Olympus Has Fallen Review by Dio Rochino

       I've said it before.  If a movie does a good job of explaining a poorly contrived story, I'll accept it.  I just need a reason to invest in the concept.  As unashamed of being a brainless action flick this movie is, it actually has plot.  Albeit ridiculous and predictable, it does drive the film which is more than ample.

      The concept of Olympus might be hard to take seriously.  The story involves a Korean terrorist organization that seizes control of the White House taking the President and his staff hostage.  Their purpose is to eliminate all U.S military presence on the border between North and South Korea, allowing the North to invade thus attempting to fulfill their plan to unify Korea.  But a well placed script and balls to the wall action make this an extremely fun flick to watch.  Even with laughable plot devices such as a three part code that can detonate every nuclear missile in America possibly turning the country into a wasteland.  Believe me, disclosing this information isn't ruining anything.  However, it seems we're willing to accept silly explanations like this to give everyone what they really want.  Chances to see Gerard Butler systematically bash terrorists' brains in and annihilate them in the most brutal ways.

      Butler's portrayal of Mike Banning makes the film.  Being the sole survivor of an all out attack on the White House, people can't help but cheer when he assassinates bad guys with contentment.  With the convictions of his character relayed with a strong and hearty screw you, Banning's the type who would tell villains that he's going to mess them up and holds true to that promise.  He even has the smug look to support it and does it all to the tune of a patriotic score blazing in the background.

      Make no mistake, this movie is a poor Die Hard clone with a one track notion whose only point is to see Banning kick ass in the name of the U.S.A.  It's evident upon viewing the film that the plot is a bit clumsy but let's be realistic.  People who are watching this aren't expecting anything complicated.  It's an absurd action film which pulls out every patriotic cliche to put America on the foreground and supplies the audience with an insatiable need for cinematic blood lust.  Sure the filmmakers would've been just as successful if they had Gerard Butler standing on a mountain of dead evildoers in front of the American flag, holding an assault rifle and waving the middle finger around for two hours, but it honestly wouldn't be as much fun.