Saturday, April 20, 2013

Review of the Week: Olympus Has Fallen

Posted by Katina at 8:00 PM

This film has brought out REALLY divided views. In Australia, Marc Fennell from triple j gave it 0.5/5, Margaret and David each gave it 2.5/5, Leigh Paatsch of News Limited 3.5/5. Crazy.

For the record, I really didn't mind it. With everything that's happened recently in world politics it's most definitely timely. And contrary to some thinking it's totally implausible, I sadly think nothing's impossible from terrorists these days.

Olympus Has Fallen (MA 15+)

GLOBAL politics, although never without problems, currently stands unsteady and unsure of what is to come. Some, like the Eurozone crisis, prove to be extra influential. But as the world has focused on monetary issues, decades-old political tension on the Korean peninsula has once again come to the surface to remind the world that wounds cut deep.

To feature the problems of North and South Korea in a US presidential-themed film is most fitting at a time when a new Communist leader is finding his feet - but still making a statement with nuclear testing to worry Western governments and peacekeeping organisations.

Nuclear weapons, while not utilised for 70 years, still hold a horrible fear over governments threatened by their possible detonations. The United States of America, valiant leaders of the Western free, is arguably the most inclined to take these threats seriously.

President Asher (Aaron Eckhart) suffered a family tragedy 18 months before a day that tests the country’s, and his, resolve. While meeting with the South Korean Prime Minister at the White House to discuss looming threats from the north, they come under attack by armed militants and are forced into lockdown in the presidential bunker.


Those responsible are smart and a stealth force in their take-down of the world’s most protected building. It’s a scary thing even outside of America to know that these operations are not absolutely impossible, bringing a wave of uneasiness as the scenes unfold.

Luckily for all involved, former Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is on the job. His ability to gather intel for acting President Speaker Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) and Secret Service director Lynn Jacobs (Angela Bassett) is the Pentagon’s only option for saving the day.

Mike has a bit of fun shooting up whoever stands in his way before searching for the President’s son, Connor (Finley Jacobsen). He has to deal with seeing a number of friends lost, not being able to speak with wife Leah (Radha Mitchell) and all the obstacles possible to try and reach the President and his associates before the terrorists carry out their plan.

Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Shooter) works his main man with as much dignity as can be allowed. Butler is a gentleman’s action hero, rough and ready to kick arse but still smoothed around the edges. Mike’s a man who worked on a personal level with President Asher and Connor, so to expect anything otherwise would be foolish.

First-time feature writers Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt work well to maintain a tense script. Running at nearly two hours, it keeps the suspense steady as scenes alternate between Mike and the Pentagon’s decision-makers.

Steady performances and solid characters help to neaten the story amidst plenty of gunfire and explosions, which makes for a well-rounded feature. One could argue some countries would be doubtful of their leader’s ability to step up in such a situation. But not when Olympus has fallen; in cinematic storytelling we trust.

Rating: 3/5

*Published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 20/4/2013

MISSED LAST WEEK'S REVIEW? See what I thought of The Sessions on DVD.

Labels: , , , , ,

0 Comments:

Post a Comment



Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)