DVD Movie Review - Olympus has Fallen

Not even patriotic marching drums, Two-face, or a Spartan can save a film that's been grind through years of action clichés and unoriginal ideas.  The story feels as though, the writers used the action-film Mad-Libs, and just filled in the blank spaces with nouns, names, and verbs.

When watching an action film—even if it's just popcorn fun—there's always one movie any true action-junkie will use to compare.  The godfather of action filth, if you will.  What movie am I talking about?  Only the 1988 classic Die Hard.  This king of action films has yet to be trumped in its respectable genre.  And after viewing Olympus has Fallen it's safe to say the film steals most of its ideas, themes, and scenes straight from Die Hard.  Well then, are they fresh?  Nope.  Aside from the locale and different character names, Olympus has Fallen is just Die Hard put through the garbage disposal.  All you’re left with are bits and pieces of something that was great.

"Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."

STORY:

During a blinding snow storm, Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), part of the secret service detail, makes a crappy, yet necessary decision that ends up costing his job.  Eighteen months later we catch up with Mikey working at the Treasury, alienating himself from his wife, sulking over his job, and squeezing a stress ball.  Soon after, those silly North Koreans somehow gather around fifty of their closest friends and set out to conquer the White House.  With backpacks, ski-masks, trash trucks, and one computer hacker, they set up a defense base in the President's lap.  Only one man can stop such forceful opposition, and that man is Mike Banning (the same man who once told the Speaker of the House to go "F" himself).  Silly gun fights, a ridiculous premise, and Die Hard 2.0 ensue.

"Does anyone else smell that?"

"If you're talking about the horrendous acting--then yep, we smell it."

THOUGHTS:

Aside from the action, which is on par with today’s standards, you better love Mr. Butler, because he’s the entire show.  Gerard's career soared to amazing heights when 300 released worldwide in 2006.  The only problem is it ended when that same movie left the theaters, and Hollywood just forgot to tell him.  Casting Butler in this role would be like casting him as the Phantom, in Phantom of the Opera.  Oops.  That already happened, didn't it?  His most notable role since 300 was in How to Train your Dragon.  And that's because he wasn't in it, just his voice graced the screen.  Not that having a different lead in Olympus has Fallen would have made it any better, but it sure might have made it more entertaining.

The song was going fine, until Gerard turned to the female lead and kicked her down a well. 

Gerard's entire performance seemed unemotional throughout the movie, and adding wincing dialogue, just escalated the slop.  On top of that you have Two Face as the president.  Don't get me wrong—Aaron Eckhart is a decent actor, but the president, he is not.  He does his best with what's thrown his way, but barely comes off as the leader of the free world.  Actually, there were only a few actors that fit their roles: Morgan Freeman plays the Speaker of the House as only Mr. Freeman can.  Ashley Judd works perfectly as the First Lady, and Dylan McDermott charms his way into any role.  Other than that, most of the acting and scenes were as stale as a loaf of bread that's been left out on the counter for a few dozen years.

"Listen: I know Die Hard was better, but we have to get through this. 

You want a paycheck, don't you?" 

But the highlight—the real ace in the hole, the crème de la crème of acting in this movie goes to Melissa Leo who plays Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan.  You could say her flailing like a rotten tuna during the beating she receives was extravagant, but that wasn't the best she had to offer.  No, she did one better.  While being dragged through the halls of the White House by her hair, she kicks and screams and then recites the Pledge of Allegiance.  This, my humorous friends has got to be the most embarrassing scene ever heard or witnessed.  You'll hope she's shot soon thereafter, just to stop the insanity.  Congratulations, Melissa, you've done it.  You've acted out a scene that will forever taint the dignified Pledge of Allegiance.

"Boy, that sure does look like a giant plane gunning down civilians." 

THE DIE HARD CONNECTION:

Remember how John McClane is the only man on the inside, giving the police constant updates on the terrorists, but the police don't know whether to trust him?  Butler's Banning does the same, except it’s just not as good as the dialogue between Willis and VelJohnson.  How about the first meeting of McClane and Gruber, where Gruber pretends to be a hostage?  Here too.  A cigarette even shows up just like in Die Hard.  But what about an unstable marriage?  Yep, cut and pasted.  There's also that scene where McClane happens to pull a piece of glass out of his foot while chatting to Sergeant Powell.  Now, you're probably thinking: "Man, they didn't recreate that scene too, did they?"  Yes they did.  There's a scene where Butler pulls shrapnel out of his side while answering the “are you alright” question.  All these events might have really been emotional, if you haven't already seen them, 25 years ago.  The only mistake Olympus has Fallen makes is not having Butler curse out loud while he's beating the bad guy.  That scene where McClane is kicking the crap out of Karl, and happens to tell him he's going to kill him, cook him, and then eat him is frigging priceless.  You'll slowly realize Olympus has Fallen needed more McClane and less Banning.

Butler found it hard to act, while his fellow thespians kept break-dancing.

CONCLUSION:

If you're looking for anything with action this week, then I guess Olympus has Fallen can be your go-to movie.  If perhaps, you're tired of regurgitated clichés and rehashed ideas, then maybe you should spend your time more wisely, like re-alphabetizing your stamp collection.  One thing is for sure: Olympus has Fallen definitely makes you realize you should have been watching Die Hard all along, because a classic like that never gets old.

2 out of 5 stars (there’s not enough room here to list all the problems)

NEXT WEEK ON P&P:

Our very own Hank sits down with Philip Tibitoski, the CEO/Community Manager of Young Horses to discuss how Octodad: Dadliest Catch made a huge impact at this year's E3.  They'll converse about hard work, the secrets that lay backstage, and what made the development team crap their pants.