London Has Fallen

Ein Film, der die Zuschauer*innen dadurch befriedigt, dass der Hauptheld den Terroristen nicht nur einen Messerstich versetzt, sondern wenigsten vier wütende Stiche. Mental auf dem Niveau von Fast & Furious, nur ohne Abstand. Das CGI, welches für die Zielgruppe sehr wichtig ist, ist nur durchschnittlich. Vor dem Sturz in die Kategorie der Werke, die man sich nicht ansehen kann, rettet den Film nur das Charisma von Gerard Butler und die Schießerei in einer Aufnahme kurz vor dem Ende. (11.04.2016)

This film has ad absurdum motifs from the past, whose dubious ideological underpinnings I wouldn't worry about provided they weren't hiding behind interchangeable action that we’ve seen a thousand times before. The film begs to be part of the A-movie class through its cast but limps on both feet due to the abilities of the production team. (19.05.2016)

For the whole time I was watching this crazy movie I was wondering what it would be like if the main character was played by, for example, Steven Segal instead of Gerard Butler. And you know what? I might have liked it more. With this cast London Has Fallen isatotal crazy trip which actors like Butler, Freeman or Eckhart don’t deserve. The director is devastating London, nothing makes sense, there is shooting everywhere. And you don’t want that in an action movie with this kind of actors. (02.09.2019)

Der erste Teil war aggressiver, in diesem Film sind die 80er Jahre nicht so präsent. Najafi bemüht sich in manchen Passagen um eine Regie wie bei einem Arthouse-Actionfilm, was eigentlich ziemlich unterhaltsam ist. (17.08.2016)

Butler roolzz. London Has Fallen is a weaker little brother to a good part one. A conflict with Korea is lacking (both in reality and in the movie) and the terrorist villain isn’t demonic enough. Occasional serious moments rather subdue the bloody fun when Butler stabs his adversaries. Also the contrast between future dad and killer worse than the terrorists themselves is a little out of place here. But it’s fun. Fun for its naivety. The screenplay copies some B-movie hits from the nineties and gives them a new suit, but copies it too hastily, without caring whether it makes sense or not. But I would really welcome the next part with a better screenwriting team. I was smiling from ear to ear while watching. (19.04.2016)

Similar to the first one, except that Olympus Has Fallen was shot by a proven action director and the second one by no-name Babak Najafi, though it should be noted that he certainly didn't disgrace himself. Admittedly, the visuals are weaker, which clearly indicates that the budget wasn't the biggest and the director probably wasn't that trusted, but the ensemble cast handles it well and it doesn't take itself nearly as seriously as the first installment or even Air Force One. Harrison Ford was a more believable president than Aaron Eckhart, of course, but the banter between the main tandem is OK, and as long as you doesn't look for anything there, don't worry about realism, and don't get carried away by the decent action (the last big, approximately five-minute steadicam shootout with no cuts is great), it's impossible not to enjoy it in a fairly decent way. Plus, the subject of international terrorism is again more topical than ever. (05.06.2016)

Der vorige Film war wenigstens professionell aufgenommen. Seiner Londoner Fortsetzung fehlen außer der notwendigen Leichtigkeit auch solide Actionszenen und Tricks, die nicht wie aus einem durchschnittlichen Videospiel aussehen. Über die Figuren und Schauspieler*innen sage ich höflichkeitshalber nichts. Außerdem ist klar zu sehen, dass die Londoner Straßen nur Kulissen sind, die irgendwo im Studio gemacht wurden. Es ist einfach ungeheuer langweilig. Und dumm. (20.11.2018)

Cannon Films presents The President's Man... I mean, Delta Force... no, not that either... London Has Fallen! A film in which Gerard Butler interrogates a hostage by stabbing him with a quarter-yard knife until he learns what he needs. In which the terrorists anticipate the Italian Prime Minister treating himself to a thirty-years-younger model atop Westminster, so they blow up the entire tower of the building just in case. A film where twenty super-equipped SAS soldiers tell a battered Butler running around in his shirt "Lead the way!". A work where most of the budget went on the quantity of special effects, not their quality. Where the protagonist kills 800 people with a gun and a knife and returns to his wife in dutiful labor. A film where Merkel breaks strict security measures to accept a flower from a snotty little girl, whereupon she is shot to pieces. In short, cathartic cinematic idiocy in the vein of the best of the 90s, after which I'll look back fondly on Avengers 35 from my old age. (28.07.2016)

It was an improvement over Olympus in terms of quality. Most importantly, I got into the right vibe and managed to tune out most of the melodramatic, patriotic and determined speeches and acts, and enjoyed loads of frantic action during which the Americans totally devastated digital London and turned it into smithereens. I even enjoyed all the "amazing" escapes from tsunamis of fire which made me remember action movies from the eighties and early nineties. It was incredibly silly, but also a kind of guilty pleasure. (03.01.2020)

The plot is quite clear and given by the first film, but since there are a number of actors whom I personally like, led by Gerard Butler, who has slimmed down a bit, I still enjoyed this action movie, among other things thanks to the great action scene at the end when Mike saves the president. Simply a simple action fun with a touch of patriotism. (24.05.2016)

This simple action flick full of tough guy talk wouldn't entertain me, even if my favorite actor starred in the lead role, a league that Gerard Butler is damn far from. I don't quite understand Morgan Freeman's involvement in such a trashy film, as surely he can choose from far better offerings. (35%) (08.06.2021)