Two movies to blow up the White House

A scene from the movie where the White House is attacked by forces who turn out to be North Koreans. Secret service agents die courageously trying to protect the White House. / Courtesy of Cinus Entertainment

Watch out, they look practically identical

Gerard Butler as secret service agent Mike Banning in “Olympus Has Fallen”

By Yun Suh-young

Hollywood has yet to find a way to eliminate redundancy from its lucrative summer season. There will always be movies, particularly among big-budget blockbusters, that share what are essentially identical themes, settings, sequences and even posters. And why does it seem that these movies are always released closely to one another?

Maybe it’s 1998’s fault. That was the year when “Deep Impact’’ was pitted against “Armageddon’’ and “Antz’’ stared down ``A Bug’s Life,’’ elevating the bar of overabundance to numbing heights and stretching the limits of moviegoer acceptability. Another blatant overlap came in 2006 when ``The Illusionist’’ opened two months prior to ``The Prestige.’’

This summer movie season offers yet another pair of movies screaming “here’s looking at you.”

``Olympus has Fallen’’ and ``White House Down’’ are blockbuster action flicks that feature their American presidents under-siege and the White House blown up in spectacular style that makes the ``Independence Day’’ scene feel meek and lazy. And these two films are being released in the same month in Korea _ ``Olympus’’ on June 5 and ``White House’’ on June 27.

These two movies are similar to the point of confusion: ``Olympus Has Fallen’’ is supposed to be a code conveying the message that ``White House is down.’’ So to prevent moviegoers from buying the wrong tickets, for what’s that worth, here is the tale of tape between the two films.

John Cale (Channing Tatum), the only man left to save the president, shelters behind a chair while trying to avoid shrapnel from anonymous terrorists explosives, that destroyed the White House. / Courtesy of Sony Pictures Walt Disney Studios Korea

Similarities

Channing Tatum as secret service applicant John Cale in “White House Down”

1. Plot

Style-wise, directors Antoine Fuqua and Roland Emmerich couldn’t be more different, so it’s ironic that they ended up making a pair of movies that are so similar.

Both movies are about the White House coming under siege by terrorists who convert the building into a giant firecracker, leaving the good guys scrambling to keep their commander-in-chief alive and rescue him.

The U.S. Presidents in both films are held captive in their own homes, with their presidential residence in ruins. And both have only one secret service agent to rely on.

Of course, the directors throw in the “family’’ angle. In one movie, the president’s son gets in a life-threatening situation, and in the other one it’s the agent’s daughter. So we finally have a clear line of distinction.

2. Cast

Both movies have cast black actors handling the role of president. Obviously, Barack Obama is doing a much better job than them in keeping the White House together.

In ``Olympus,’’ Morgan Freeman, originally a “speaker of the house,’’ steps in as the acting president after the real one, Aaron Eckhart (yes, he’s white), is held captive. In ``White House,’’ Jamie Foxx runs the show from the beginning.

The heroic secret service agents in both films are basically interchangeable. They are both former failures who get their shot at redemption.

Gerard Butler in “Olympus” is the lead secret service agent who had been demoted for failing to rescue the First Lady, now on a one-man mission to save the president. Channing Tatum in ``White House’’ is a secret service applicant who fails the test but gets to prove himself during the crisis.

3. Social relevance

Both movies make an attempt at linking their plots with real-world conditions.

“Olympus” reflects the current escalating tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world.

The cast in “White House” pretty much resembles the current occupants of the White House.

Differences

1. Enemy

In “Olympus,” the enemy is North Korean terrorists whereas in ``White House,’’ the danger comes from anonymous terrorists within the country.

Emmerich of “White House” denied the resemblance of the two films during a press conference in Seoul last month, saying his movie centers around a White House takeover by U.S. terrorists while Olympus deals with foreign radicals.

2. Ambience

The overall atmosphere of “Olympus” is heavier than its rival. It’s older, classier, and a bit more sophisticated than “White House,” which has a lighter ambience and more full of action ― more shooting, bombing, and crumbling in the latter reflecting the director’s style.

Emmerich has built a career out of blowing up landmarks in his previous works such as “Independence Day,” “Godzilla,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and “2012.” “White House” is basically a faster, hipper, younger version of Antoine Fuqua’s “Olympus” which has more drama and suspense.

Will “Olympus” have the upper hand just for being released early? Will “White House” be less advantageous for coming second in line? It will be the audience’s take.

Olympus Has Fallen

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman

Running time: 120 minutes

Release date: June 5

Film rating: 19 and over

White House Down

Directed by Roland Emmerich

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Running time: 137 minutes

Release date: June 27

Film rating: undecided