This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
Olympus Has Fallen 2
Plot Overview
“London Has Fallen” is a sequel to “Olympus Has Fallen” (2013). It opens (with troubling news blips in the background) on Punjab Province, Pakistan, a narrator telling us arms merchant Aamir Barkawi (Alon Aboutboul) is responsible for “massive arms sales furthering terrorism around the globe.” A large compound fills the frame as we listen to a dispassionate voice at Creech AFB, Nevada declare they “just received target confirmation,” and a reply from the Pentagon, “You're free to execute.” A large explosion ensues.
Two Years Later Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is taking a manly run with U.S. President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) joking affably as they leave the rest of the Secret Service joggers in the dust. At home a buff Mike is caring for his 8½ month very pregnant wife Leah (Radha Mitchell), remodeling the nursery (with security cameras), and composing his letter of resignation from the Presidential Protection Division. Alas, the British Prime Minister James Wilson dies of a heart attack in his sleep necessitating attendance at his hastily convened funeral by heads of state from the G7 counties, being Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and the United States. On the plane to Stansted Airport, Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs (Angela Bassett) agrees to be godmother to Mike's child. Arriving Mike has a bad feeling about the whole scene. You know, a godmother is there to raise a child in God's ways should something happen to its parents. It's a bad idea to fly both her and the father, say, on the same plane, especially into a dangerous situation. Like, what if? But I digress.
The Media say, “It's a state funeral.” Mike says, “It's a clusterfuck” [sic]. Sky News calls it, “The most protected event on earth.” But when the Service realizes, “We've been compromised,” it's time to bail, “Let's get to the chopper.” The news says, “Five world leaders are confirmed dead.” Lynne says, “It was a trap.” When their helicopter comes under fire and she and it take a hit, she tells Mike, “I never thought you would outlive me.” On the ground Mike tells the Pres, “Looks like we're walking.” Barkawi, now sporting a limp, announces, “We're bringing the war to you.” The British government having been severely infiltrated activates the air raid sirens, Londoners knowing to take shelter. Any man jack left outside is therefore assumed to be a bad guy. Mike and the president proceed to race and fight them across London.
Ideology
In this film we get a gander at all those stately London landmarks: St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Charing Cross Station. Many of them have religious as well as historical significance. Then there are the Bible names of the principals: Mike (i.e. Michael) & Leah Banning, Benjamin Asher, Lynne Jacobs. Finally, the scale of devastation and long recovery time is downright biblical in nature. It's not a stretch to look for similarities to some Bible story or other.
I'm thinking along the lines of the aftermath of Noah's flood. The three fleeing helicopters under fire evoke Genesis portents. The arcs of the Stinger missiles would be God's rainbow sign, and Air Force Two & Three covering for Air Force One would be the covering of drunken Noah. (Gen. 8:21) “And the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.” (Gen. 9:12-13) “And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.” (Gen. 9:18-19) “And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.”
After the Flood there was an incident, Gen. 9:20-22, where Noah got drunk on wine and was exposed in all his glory to his son Ham who brazenly viewed him so. Noah's other two sons, Shem and Japheth, covered him up, Gen. 9:23. Ham had violated him in some way, Gen. 9:24. Noah's curse puts Ham's youngest son Canaan in a position of servitude, Gen. 9:25. Noah's other two sons Shem, Gen. 9:26, and Japheth, Gen. 9:27, were blessed by Noah. Writer Bodie Hodge (134) quotes “Bible Questions and Answers,” The Golden Age (July 24, 1929): p. 702.
Question: Is there anything in the Bible that reveals the origin of the Negro?
Answer: It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the Black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be to his brethren,” he pictured the future of the Colored race.
In “London Has Fallen” Mike and Benjamin, being ostensibly of European stock where an enlarged Japheth spread out and colonized, were making their way to a British MI6 safe house, the Brits having come from the "lost tribes" of Israel the Semites from Shem. (Gen. 9:27) “God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.” Lynne Jacobs, however, was black having descended from Ham's son Cush—Cush is Hebrew for black—brother of Canaan, an enslaved family, so she was not expected to make it to the safe house, for Ham to “dwell in the tents of Shem.” She was uppity to be in the director's chair in the first place, under fire and to be also godmother of the offspring of Mike who is under the same fire. Thus this movie presents an uppity Negress while cleverly avoiding being politically incorrect.
The bow and the covering are conflated in that God recognizes “the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth” yet doesn't curse him again, while Noah recognizes a higher cut in Shem and Japheth, so he places Ham's sons as their sons' servants where busy hands preclude the development of evil that comes from idleness. Vice President Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) being black was called back early from his vacation, but he seemed to adapt okay, servants not used to excessive time off. And the phony Delta Force looking vaguely of the middle east representing, we suppose, descendants of Ham, arrive early in full gear having not broken a sweat, which gave them away. Servants kept busy don't have time to hatch plots.
Production Values
This movie thriller, “” (2016) was directed by Babak Najafi. It was written by Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt, Christian Gudegast and Chad St. John. It stars Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart. Morgan Freeman with limited screen time is likely the best actor here. Gerard Butler shows himself master of one-liners. He alternates facial expressions between angry and tender (when contemplating fatherhood), with a little perplexity thrown in when composing his letter of resignation. Charlotte Riley as MI6 agent Jacqueline “Jax” Marshall exudes spy vibes.
MPAA rated it R for strong violence and language throughout. The movie excels at depicting the London setting. It really seems to be happening there although there was some liberty taken with the geography. A lot of the film was actually shot in Sofia, Bulgaria. With a new director, we were treated to a parcel of humor this time. The story plot was pared down to allow plenty of room for action.
Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation
It's necessary to allow oneself a heaping portion of suspension of disbelief to sit through the show entranced by all the action, but, hey, it's a movie and that's what they're for. Its foursome of writers seemed focused on working around political correctness so the good guys can get away with being mean. The result is a movie that comes across more like a video game than an artistic work, but I'm not complaining. There are other kinds of movies I'll see (God willing) in my life, so why not enjoy this one for what it is? Look for a fun movie that probably won't win any Oscars.
Movie Ratings
Action factor: Edge of your seat action-packed. Suitability For Children: Not Suitable for Children of Any Age. Special effects: Absolutely amazing special effects. Video Occasion: Fit For a Friday Evening. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall product rating: three and a half stars out of five.
Works Cited
Scripture quoted from the King James Version. Pub. 1611, rev. 1769. Software.
Hodge, Bodie. Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors. Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Pub., 2013. Print.
bibles.n7nz.org