OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN: HOLLYWOOD CAN MAKE PATRIOTIC FILMS

Hollywood has seemed more interested in making films that appear patriotic but at the same time take cheap shots at this country at the same time. It is rare that instead they do what movie makers did in the past by celebrating the spirit of this country. RED DAWN was an example of that. Now they've come out with a movie that will stir the soul of all American's watching.

OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN stars Gerard Butler as Mike Banning, a secret service agent in charge of the security of President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart). Banning has a special place in the hearts of the first family including young son Conner (Finley Jacobson). As the film opens an accident on an icy bridge results in the death of the first lady (Ashley Judd) as Banning rescues the President.

Time goes by and Banning is now assigned to the Treasury Department and a desk job. While the President holds no grudge Mike's presence is a reminder of what happened. Waiting for a chance to return to the field, Mike stays in touch with his boss Lynn Jacobs (Angela Bassett). Through no fault of his own, that chance will soon become available.

Early in the day when the ambassador from North Korea comes to the White House for a meeting, an attack is launched on the building. A low flying military plane shoots down citizens left and right as well as guards and soldiers all over the White House grounds before it is hit and crashes through the Washington Monument. With bodies lying all around a land force then crashes the fence, plants a blockade at the entrances and begins an assault on the building and those protecting it.

Having run to the White House once he was aware of what was going on, Banning makes his way through bad guys taking them out as he heads to the front doors. But these bad guys are on top of things and with RPGs and heavy artillery take out most of the agents in charge of protecting the building. Soon the White House falls before help can arrive. But they don't know that Banning has made his way inside.

As all of this goes on outside the President, his entourage and the Koreans head to the bunker in the basement. It is here that the Korean ambassador is killed by his team, a group of terrorists led by Kang (Rick Yune) who now takes the American's hostage and then contacts those now in charge led by Speaker of the House Trumbull (Morgan Freeman). His demands are for the 7th Fleet to remove themselves from Asian waters and for troops on the demilitarized zone in Korea to begin withdrawal.

All the while Banning continues to make his way through the building in search of Connor. With his access to codes and knowledge of the building he establishes contact with Trumbull and the assembled team trying to bring this crisis to an end. Banning is their only hope and the only person inside who can give them information. But can he rescue Connor, the President and stop the annihilation that Kang has in store for the world?

This is a picture that pulls no punches and turns the non-stop, palm sweating action up to eleven. There is never a time in this movie when you stop and wish you had the remote in hand with your finger on the fast forward button. Even the second time around this movie rocks with enough mind blowing excitement to please the most jades action film fan.

Butler shows why he's so good in roles like this. He offers the sophisticated look of an agent when needed but brings on the tough guy heroics in such a believable fashion that you can't help but root for him from the get go. This is the type of hero that everyone would hope was around and guarding the President. If you were forced to choose between Banning and Jack Bauer you'd be hard pressed to decide who you wanted next to you.

Scenes of the Washington Monument and the White House being bombed or blown apart will wrench your heart as will the sight of the United States flag being tossed to the ground, shot to pieces. There is no way not to recall the events of 9/11 while watching this film and it makes you consider the fact that there are and most likely always will be enemies of this country waiting for the chance to do us harm. Let's just hope that if they were to attempt something like this that there are plenty of real life heroes out there to stop them cold in their tracks. As for this movie its not just one to rent its one to add to the shelf on the wall for future viewings.

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