OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN: See it w/considerations

Credits:

Director:  Antoine Fuqua
Writer:  Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt
Cast:  Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Rick Yune
Studio:  Film District

OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN is an action-packed thriller about a former secret-service agent (GERARD BUTLER) who tries to save the president (AARON ECKHART) from a hostile takeover of The White House orchestrated by a North Korean terrorist leader (RICK YUNE).  Being from D.C., and knowing the proximity of all the federal buildings and military forts near The White House, the premise was tough to suspend belief.  However, once you accept the hyper-reality for what it is, you can enjoy Butler's one-liners and Freeman's verbal smack-downs.  Fuqua (BROOKLYN'S FINEST, TRAINING DAY) executed the action-sequences expertly.  There are shoot outs and blow-ups to spare, but through it all Fuqua keeps the pacing and suspense continuous.  The players could have had more to do, but nobody signed onto this movie expecting an Oscar nomination.  It was great to see Ashley Judd / an age-appropriate leading lady for Eckhart, though she was in it for 5 minutes.  Likewise, I loved seeing Angela Bassett, Cole Hauser and Dylan McDermott supporting.  It is also worth noting that Rick Yune (aka Johnny Tran from THE FAST AND FURIOUS) was a solid villain.  It will be interesting to see Sony's version of the premise this summer with Channing Tatum in Butler's role and Jamie Foxx in Eckhart's:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334879/

Until then, I would recommend seeing this if you live for the actors and love heavy action-sequences because the movie is entertaining.   If you're just into action and not this cast specifically, I would say stream this and  I would also remind you that G.I. JOE:  RETALIATION is out this weekend.