ironhorse_iv
With 4th of July celebrations, just around the corner, as of this writing. I thought, that this would be, the best time, to dig deep into, one of my favorite films, to watch on Independence Day; "National Treasure'. Directed by Jon Turteltaub & Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. This Disney movie tells the story of treasure hunter, Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) on his quest to find the hidden Templar treasure of American Freemason, whom he believe, hid cryptography clues on the back of the Declaration of Independence. To prove this conspiracy theory to be true, he must hatch a plan to steal the document, and pull off the heist of the century to find the treasure. Without spoiling the movie, too much, the film can be best described as 2006's 'The Da Vinci Code', 2001's 'Ocean 11" & 1981 "Raiders of the Lost Ark', all roll over into one. While, the treasure hunting plot is bit ridiculousness in the reasons, why Gates must steal the document first, in order to protect it, from being stolen. I do have to say, the treasure hunt is still entertaining. This movie truly surprised me in how smart & fun, the problem-solving is, even in how much artistic liberties, it takes with real-life history like locations and historic people. I did not expect it, to be so good, seeing how the last family friendly treasure hunting movie, 2004's TV movie, 'The Librarian: Quest for the Spear', I saw before this, had a dumb down 'call of adventure'. Perhaps the most exciting thing about this movie is the idea that family films can be sophisticated, and still be appropriate for a general audience. This movie is prove that smart, live action, adventure PG films, are still possible. Still, it is necessary to suspend your disbelief, when it comes to idea of the young nation having a secret Templar treasure. The idea of the Founding Fathers hoarding money is truly unrealistic implausible, even for fantasy sakes; seeing how in real-life, the main masonic lodge was in Britain, and the young nation of USA was bankrupted, during the American Revolution and stay poverty-stricken, even long after it, due to trade restricted and war debts. Nevertheless, nobody should take this movie as a legit American History lecture. After all, it is an action adventure. However, the movie does fail in, delivered the action, in the adventure part. While, the treasure hunting and heist parts is fine and dandy, the action involving on foot and high speed car chases through the streets of Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, falls to be memorable. I hardly remember, any of it. While, those parts, wouldn't be, a 'National Treasure', the good production value and star power does work for the film. Nicolas Cage as Ben Gates, has the right amount of craziness and believability to make, the audience take his character, somewhat serious. The film could had, quickly fallen apart, if he over acted, a little bit more. Thank God, he took this role, very seriously. Nice to see him, take some control. This is pretty rare. Also, the chemistry between his character and sidekick Riley Poole (Justin Batha) was somewhat believable, as well. While, some of the jokes between them, fall flat, I really don't mind, hearing each other, argue, how crazy, their ideas, are. Even, the vocal fights with Jon Voight's character, Patrick Gages was fine for the most part. I just wish, Voight didn't chew up all the scenery, as much. That's Cage's job. Cages parrying with Diane Kruger's sexy-intellectual portrayal of Dr. Abigail Chase was also pretty good. However, I doubt, they would be, lovely dovely, so quick, after only a few days, together. Nevertheless, surprisingly, it was the villains that didn't stand out for me. I totally forgot that actor, Sean Bean was in his film as Ian Howe. Maybe, because it's one of the rare films, in which, the character that Bean plays, doesn't die. Fortunately, the cat-and-mouse game between Nicolas Cage and Sean Bean was not even close in suspense, as I couldn't buy into Howe catching up to Gates. In the end, Gates was just in, a league of his own. Nevertheless, while, the movie lacks suspense. The pacing does work, quickly. Even if, the flow seem a little too structure. Despite that, I do have to say, the music that goes with the film, by composer, Trevor Rabin was rather good. It really gets you, into the sense of looking for buried treasure. Overall: National Treasure is an exciting, engrossing adventure flick that needs to be watch. One worthy of watching on Independence Day!
