After a damned if you do, damned if you don’t decision, Secret Service agent “Banning” (Gerard Butler) has been removed from the presidential protection detail and given a desk job. That’s probably just as well for “President Asher” (Aaron Eikhart) as a visit from his opposite number from South Korea goes quite spectacularly awry and next thing the White House is in bits and the VIPs either dead or hostages in the bunker deep beneath the rubble. “Kang” (Rick Yuen) is leading the terrorists, with a little help from a disgruntled fifth columnist, and is demanding seismic changes to American policy in Korea else the body count is going to mount. “Banning” knows his way around the building and so in best “Die Hard” tradition, proceeds to sneak about causing the usual havoc to the perpetrators as they execute their dastardly plan and then hope to commandeer a helicopter to get them out of the wreckage and off to safety - with, of course, their prime hostage. I think to get anything from this you will have to be prepared to completely suspend belief and just sit back and let it wash over you. That an unidentified aircraft would be permitted to fly anywhere near a major global metropolis without being blitzed from the sky is just the opening eye-raising scene in this slew of frying pan to fire scenarios that just go to show that the spirit of those wartime adventures where one plucky person could defeat dozens of heavily armed and entrenched Nazis and… well you get the drift. Butler does enough, I suppose, as he makes for a reasonable action hero stalking the corridors using his ninja skills to deadly effect but there’s isn’t the slightest hint of jeopardy here as the body count mounts as per any number of shoot ‘em up video games. It passes the time if you just want some noise in the background, but to sit and concentrate on it for two hours is likely to cause brain rot.

Olympus Has Fallen delivers a solid action thriller experience that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The first act sets the stage well, with a strong focus on character relationships, especially between Mike Banning and the presidential family. The chemistry here makes you care about what’s at stake, and it transitions smoothly into the high-stakes chaos of the second act. By the time you reach the ending, the president’s speech ties everything together in a way that feels satisfying. The acting is solid all around. Gerard Butler nails his role as the determined and capable hero, while Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman bring the right level of intensity to their characters. That said, there aren’t any standout moments that elevate the performances beyond what you’d expect in this genre. Still, everyone plays their part well. The cinematography is impressive, with dynamic shots that amplify the tension during action scenes. However, some noticeable CGI slip-ups and editing issues can pull you out of the experience momentarily. They’re not deal-breakers but definitely stand out when the rest of the visuals are so polished. The script does its job, but there are a few plot holes that could have been handled more realistically. Still, given the nature of the movie, they don’t take away from the fun. The direction by Antoine Fuqua deserves praise, he’s no stranger to creating tension and drama, and his expertise shines here. The foreshadowing and character moments sprinkled throughout are a nice touch. While the movie doesn’t reinvent the action genre, it delivers exactly what it promises: high-octane entertainment. Sure, it’s a bit over the top and occasionally unrealistic, but that’s part of the fun. If you’re in the mood for a well-paced, patriotic action flick with plenty of explosions and a likable lead, this one’s a safe bet.

Great movie with action throughout. Lots of drama as well. Just your average insane crew trying to take over the white house.