When “300” came out in 2007, Gerald Butler quickly burst onto the scene as a potential superstar, at least when it comes to over-the- top action movies. But ever since his reign as King Leonidas, Butler has not been able to regain his action hero pedestal due to failed films such as “Gamer,” “Law Abiding Citizen” and “The Bounty Hunter.” But 2013 maybe a new start, because “Olympus Has Fallen” brings back some of the magic of what solid action movies can deliver.

The context of the story parallels the global news of today; North Korea is posing a threat and somehow they must be stopped. In effort to do so, the President of the United States, played by Aaron Eckhart, plays host to a diplomat hoping to kindle some sort of peace. Let’s just say it does not go as planned. The White House, codename “Olympus,” is taken by a North Korean terrorist, and the President and his Cabinet are taken hostage.

Butler plays a character by the name of Mike Banning, a former secret service agent. After seeing the attack on the Capital from his desk job view, he quickly rushes to where all the action is. By way of the White House green he makes his way into the now bullet riddled, blood stained American landmark.

Understandably this all sounds incredibly impossible and unbelievable, but it doesn’t matter. Director Antoine Fuqua is able to make this “shoot ‘em up” style work despite the fact that it embodies every action movie cliché ever established.

Taking hints from other successful terrorist hostage movies, like the 1988 version of “Die Hard,” always helps. Fuqua and his writers, Creighton Rothenburger and Katrin Benedikt, make Banning look like a poor man’s John McClane. Throughout the film Butler delivers some solid one-liners and sassy backtalk, while of course taking down the enemy is gruesome fashion.

There are some obvious negative aspects of “Olympus Has Fallen;” uneven character development and some poor CGI being the most noticeable. But to anyone who enjoys a good action flick, there are enough fantastic small aspects that cover up most of the mistakes. For one, Morgan Freeman plays Speaker Allan Trumbull, the acting president during the movie.

Will “Olympus Has Fallen” win any awards? No. Will it be immensely popular or easily remembered in a year? No. But will it allow you to escape for a couple hours and enjoy life? Yes. “Olympus Has Fallen” is an above average action movie; if you enjoy witty banter, excess amounts of action and even some unexpected plot twists, then you will enjoy this.