‘London Has Fallen’ – Review

President Benjamin Asher’s (Aaron Eckhart) life hangs in the balance once again in London Has Fallen, the sequel to 2013’s smash hit Olympus Has Fallen, but Secret Service Agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) will do everything in his power to make sure nothing happens to his commander-in-chief.

On the eve of the funeral of the British Prime Minister, President Asher and his security detail travel to London, but Secret Service Agent Mike Banning uncovers a dangerous threat, and must do everything he can to protect Asher and American national security. 

The action comes fast and hard in London Has Fallen, giving Butler plenty of opportunity to show off as a very capable Banning, whether bringing down terrorists with guns, knives or his bare hands. Director Babak Najafi also takes into accounts Banning’s Special Forces background and has the character set up cleverly choreographed and designed ambushes that make the action more believable and strategically appropriate. The film’s defining action scene comes in the form of an assault on a terrorist base where a master steadicam tracks the action without cutting or pulling away. Butler is at his physical best here and action fans will certainly appreciate the take down.

But it’s not just Butler who gets in on the action, with Eckhart’s Asher no longer happy to sit idly by. Whether it’s behind the wheel or picking up a handgun, Eckhart is a force to be reckoned with and makes a good partner for Butler.

The title of London Has Fallen is also pretty adept, because when chaos arrives to the grand city, it arrives in a very big way. In a matter of minutes, Najafi reduces London to a smoldering ruin thanks to some very big explosions and masterful CGI.

Action junkies will get a serious adrenaline rush from London Has Fallen with its never ending action set pieces and twisted narrative. It’s bound to send your adrenal gland into overdrive and makes for a wickedly cool time at the cinema.

Image: Roadshow Films