Read Mixed User Reviews for White House Down

6

ScrawnyPunkJul 26, 2013

This is a REALLY fun movie basically, Olympus Has Fallen with a little humor and a larger budget. It is cheeky enough to avoid being tainted by the obvious cliches the movie is riddled with. Please, don't ruin your experience by thinkingThis is a REALLY fun movie basically, Olympus Has Fallen with a little humor and a larger budget. It is cheeky enough to avoid being tainted by the obvious cliches the movie is riddled with. Please, don't ruin your experience by thinking about anything it is meant to be enjoyed without critique. Things blow up. People get saved. A dude becomes a hero to his daughter. Accept and enjoy life...… Expand

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6

lasttimeisawJul 28, 2013

My once a week cinema-going experience, Emmerich’s latest tentpole is a doppelgänger of another White House terrorists-attack actioner (at least plot wise), Antoine Fuqua’s OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (2013), and its North American box officeMy once a week cinema-going experience, Emmerich’s latest tentpole is a doppelgänger of another White House terrorists-attack actioner (at least plot wise), Antoine Fuqua’s OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (2013), and its North American box office performance has tanked badly ($69,430,120 for WHD Vs. $98,925,640 for OHF so far), which is a rather unlooked-for denouement for the internecine combat, considering from all aspects, the timing and the budget (a summer blockbuster Vs. a spring release), directors’ cachet (Emmerich is a monolith name in the genre) and the cast (Tatum is the hottest leading man in the Hollywood right now and his drawing power has been solidly tested by different genres), it is an impossible battle to lose for WHD, nevertheless the reality has no clemency, but Chinese market could be its last haven, a sizable income is well expected.

Generally speaking the film is a safe bet, the retro-80s packed action, a state-of-the-art SFX, a corny but effective father-saving-daughter stock-in-trade, a topical black president with enjoyable banters, and a last-minute twist of revealing the culprit. Scale-wise, the film cannot beat Emmerich’s 2012 (2009, 6/10), THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (2004, 5/10) or INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996, 7/10), but it doesn’t prevent it from being a satisfactory pop-corn fest.

Tatum takes after a young John McClane image from DIE HARD franchise, an unbeatable stud defies all the bullets and weaponry, teamed with a righteous and suave president, with no military background, whose fighting-back is more amusing and anticipating than Tatum’s special agent’s combat skill. Child star Joey King is a new-rising starlet, a politics-enthusiastic and premature girl, an underage heroine is equally praiseworthy as her father. The schemes behind the rebels are half-witted, but Jason Clarke and James Woods are the attention-grabbers, typical villain-design, but introducing their own fiber of insanity in their executions. Maggie Gyllenhaal is engaging but hasn’t been warranted any showboating opportunity in a masculine-dominant bullets-bombarding thriller.

I cannot say I’m disappointed by the film and anyhow it is a middle-of-the-road output with wide appeal to the general taste of hoi polloi, one thumb up for its verisimilitude of the precise reproduction of the world-famous locale. As a misfire from Emmerich, one could blame audiences’ aesthetic fatigue of the same milieu but a revive of old-fashioned action hero fails to reconnect with the superhero-fed generation and it is something beyond Tatum and Emmerich’s capabilities.… Expand

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6

overeasyJul 7, 2013

In general, I'm no fan of mindless summer tripe, which this is but for that, it's not so bad. Of COURSE you have to suspend disbelief to an extreme degree, but we all know that going in. After all, the director who had Jeff Goldblum andIn general, I'm no fan of mindless summer tripe, which this is but for that, it's not so bad. Of COURSE you have to suspend disbelief to an extreme degree, but we all know that going in. After all, the director who had Jeff Goldblum and Randy Quaid "save the world" isn't exactly prone to Shakespearian plotting. You've seen EVERY plot device before, from the wounded child of a divorced family to the cop who has "something to prove."

But on as many levels as the movie fails, it also succeeds. The principals are actually given some time to, you know, talk to each other. For those you have lost track, that's called dialogue, and it used to be sort of important. No, this isn't Oscar Wilde, but it's moderately witty in points and Emmerich gives us enough slow scenes to make the action scenes more powerful.

