Rent Angel Has Fallen (2019)

Clichéd and Mind Numbing - Angel Has Fallen review by GI

A thoroughly clichéd, predictable and ultimately a tiring third film featuring Secret Service (super) agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler). This time he's framed for an assassination attempt on the President (Morgan Freeman, who has gradually risen up the ranks through the three films), escapes custody and is then chased around by the bad guys and the FBI until deciding to get his estranged Dad (Nick Nolte) to help him and eventually giving himself up! Cue lots of shooting, explosions and the odd building being demolished, sadly just a hospital in this one, a tad disappointing after half of London was destroyed in the last film. It's all complete nonsense of course and Butler continues his beefy action man stuff that he does in nearly everything nowadays. There's a good support cast including Danny Huston and Tim Blake Nelson but along with Freeman and Nolte they probably did it for the money. Indeed the most disappointing thing is that Nolte is underused and he's the best thing in the film. Hopefully that's the lot and we'll not have to have another.

A very interesting and competently made thriller, albeit one which still has its problems - Angel Has Fallen review by TB

The Has Fallen franchise is one which, like many other actions staples, wears proudly on its sleeve exactly what it is. There will be action, laughs and big set pieces; logic will often be suspended but if you go with it, then you can have a silly 2 hours of fun. And one of the biggest strengths of this franchise is Gerard Butler. Whilst much has been written about his often-similar performances, which basically started with 300 and has then morphed slightly into whichever film he is doing, he is also at times a very skilled and capable actor. His finest performance for me will always be Tullus Aufidius in Coriolanus, where he comfortably stood toe-to-toe with Ralph Fiennes and was totally believable, at times carrying the film.

I mention Coriolanus because one thing which sets Angel has Fallen apart from many other action films like it is the focus in the first chunk of the movie on the PTSD suffered by Mike Banning. And this is something which I feel was a real missed opportunity by the film-makers to not elaborate more on. It is a very welcome thing that more and more, mental health issues are brought up and shown in these types of films and it is also stated clearly and emphatically that this is not a sign of weakness. I remember being very moved by the suffering shown by Rambo in Rambo: Last Blood, and that in many ways was better at conveying it than Angel has Fallen, but that the limited amount that is shown was moving and I wished that it had been fleshed out more. And I have no doubt that Butler would be up to this task.

When the proverbial does hit the fan, Angel has Fallen then comfortably falls into the familiar pattern of the previous movies, albeit this time the focus is on Mike Banning proving his innocence whilst being hunted. The set pieces are on the whole, good, but the standout sequence is Banning seeking out his father, played by Nick Nolte. There is not only comic relief, but also another broaching of the massive damage done by PTSD and war, albeit in a reduced capacity.

The final action sequence is again everything you’d expect, but the final discussion between Banning/Butler and President/Morgan Freeman is something which leaves the movie on a real high, in that the difficulties shown earlier and the subsequent concerns of how Banning thought he would be treated were shown to be totally unfounded. To have this explicitly said in a blockbuster film shows the progress that is being made and extremely welcome.

There is another sequel being made, with the same team (actors and director) coming back, so hopefully this trend can continue.

angel has fallen - to dire levels. - Angel Has Fallen review by CP Customer

Hi everyone

This film is total rubbish. An old overweight CIA agent could would not be able to survive the fights and trauma this character does - and the role is played straight! The action is well done, but american pie, especially the spaghetti western ending, predictable and trash.

Just about every scene is predicatable, the truck chase. pointless and just used for affect. Dont waste your time and money on this. sayonara

Strongest in the franchise - Angel Has Fallen review by PC

It's hard to believe that are there are three films in this franchise, the first one was clearly inferior to White House Down and the second was borderline racist. However, this has more humour and really benefits from Nick Nolte as Gerard Butler's Father. It is still very violent but even these are more effectively executed.

Franchise re-run - Angel Has Fallen review by CP Customer

A rather lazy and complacent repetition of the earlier films in this franchise. Gerard Butler and an aging Morgan Freeman did their stuff and some of the action scenes were well up to standard. The storyline, however, was tired and stale, no twists or surprises, no fresh ideas and away from the action nothing to engage the viewer.

Just milking the franchise for more blatant American Egotism! - Angel Has Fallen review by CS

The issue I have with films like this, is the blatant American Egotism, the false belief that they are 'The Greatest Nation on Earth' and 'Leaders  of the Free World' (sick)! So of course when a terrorist group want to strike at the Heart of Democracy, where else to go, but America of course and who to target but the American President, who in reality is just one of many world leaders! In this case it's simply more of the same, with this time for some strange reason, Morgan Freeman playing the part of the President, when previously it was Aaron Eckhart. What is closer to reality however, is the idea that certain Business interests are manipulating Military Contracts for their own gain and that people can actually cause war for profit, which of course we already know they do! The storyline is not new or original, it's been covered so many times before and so much better as well. This is an ok action movie, which is a bit slow in parts and very slow to take off, but builds towards the end. But it reminded me of so many other much better movies. This is really just another film in the series and personally I have always found the Idea that Americans liken The Whitehouse to Mount Olympus, mythical Home of The Gods, quite arrogant and farcical, but hey that's America for you!

Fun time-passer - Angel Has Fallen review by Alphaville

This third entry in the Fallen series is less spectacular than the first two because this time Gerard is on the run rather than fighting destruction and chaos. Apparently everyone involved wanted something different. Mistake. This lacks the dynamic of the first two films. Even worse is a different director (Ric Roman Waugh) who uses a hand-held camera to film too close-in on the action, which is then over-edited into a visual mess.

Things do improve as the film progresses, with some surprises along the way (as long as you avoid the trailer and tell-all reviews). And there is some satisfying action towards the end, if not on the scale of the first two superior films. It’s nearly all ruined again by a puerile end-credits coda, but for the most part Gerard holds the film together and it makes an enjoyable watch.