Die Hard loses its bragging rights to Olympus Has Fallen. Gerard Butler replaces Bruce Willis on the throne of movie star heroes. When the latter offers a glib one-liner, we laugh. By contrast, we hang on every word Butler has to say. One immediately feels that he's a force to be reckoned with. There's also a nice little character arc for him which ties the whole narrative together. The action thriller genre has never been known to reflect current world affairs and the tensions emanating from North Korea of late seep into the very fabric of a film like this.

The premise offers an edge-of-your-seat payoff with no lag time. Koreans take over the White House, causing mass slaughter. Former Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Butler) shoots his way into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, fully intent on saving the president and his staff, who are being held in a bunker 120 feet below ground level.

A genuine surprise emerges with composer Trevor Morris. Known for TV shows such as The Tudors, he adds another string to his bow, orchestrating big action themes with an emotional edge. The screenplay by Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt brings out the best in this musician.

Director Antoine Fuqua, who made Training Day, reinvents the blockbuster spectacle by elevating the stakes to gargantuan levels. His film doesn't restrict itself to villains wanting money. Global politics surrounding the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) become a center-piece here. Banning has to free the hostages, yet maintaining the stability of America makes his job more vital. Quite simply, we care about the hero and want him to succeed.

As entertainment or escapism, the film represents tightly coiled suspense. Acting heavyweights such as Morgan Freeman and Melissa Leo pay their dues. In particular, the latter has an intense, standout scene. As the president, Aaron Eckhart gives a splendid turn too. He's equal parts vulnerability and toughness.

Butler surpasses the showiness of his role in 300 with a calibre of performance that peaks often with understated brilliance. Adding to the film's high quality, Olympus Has Fallen features wonderfully consistent editing, brought to life by John Refoua (Avatar).

(Released by FilmDistrict and rated "R" by MPAA.)