The tipping point for me is when actioners take themselves too seriously. "White House Down," despite the material, does not. Buy popcorn. Settle in. Enjoy.… Expand

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6

shengJul 15, 2013

light version of OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN. also a better version.

if your not a "bloody thing" fanatic you'll love this movie more. it has a little bit of funny side too which makes it more interesting :D

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

GreatMartinJul 5, 2013

Car chase--check. Young hunky lead--check. Get his shirt off--check. High body count--check. 500 shots aimed at lead and not one hitting him--check. Movie about 10 minutes too long--check. Hero in a 10 minute fight getting bashed and recoversCar chase--check. Young hunky lead--check. Get his shirt off--check. High body count--check. 500 shots aimed at lead and not one hitting him--check. Movie about 10 minutes too long--check. Hero in a 10 minute fight getting bashed and recovers to over take villain without breathing hard--check. 10 men chasing hero and none catching him-- check. Planes exploding--check. Buildings getting blown up--check. Special effects-- check. Woman as a boss--check. A lot of violence--check. A few curse words--check. Countdown to the end of the world--check. Impossible, unbelievable situations happening--check. A thumping, heavy music background--check. What makes this movie different, better than the other 6 ‘action’ summer films? It has humor, an eleven year old girl and doesn’t take itself seriously..

Channing Tatum, as the hero John Cole, is ready and able, and probably has with just this one film, to take over for Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise and other movie heroes over 50. He has the body, the dancer moves and that impish charm which always helps to make you believe in him. In this movie he has the help of Jamie Foxx as the President of the United States and Joey King as John’s daughter Emily. At first she is annoying, like all 11 year old girls can be but as the film progresses she grows on you. It is always good seeing James Woods and Maggie Gyllenhaal never fails to give a star performance. Nicolas Wright as a White House tour guide is a standout in a role that makes a complete turn by the end of the movie.

The rest of the cast consists of reliable performers, that hold their own in each scene, such as Richard Jenkins, Lance Reddick, Jason Clark, Jimmi Simpson and Michael Murphey just to name a few.

The screenplays injects many humorous lines and lookout for the laugh out loud pocket watch scene. Director Roland Emmerich enjoys blowing up the White House, this is his second time, and lets the action carry the film while the cinematography by Anna Foerster will elicit, “How did they do that?” thoughts.

“White House Down” is a fun action film for a rainy and/or hot summer day and solidifies Channing Tatum role as a leading man. It should be doing a lot more business.… Expand

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5

csw12Jun 29, 2013

I didn't find it appealing to have a movie with such a serious concept to be taken so lightly. But on the other hand what movie by Roland Emmerich since Independence Day hasn't had its story been turned into a joke.

