreans.
The film stars Gerard Butler as a former secret service agent who has to rescue the president when the White House is captured by North Koreans.
Honestly, if you have seen any number of 90's action movies, you have seen most of what this movie has to offer. That being said, I found myself loving this film. Olympus Has Fallen is self aware in that the filmmakers understood the movie and what it was and embraced it. The story is definitely a throwback to films like Die Hard and Air Force One but it never quite feels like a rip off.
Dialogue
There is absolutely nothing outstanding about the film's dialogue. It's all action movie one liners and lots of exposition. The one thing I guess I can say is that you're not really seeing this movie for the dialogue.
There is absolutely nothing outstanding about the film's dialogue. It's all action movie one liners and lots of exposition. The one thing I guess I can say is that you're not really seeing this movie for the dialogue.
Visuals
The visual effects at the end of act one are a little over the top and definitely not the best CGI Hollywood is capable of. Other than that, the scenes are well shot and the sets look fantastic. The White House has never looked so good on film and it's never been so fun watching it be destroyed.
The visual effects at the end of act one are a little over the top and definitely not the best CGI Hollywood is capable of. Other than that, the scenes are well shot and the sets look fantastic. The White House has never looked so good on film and it's never been so fun watching it be destroyed.
Characters
While Gerard Butler is at his best here, his character is nothing new. In fact, most of the characters in Olympus Has Fallen are the same ones we've seen in political action movies before. The grumpy general with the itchy trigger finger, the room full of advisors and analysts who are utterly useless and of course Morgan Freeman as the acting President. The stand out performance to me is actually Aaron Eckhart's President Asher who succeeds at making an otherwise one dimensional President a truly relatable person.
While Gerard Butler is at his best here, his character is nothing new. In fact, most of the characters in Olympus Has Fallen are the same ones we've seen in political action movies before. The grumpy general with the itchy trigger finger, the room full of advisors and analysts who are utterly useless and of course Morgan Freeman as the acting President. The stand out performance to me is actually Aaron Eckhart's President Asher who succeeds at making an otherwise one dimensional President a truly relatable person.
Action
All that stuff aside, you are going to this movie for the action and it has a great deal of it. The fight scenes are done really well and are one of the most believable things about the film. Once you get past the first 30 minutes, the action is mostly practical instead of CGI which is always preferable. If you're looking for action, this movie will not disappoint you.
All that stuff aside, you are going to this movie for the action and it has a great deal of it. The fight scenes are done really well and are one of the most believable things about the film. Once you get past the first 30 minutes, the action is mostly practical instead of CGI which is always preferable. If you're looking for action, this movie will not disappoint you.
Overall, Olympus Has Fallen will not be nominated for any awards (unless they're on SpikeTV or something). And while our Final Cut score isn't the highest, the film's self aware presentation and action make it one of the best films released this year so far. In short, go see it. You're inner 90's kid will thank you.
Plot - 1 Point
Dialogue - 0 Points
Visuals - 2 Points
Characters - 1 Point
Action - 2 Points
Dusty's Score - 6 out of 10
Dialogue - 0 Points
Visuals - 2 Points
Characters - 1 Point
Action - 2 Points
Dusty's Score - 6 out of 10
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