London Has Fallen

London Has Fallen is an action thriller film directed by Babak Najafi and written by Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt, Christian Alva, and Chad St. John. The movie serves as a sequel to the 2013 film Olympus Has Fallen and brings back Gerard Butler as Mike Banning, the former Secret Service agent turned counter-terrorism specialist who is once again tasked with protecting a high-profile target. The narrative begins with President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) of the United States arriving in London to pay his respects to the recently deceased British Prime Minister. Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), along with his team, is tasked with providing security for the visiting dignitaries, which include members of the British government, leaders of NATO, and other world leaders. As the funeral service gets underway, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks targets the attendees, and it quickly becomes evident that the event is a carefully planned assault on the world's top leaders. The aftermath of the initial assault reveals that several high-ranking officials have been killed in the chaos, including the President of the United Kingdom, the British Home Secretary, and leaders from several countries. With the situation spiraling out of control, the President is severely injured in the attacks and left fighting for his life. In a desperate bid to protect his country and its interests, he orders Mike Banning to oversee the security operation and track down the masterminds behind the deadly assault. Mike, joined by his trusted friend and ally, Alan Huntoon (Ralph Ineson), embarks on a perilous mission to unravel the intricacies of the terrorist plot and identify the party responsible for the attacks. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they discover a deadly conspiracy that stretches across international borders and involves rogue military officials from a rival nation. Meanwhile, David Finn (Jim Sturgess), a former British Intelligence officer, is recruited by MI6 to assist the US Secret Service in tracking down the conspirators. David's expertise becomes crucial in unraveling the complex web of deceit and violence that has been spun by the bombers. The investigations lead them to a private military company operating in the shadows, hired to carry out the attacks by a mysterious adversary with impeccable connections to the highest echelons of international politics. As the world watches in horror, British townspeople and tourists turn on each other, with anti-terror riots erupting across the city. Amid this backdrop of chaos, Mike and his team must orchestrate a daring counterattack to flush out the assassins before they claim even more victims. They soon discover that the terrorists, who work under the direction of Vice President Travis Hunter, have a shocking design to disrupt global stability by wiping out the world's elite leaders in a final convulsive act of violence. As the stakes escalate, Mike teams up with a no-nonsense, straight-talking Irish intelligence operative, Sir Martin (Charlotte Lewis) alongside her counterpart Clive (David Bedella) leading to intense battle scenes across London, including an intense pursuit through the crowded streets of Piccadilly Circus, an expert infiltration of the Houses of Parliament, and a breathtaking gunfight in a tranquil hotel ballroom. This explosive action ride hurtles pace and veers wildly between ferocious set pieces and soulful moments, reminding viewers why Gerard Butler's portrayal of Mike Banning remains one of the most loved and valued franchises in recent memory. While not an exceptional addition to the world of covert operations novels and government procedural television series – for the sheer, unapologetic loudness and premeditated thrill-seeking action – London Has Fallen stands out due to its relentless stakes-driven pursuit and expert balancing blend action, adrenaline, shock, fear, and respect. With London in shambles, the war against terrorism closes in on a disturbing cul de sac, demonstrating for Mike that sometimes a high-stakes battle or assassination with fewer living left than dead necessitates profound moral evaluation of trust, loyalty, morality and government power prior to fighting our way over there.