Antoine Fuqua’s 2013 White
House-takeover thriller, ‘Olympus Has Fallen,’ more than doubled its $70
million budget at the worldwide box office despite withering reviews from
critics and having to compete with the similarly premised (though PG-13 rated) ‘White
House Down’ from Roland Emmerich within months of its release. Which means it’s sequel time baby, oh yeah! Being a diehard ‘Die Hard’ fan, I am probably
naturally inclined to such movies, but as long as they don’t suck (like the
last ‘Die Hard’ movie starring Bruce Willis) that’s really all I ask.
If anything,
the set-up of ‘London Has Fallen’ is even more eye-rolling impossible than
that of its predecessor (North Koreans invade the White House, like that's gonna happen). Britain’s PM dies all of a sudden and top
world leaders flock to London for the state funeral. With all the eggs in one basket, a
well-coordinated and devastating series of terrorist attacks rock London to her knees, claiming
not only visiting heads-of-state but also famous landmarks such as Big Ben, Westminster
Abbey and London Bridge (Yup, London Bridge is literally falling down, my fair
lady). Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! How can the British government including
MI-5, MI-6 and New Scotland Yard be compromised so deeply and thoroughly? Stop asking such inane questions, because how
else is the movie supposed to make the predicament of tough ex-Marine President
Asher (Aaron Eckhart) and his favorite pet ex-Delta Force Secret Service Agent
Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) seem duly dire and near impossible? Besides, the non-stop action and carnage are piled
on so hot and heavy throughout the movie that soon you’ll stop caring about the
how’s and wherefores anyway.
If you enjoyed ‘Olympus Has Fallen,’ odds are good that you’ll also find this indulgence in
gratuitous violence a worthwhile diversion in spite of the many faults brought
to light by the critics who mercilessly panned it. There
is a place for movies that excite the viscera and give us a truly “visceral
viewing experience.” LHF manages to
do just that.
Grade: B+
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