OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN

Former Presidential guard Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) puts himself inside the White House or ‘Olympus’ during a highly organised terrorist attack. When Olympus falls and incredulously every other agent is slaughtered, it is up to Banning to singlehandedly save the President and the day.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) Olympus Has Fallen is full of over-the-top action and cheesy one-liners. It is easy entertainment where everyone is expendable, except for the President, of course. Butler is believable as a heroic former agent, but even he cannot carry the film on his carved shoulders alone.

Excessively patriotic shots of a burnt American flag and bloodied but defiant Presidential staff don’t make up for the abundance of plot flaws throughout.

Overkill is an understatement. (LL)

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