Anssi Vartiainen
I've heard tales about archaeology professors who insist on opening their first lectures with the following words: "Indiana Jones has nothing to do with real archaeology!" And I like to imagine that at that point about half of their pupils get up and leave, with their little hearts broken. But can you really blame them. Indiana Jones made archaeology and history cool, as well as romantic. We traipsed along the pages of history with good old Indy, learning a nugget of information here and there. Keeping that in mind, I wasn't at all surprised that this film became such a success. We've yearned for another Indiana Jones movie for decades, even more so after the disappointment that was the fourth film.And make no mistake, this is an Indiana Jones film at its heart. Sure, Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) is his own man, but there are a lot of similarities to a certain fedora-wearing globetrotter. Both men of history, highly-educated, with multiple distinctive talents under their belts. Both men of action, who have the wits to out-think all their opponents.But, the films are also dissimilar enough. This film takes place in the modern day and chooses to focus on American history. More specifically the Founding Fathers and the supposed Knights Templar treasure hidden by them to keep it from being abused and stolen. The film also focuses more on the mystery and puzzle solving than any of the Indy films. The treasure is hidden well and it takes a truly knowledgeable man to solve all the clues. And I really like that. I was hooked from the very first riddle.It's also surprisingly well-acted. This is very much my favourite Nicolas Cage film. He plays the character very straight, very serious, with almost none of his usual antics, and the man can really act when he wants to. The supporting actors aren't bad either, with special mention of course going to the esteemed Sean Bean, who manages not to die for once in a movie.This is a must see film for all fans of adventure and especially Indiana Jones. It's the spiritual successor of one of the greatest adventure trilogies ever made and I hope they keep making them.
byson5186
Whenever I see this movie, it takes me back to the time this movie came out in late 2004. I seriously can't believe that was 11-years ago. This movie still works to watch today, and won't seem so old. They already came up with a National Treasure 2 and it sounds like a National Treasure 3 is in the works. Nicholas Cage doesn't seem like that big or favored of an actor anymore, and this movie seems like one of the most popular and memorable films he was in.This movie might seem like a cool idea, as it's an action movie but it's an action movie in a different direction, dealing with history and the Founding Fathers. While watching it, we might ask ourselves if there really is a hidden National Treasure, and if there really are clues like depicted in the movie? The movie will make the treasure and clues come to life, even though there probably isn't anything like it in either the first or second movie, and it just is a plot for entertaining purposes. Though while this movie might be a fun one to watch, complaints I see from this movie are its predictability and improbability. Watching this movie, while a lot of movies don't seem like they'd happen in real life, but might still seem realistic, for some reason this movie doesn't seem realistic. The action in the movie which makes this movie an entertaining action movie seems like action we've already seen before which I noticed while watching this the first time. You might be able to predict the plot. The enemies in these movies also don't seem realistic. We can wonder if this movie really is an educational movie, or if it's mostly giving fictional story lines from the Founding Fathers and taking us to various interesting landmarks.Another complaint I'd have about the movie which you might have too, is the characters. I mean if there's a National Treasure movie, we'd want these same characters to be in it. But, I feel like we don't get to know the characters well outside of their interest in history and the Founding Fathers, alongside with their main objective finding the treasure. It also goes that way with the love interest with the couples in this movie. I mean the movie didn't really show chemistry between those two, only added it because they were characters in the plot.Some years later, Nicholas Cage would be in another movie with a plot somewhat similar, but not about the Finding Fathers called Knowing. His interest in that movie is determinism, and he also has we can say a piece of paper from that movie that also leads to cracking out codes with big meanings. I feel like Knowing seems like a more realistic film than National Treasure and has a deeper mood. I actually prefer Knowing over National Treasure.The technology and gadgets in this movie are also cool. It reminds me of the technology from my favorite movie an Independent Canadian Film called Junior High Spy. While Junior High Spy had bad acting, I feel like that movie seems more realistic, and it has a more sneaky mood. My favorite movie scene, is a scene from that movie which is a simple scene where Ricky Lazio wanders around the mansion property with that sneaky music playing. It just adds a real mood to it, which I feel like we don't see in National Treasure.The clues in this movie remind me of recent movies like Earth To Echo, and Paper Towns. Two movies I consider underrated. I feel like those movies seem more realistic.So, in all this movie is an entertainer and fun movie to watch. But, it probably won't seem so realistic, especially the chemistry between the couple. I give this movie an 7/10. Sorry for mostly talking about the cons, but they're things that just stand out to me.
