White House Down
2013
***½
Director: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins, James Woods, Joey King, Nicolas Wright, Michael Murphy
After terrorists take over the White House, the only thing standing between them and President Sawyer is John Cale, U.S. Capitol Police Officer who is touring the building with his 11-year-old daughter. 17 years after Independence Day, Roland Emmerich returns to destroy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, this time brick by brick through gun fights and explosions. This action film is nothing but an unauthorised remake of the first Die Hard, but it keeps the tongue firmly in the cheek and wears its influences proudly on its sleeve. James Vanderbilt's script, which builds the plot from a hostage crisis situation to a potential World War 3 horror scenario, is absolutely ridiculous at every turn, but the movie is good dumb fun for two hours.