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6

ThegodfathersonJun 28, 2013

Roland Emmerich’s White House Down (not to be confused with Antoine Fuqua’s Olympus Has Fallen) follows John Cale (Channing Tatum), a US Capitol Police officer assigned with protecting the Speaker of the House (played by Richard Jenkins).Roland Emmerich’s White House Down (not to be confused with Antoine Fuqua’s Olympus Has Fallen) follows John Cale (Channing Tatum), a US Capitol Police officer assigned with protecting the Speaker of the House (played by Richard Jenkins). Cale’s estranged daughter, Emily (Joey King), is a political junkie and in an effort to win her favor, he applies for a position with the U.S. Secret Service and joins her for a tour of the White House. However, when a fringe terrorist group lays siege to the White House, Cale manages to free U.S. President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) from his captors unfortunately, Emily is taken hostage in the process. As the paramilitary intruders scour the White House in search of Sawyer, Cale becomes the only person who can both save Emily and escort the President to safety not to mention, stand between the hostile force and their goals of global devastation. As a director and producer, Emmerich is known for his extensive resume of blockbuster action movies, with enormous CGI spectacle and ensemble casts, including Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012, among others. As a result, many moviegoers will likely be expecting the same over-the-top approach and large-scale CGI destruction that has become a staple in his action movie offerings. However, even though White House Down includes memorable blockbuster moments, it’s much more straightforward and focused (though just as eccentric) sold primarily by the team of Tatum and Foxx, not explosive visuals. As a result, the film is much more akin to the one-man-army formula seen in favorites like Die Hard, as Foxx and Tatum divide their time between sneaking in the shadows and gun/fist fighting (with plenty of cathartic one-liners thrown into the mix). A couple of extravagant set-pieces punctuate the core hide-and-shoot formula to ratchet up the excitement and explosions to summer spectacle level, but anything in between is mostly flimsy filler designed to move the plot forward to the next action encounter. The result is an enjoyable action hero tour of the bullet-riddeled White House grounds albeit one that will require viewers to switch-off their brains on more than one occasion. Despite some tongue-in-cheek banter between Cale and Sawyer (as well as the main villains), the White House Down story takes itself pretty seriously at times making an effort to ground the proceedings in contemporary geo-politics. Attempts to center the movie around present-day issues help make twists and turns in the plot relevant, but Emmerich’s sometimes on-the-nose message results in predictable revelations and fallout that might be off-putting to certain viewers (especially anyone who disagrees with the director’s banal characterization of the political arena). Of course, White House Down is not designed to be a provocative drama about political maneuvering, it is (above all else) a silly summer action film. In service of that goal, the core story and characters are competent in their jobs even if Emmerich spends a bit too much time spinning a web of political corruption. Channing Tatum brings an entertaining mix of campy humor and unrelenting action chops, which should not come as a surprise to viewers who enjoyed seeing the actor flex his comedy wit and/or muscles in 21 Jump Street, Magic Mike, or Haywire, in addition to others. Cale isn’t the most nuanced character that Tatum has played, but he’s a serviceable (although ultimately forgettable) leading man one that audiences should have no problem following from firefight to fistfight for the majority of the film. Jamie Foxx is equally entertaining as President Sawyer, delivering fun twists to standard commander-in-chief tropes while serving as an especially amusing foil to Cale. Sawyer is behind a number of the White House Down‘s best moments and even though he’s accountable for a few eye-rolling setbacks, his personal quirks and bold stance in the face of uncertainty offset any derivative plot setups. Supporting players are also strong and include Jason Clarke, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Woods, and (as mentioned) Richard Jenkins, along with several other familiar faces (such as The Wire, Lost, and Fringe alum Lance Reddick). After a string of standout side roles (in Zero Dark Thirty and Lawless, to name a few), Clarke gets to enjoy a bit more screen time this round as mercenary leader, Emil Stenz a sharp counterpoint to Tatum’s John Cale in both cunning and physical strength. Emmerich has produced a competent (read: not essential) blockbuster thriller that is likely to satisfy filmgoers who were intrigued by the trailers and/or core premise and the pairing of Tatum and Foxx provides plenty of worthwhile character moments to carry the film through any predictable or underwhelming story beats. However, even with those good points, White House Down ultimately falls short of classic films in the genre (i.e., Die Hard).… Expand

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5

GatorZeroJul 1, 2013

This movie ripped off 24 in every way possible. Any season or episode of 24 is better and more worth your while than this. Yet this was an OK movie, not bad.

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6

dharmaJun 28, 2013

Fun but mindless action flick in the style of the '80's'. If you are a fan of Roland Emmerich, you won't be disappointed. There's enough destruction (this time on a smaller scale) and groan inducing quips to last this film's running length.Fun but mindless action flick in the style of the '80's'. If you are a fan of Roland Emmerich, you won't be disappointed. There's enough destruction (this time on a smaller scale) and groan inducing quips to last this film's running length. Sure, it's Die Hard on the White House...yes, you might have seen a similar film earlier this year. This one is bigger: have better actors chewing the scenery and has the trademark crazy action that Emmerich is famous for. Turn of your brain and enjoy.… Expand

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5

Nesbitt10Aug 17, 2013

To his credit, Roland Emmerich's "White House Down" knows just how completely ludicrous this storyline is, but fully embraces it, and has a lot fun riding it out to its utterly implausible end. Apparently, audiences are very hungry for actionTo his credit, Roland Emmerich's "White House Down" knows just how completely ludicrous this storyline is, but fully embraces it, and has a lot fun riding it out to its utterly implausible end. Apparently, audiences are very hungry for action concerning terrorist attempts to take over the White House. This storyline is remarkably similar to that of "Olympus Has Fallen," from three months ago, but there are some fundamental differences. "White House Down" employs plenty of humor, which allows the viewer to just enjoy the viewing experience. There are many casualties in "WHD", but there is hardly any bloodshed. In contrast "Olympus," decided to include graphic violence, making it a challenge to just have fun in nothing more than a brainless blockbuster.

