Save your money for something good and enjoyable

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

This genre of movie (apocalyptic, end of the world) are a dime a dozen. Most aren't worth the time invested. I have no idea who in the world Tom Getty is, but him and his family, who got 90% of the credits, hit a home run on a $6K budget. I can't imagine how they did it.Let me give you a hint. Prior to putting this movie in the DVD player, I was re-watching huge budget ID2 on HBO.Rising Fear / America Has Fallen kicked ID2's butt. Yeah, there were some lame parts to the film, but overall, it held together until the final frame. There are not a lot of movies that can claim such an accomplishment.Tom, if you're reading this: Hope you get a nice deal for your next film. You and your crew deserve it.

This film originally called "Rising Fear" was subsequently released under the title of "America Has Fallen." It is well worth the price of a rental or a streaming, due to the fast-paced action and suspense.The DVD version of the film includes a commentary track in which Tom Getty describes how his film was made on a shoestring budge of $6,000. (That figure is correct--not $6 million, but $6,000!) Getty also discusses how he wore different hats of writer, producer, director, actor, editor, visual effects designer, and musical composer. In short, the film was his baby.The film's concept sought to go beyond a simplistic "man-on-the-run" action film to make a statement about the nature of modern terrorism. Out of the chaos of the bombing of the Snyder Building in Pittsburgh comes the dictum that "fear is the one true God." In turn, Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous speech suggesting that "there is nothing to fear but fear itself" is invoked in the film.Much thought and creativity are apparent in the film, including the portrayal of narcissism, grandiosity, and megalomania, as opposed to religious belief, as the salient characteristic of the terrorist. The hero named Ryan, who is played by Getty, is not a superhero, but closer to an anti-hero. Early in the film, he is taken for a sucker by the character Amanda, who gives Ryan her phone number, which is instantly used by Ryan to ignite the bomb at the Snyder Building. The protagonist then gets deeper and deeper into the vortex of chaos as he attempt to clear his name.The technique of the film was far from perfect, as is acknowledged by the director in the commentary track. A number of the scenes were poorly edited, leading to confusing moments in the convoluted plot. Still, one has to admire the effort and inventiveness of the film artists, a number of whom were amateurs, in realizing a project that eventually found its way into Redbox machines. Kudos to Tom Getty and his crew!

Ryan Taylor (Tom Getty) former Marine special ops gets tricked into dialing a phone number that blows up a building in Pittsburgh because they give tax breaks for filming there. He is captured and the truth doesn't work so he escapes from the CIA? and is on a quest to save the President and Pittsburgh from an Al Qaeda Darth Vader looking bad guy from Chechnya who spouts corny recycled lines from a Uwe Boll film. This is all the while avoiding CG rockets launched from helicopters in downtown Pittsburgh. Cool, if you're 12.The film lacked character build up and the necessary love story in lieu of a slightly twisty plot that wasn't that good. Didn't really care if Ryan Taylor lived or died. There was nothing special about him.Guide: No swearing sex or nudity.

I want to start with "bravo". The movie wasn't that bad, the beginning absolutely grabs your attention after that, ehhh. The reason why, the acting, directing and graphics. It's obvious that the other reviews here are from people connected to this film. Come on, 10 out of 10? Die hard meets matrix? This movie is no where near those, it can't be without a bigger load of cash. That begin said, I have no doubt, with bigger money, better actors and perhaps directing it would've been a blockbuster - well, maybe. I have to mention that Tom seems a bit full of himself. I say that not because I have anything against him, it just shows when looking over it all. He should've focused on the directing rather than trying to be a leading man in the film. He is not a believable hot shot. The look, doesn't say ex marine. I know, let's not take the path all others have taken, a muscular tough guy, but they should've gone with some else more fitting. There has to be a believable 'look' to him. The other guy, the main fbi guy seems to be trying to pull off a Tom Cruise impersonation. It just really comes down to the acting - not good. The directing wasn't great but wasn't that awful. Just needs a little more work and thought. The graphics, again, eh. I can't say they were terrible. I would say 50/50, at times they looked decent, other times they looked absolutely horrible. Some of the lines in the movie make you say "what!?! Did they really say that? Are they kidding?". Overall it's a 3 or 4 star film(out of 10). The acting kills it. The unrealistic Lead hot shot, kills it. At times the graphics and directing kill it. It's a hell of an effort, especially considering the cash used to do it all. The story seems great and this could've been huge if done differently..(actors directing graphics and so on..).