Film review: Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman
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When Korean terrorists storm the White House and takes the president (Eckhart) hostage, a former secret service agent (Butler) is the US’s only ally inside the besieged building. The film takes the Die Hard blueprint to an epic scale – a risk that pays off, despite its faults (a predictable story; two--dimensional villains). An unapologetic action-thriller that feels ripped straight from the world of Tom Clancy, it benefits from an engaging story and good casting. Butler and Eckhart are at ease as hero and hostage, and Freeman lends grandeur as the de-facto leader coordinating Butler’s efforts. While never scaling John McClane-level excitement, Fuqua’s film is good popcorn fun.