John Cale (Channing Tatum) is an US Capitol police officer that has struggled to hold a steady job and being a good father to his daughter, Emily (Joey King). She is passionate about politics and with the current US president, James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Cale takes Emily to the White House when he applies for a spot on the President's Secret Service, but he is does not get job. Dejected, John and his daughter join a tour through the White House at the same time domestic terrorists take over both the Capitol and the White House. The terrorists gather the tour group as hostages, while simultaneously trapping the president inside the building. With the actual Secret Service incapacitated, it befalls upon John Cale to rescue the president from these villains trying to destroy the American way, and their motives are the usual, standard terrorist demands (money, revenge, etc).

Despite the dramatic and grave tone of the trailer, "White House Down" has about as much fun with the disastrous scenario as respectably possible. There are laughs mostly cheesy, throughout the entire film, never letting the viewer forget they are here to have a good time. However, its impossible to ignore its glaring faults. You have never seen a more unconvincing president depicted on-screen. While its amusing to show the President wearing Jordan's while shooting a rocket launcher out a car window, any shred of legitimacy left evaporates in name of some laughs. Channing Tatum is respectable as the hero figure, but stiffens up at times in some scenes that require some dramatic finesse.

When comparing the two films with similar plots, separated by only three months at the box office, "White House Down" is the better summer, blockbuster watch when compared to "Olympus has Fallen" simply because the latter was just that bad.… Expand

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6

RenadoevanJul 4, 2013

This movie has a lot of similarities with "olympus has fallen" the guy saves a kid who knows the white house really well and the president, the guy is not from the president secret service, someone from the secret service betrays theThis movie has a lot of similarities with "olympus has fallen" the guy saves a kid who knows the white house really well and the president, the guy is not from the president secret service, someone from the secret service betrays the president, the president is used to launch nuclear, etc. the movie is pretty much predictable but its not such a bad movie. Cool and realistic action.… Expand

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4

BrianMcCriticAug 20, 2013

There is a some fun to be had from White House Down, but the terrible script is to big of a problem to overcome. This film is just so dumb and as much as you want to say this is mindless action you just can't. The fun you might have keepsThere is a some fun to be had from White House Down, but the terrible script is to big of a problem to overcome. This film is just so dumb and as much as you want to say this is mindless action you just can't. The fun you might have keeps this from being awful though. C… Expand

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5

Movie1997Jun 28, 2013

For me, it's safe to say that Roland Emmerich has made his good movies and his bad movies. This one manages to fall in the middle. It's really just a mindless and dumbed down version of "Olympus Has Fallen". Most people will go watch thisFor me, it's safe to say that Roland Emmerich has made his good movies and his bad movies. This one manages to fall in the middle. It's really just a mindless and dumbed down version of "Olympus Has Fallen". Most people will go watch this movie for it's mindless, fun action and have a good time with it. But if you're looking for a movie that tells a story, then you've come to the wrong place. The relationship between Channing Tatum's character and Joey King (his daughter) just didn't work for me at all. And how he tries to prove himself worthy of this job is just uninteresting. Plus, Tatum and Foxx working together on-screen is just completely ridiculous. Let's face it, you're just going to want to see this movie for the action. That's really the only expectation in a Roland Emmerich movie. It's like watching a less extreme "in a sense" Michael Bay movie. It also has it's dumb "so-called "humorous" scenes", which make the story lack in so many ways. Overall, it's a ridiculous and mindless action thriller that serves no purpose.… Expand

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5

PStakhivJul 7, 2013

An Ok action movie with predictable plot. That's about it, Fox and Tatum acted alright but nothing outstanding, I even would argue thet James Woods did the best job in this movie. So really an average action!

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5

TokyochuchuSep 18, 2014

White House Down is a fun action movie. It wants to be Die Hard so bad, even referencing that movie several times through quotes or cinematic language. White House Down is nowhere near as good as Die Hard, of course, but it's still a fun,White House Down is a fun action movie. It wants to be Die Hard so bad, even referencing that movie several times through quotes or cinematic language. White House Down is nowhere near as good as Die Hard, of course, but it's still a fun, brain-numbing romp.… Expand