The Fallen Series(2013 - 2019) Directed By: Antoine Fuqua, Babak Najafi, Ric Roman WaughStarring: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Radha Mitchell, Piper Perabo, Melissa Leo, Robert Forster, Angela Bassett, Sean O'Bryan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lance Reddick, Tim Blake Nelson, Nick Nolte, Danny Huston
Despite having a fairly appealing premise, it has taken me a startling (though I suppose not too surprising) amount of time to get around to watching the reasonably-well-heralded Olympus Has Fallen - all the more odd since I generally enjoy so-called 'mindless' action films. I have of course since discovered that it's the first in what soon became an entire franchise, with two movie sequels already made, several more planned, and a TV show on the way too. The films already released have of course been publicly shunned by movie snobs, as many action films and/or big-budget blockbusters are (though I suspect many of them secretly enjoy them). I, however, watch films simply to be entertained, and since action films can entertain just as well as more cerebral dramas, perhaps more so depending on your mood, I have no problem with publicly stating my fondness for them. So, despite the frankly unexplainable delay, I was looking forward to seeing these...
Olympus Has Fallen(2013)
The White House has appeared in many films over the years but I think only those pesky space aliens have been allowed to blow it up before. That was probably the main appeal for this film, and indeed probably also the main reason for its inception to begin with. North Korea are the guilty party this time, and they strike in a remarkably coordinated, multi-pronged attack which is mighty impressive to see unfolding. One of the few survivors is Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), Secret Service agent and friend of President Asher (Aaron Eckhart), who must then infiltrate the famous-but-smashed-up building to find out what the frickin' frack is going on and lay the smack down on those responsible. As many before me have said, it's basically Die Hard in the White House, but is that a bad thing? Sure, it's a bit corny, and I don't know how realistic it is (it seems like an easy building to take over, considering), but the special effects are excellent, the performances are decent, notably Butler's who is good in this sort of role, and you feel invested in his plight, even if you're not a flag-waving American. At the very least a solid action film... 8/10
London Has Fallen(2016)
As you might have gathered, the action has crossed the Atlantic this time, but don't worry - the good old Americans are still at the centre of things! When the British Prime Minister dies suddenly, leaders from all over the world converge on London for his funeral, including Eckhart and Butler who return as President Asher and Mike Banning who is once again the head of his security detail. Naturally, another terrorist group, this time a Pakistani using his cell to exact revenge for a drone strike that killed his family, unleash a devastating, coordinated series of attacks that takes out several world leaders. Unsurprisingly, they miss Asher, so most of the film is him and Banning trying to survive in the streets of London until the pesky terrorists have been foiled. It's not hugely original in this approach and there are many cliches, but it's still pretty good. Many have expressed outrage regarding the choice of bad guys here and called the film racist which is a bit strange to me, especially since no such outrage was directed at the prequel. Is it only racist if it's Islamic terrorists? It's just a dumb-but-decent action-thriller to me, whomever the bad guys are... 7/10
Angel Has Fallen(2019)
For the final part of the first trilogy (for there is indeed another on the way, apparently), Morgan Freeman has risen further up the ranks (he was the Speaker of the House in first film, the Vice President in the second) and is now in the hot seat himself! Luckily, he has good old Mike Banning at his side as Asher did. While taking a fishing break, however, President Trumball and his hordes of Secret Service agents are attacked by a swarm of armed drones. Both Trumball and Banning are left injured with the former in a coma and the latter framed for the attack! Of course, being such a high-profile target, there aren't many places poor old Mr. Banning can go, so he turns to his crazy father (a brilliant Nick Nolte) who is one of those survivalist types who lives off the grid and doesn't trust the government. Before finding out the plot, I had expected this third instalment to see a further small drop in quality, but I've always enjoyed 'government agent gets framed and has to go on the run to prove his innocence' type films so I was quickly enjoying it. It's a slightly different kind of film to the first two but it's still action-packed, exciting, and one I liked a lot. Bring on 'Night Has Fallen'... 8/10
I figured I should include a trailer so here's one for what is probably the less appreciated of the three - Angel Has Fallen!
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