Olympus Has Fallen

This is an out -and- out action thriller with an impressive star cast. Attack on the White House or the kidnapping of the President is something we have seen in the past but this one does justice in its own way. It takes the audience through a roller coaster ride of the invasion of the White House and the events that follow. The nation is once again united in it's fight to regain it's hurt pride and, like each time, America comes out on top. Even the most trained and ruthless terrorists are mistaken to underestimate them. Don't we all know how grand America is........

Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is a Secret Service agent assigned to head the Presidential Detail. He maintains a personal, friendly relationship with President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), First Lady Margaret Asher (Ashley Judd), and their son Connor Asher (Finley Jacobsen). On a drive from Camp David on the snowy night of Christmas Eve, the car transporting the President and First Lady crashes resulting in the death of the First Lady.

Eighteen months after this tragic incident, Banning is working at the Treasury Department, within eyesight of the White House. He wants to return to being a Secret Service agent on the Presidential detail however, President Asher does not allow this as Banning brings up memories of the night Margaret died. During a meeting at the White House on July 5, 2012 between Asher and the South Korean Prime Minister, a Korean group leads an attack against the White House. Some of the members of the terrorist group, disguised as tourists, detonate a car bomb and start gunning down every person on the street. The assault ends with the Koreans capturing the White House and holding the President and several top officials hostage in the White House bunker. The group is lead by Kang Yeonsak (Rick Yune), an ex-North Korean terrorist, who has two goals. The first is to use the President as a hostage to force the United States to withdraw from Korea, allowing the decades old civil war to finish. His second goal is a lot more sinister and is revealed only in the second half of the film, adding the necessary intrigue to the plot.


Olympus has fallen is a fast paced Hollywood masala movie with lots of action and some witty dialogues. Gerard Butler is good as an action hero and should do more such movies while he still can. Though Morgan Freeman has given a power packed performance (as always) one only wishes his role was meatier. Aaron Eckhart looked convincing as the President. The movie depicts patriotism for The United States Of America and for its President, who's life is more important than anything else.The drama element in the movie is constant and a deep anxiety is built up in the Pentagon as well as in the audience. There are a few aspects which are not convincing - like the air attacks made by the terrorists at the White House and how they were not traced by the air force in time. These few flaws aside, it is a good weekend watch and is worth the money spent.


Nidhi