Olympus Has Fallen, or the Presidential version of Home Alone!

In the midst of the Coronapocalypse Netflix has yet again dropped another gem to help us get through social distancing. Angel Has Fallen staring Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman is the third installation in the Fallen series which started with Olympus Has Fallen in 2013. The series is based around the continued story line that the president of the United States repeatedly comes under attack by varying global threats. Each time around it comes down to Butlers character Mike Banning to save the day and keep the president safe. Simple on top but the series brings more to the table than just repetitive action scenes and one liners.  

In Olympus Has Fallen, Mike Banning was a former Secret Service agent who happens to be in the right place at the right time to save the President resulting in him being reinstated so he could save the President again in the second film London Has Fallen. This time around he is next in line to be the Director of the Secret Service and Morgan Freeman is no longer the Speaker of the House but now the President who will be in peril for most of the film. 

   

Banning is feeling the strain that defeating modern global threats has on his body. He’s suffered multiple concussions and suffers from crippling migraines causing him to become dependent on pain killers. However, the opening action sequence shows that none of that is slowing him down. In fact, his biggest problem is that he is reluctant to take the Director job due to his thirst to stay in the fight. However, he has a young daughter at home to think about so he’s leaning towards the desk job. Then, when the President is out fishing, he is attacked by drones and the only survivors are Banning and the President, Banning is framed for the attack. This leads to Banning having to go on the run to clear his name and keep the President safe.

The movie is fast paced and over the top at times but keeps the watcher engaged. Helping to do this is an excellent line up of actors including Danny Huston, Piper Perabo, and Nick Nolte. All of which help to keep the movie grounded in story between the blockbuster action scenes that push reality and drive the film.

It’s no wonder that during these trying times this movie has found a spot among the top ten movies or series on Netflix this week. It’s not just because it’s new and shiny compared to the rest of Netflix’s catalog, it’s also because it’s just good old fashion action fun. You get the action, you get a decent story, and you get a bit of comedy on top (even though some of the action is funny on its own!). And with a solid cast and decent story writing you can’t go wrong with giving this movie a shot.