Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates looks to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by uncovering the mystery within the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth's diary.
2010 is looking to become the renaissance year of Nicolas Cage, with strong noteworthy performances in both Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant and Matthew Vaughan's Kickass. But for the majority of Nicolas Cage's career he has been very hit or miss. Pardon the sweeping nature of that last statement, but it is indeed true. Everybody will have their own Nicolas Cage hits and misses chart mapped out in their own minds. Face-Off for me is a hit, where as Knowing is a miss. For other people that may be the other way around, or they may both be misses or hits to another. Unfortunately the Nicolas Cage Good Movie Formulation has yet to be discovered, but what I can add is that National Treasure is a hit in my chart.
Nicolas Cage stars as Benjamin Franklin Gates a treasure hunter that has continued on the family lineage so to speak. I want to say a 21st century Indiana Jones, but that comparison to me is a little weak, but as it's a bank holiday I will let it slide. Accompanying Benjamin on his quest to find the treasure left by the Founding Fathers of the United States is Dr. Abigail Chase and Riley Poole. Dr. Abigail Chase is a breath taking beauty with a fantastic mind played nicely by Diane Kruger. Diane Kruger's finest hour for me still lies in her role of Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds but she does a fine job her in National Treasure. And that almost sums up National Treasure as a whole. It's an enjoyable movie that a whole family can sit down and watch. It is nothing outstanding and probably won't end up in the greatest films of all time lists but that doesn't bother me. The plot is interesting although it does air a little on the ridiculous and the ludicrous side. The main point however is that the film doesn't claim to be something that it is not. If it was billed as a pinpoint historically accurate tale that was based on a true story and filled with set pieces that were possible in the real world then I would have a problem. I must admit though that I have a slight penchant for an adventure story filled with puzzles and riddles, and National Treasure has plenty.
The set pieces are grand and gripping, and the acting all round is great with performances from Jon Voight and Sean Bean also popping up. There is not much left for me to say than give National Treasure a go. Both the first and second National Treasure can be picked up relatively cheaply. And if you do enough rummaging around in the TV listings you can probably find it filling up some timeslot somewhere in the programme schedule. I don't think you can pick anything cheaper up at a museum gift ship these days. And I am positive that National Treasure is a lot more enjoyable than a novelty pencil sharper shaped like a pink elephant.
This is good family fun movie, National Treasure is a kind of new generation nerdy Indiana Jones. Although entertaining this is to be watched as entertainment only.
They are a predictable trio of characters, chased by a more predictable money grabbing bad guy, where they have to chase historical clues to find the hidden treasure. Nicholas Cage solves all the clues in two seconds with his advanced historical knowledge of everything, although there are numerous historical inaccuracies throughout the movie. This movie is nothing surprising but an enjoyable night in.
If Indiana Jones and Lara Croft got together and had a child, then Benjamin Gates (played by Nicholas Cage) would be their son. If you love action, adventure and escapism with a touch reality, then this is a must see film. The story starts with young Ben Gates being mesmerised by his grandfathers stories of treasure and the old days of trying to locate the same for the good of all man. However, due to the complexity of the clues in locating the wonderous pot, Gates' family were ridiculed thru the generations. Much to his fathers protests, it is now Benjamin's turn to take up the quest and put the family name back to it's rightful place.
With an excellent storyline, superb acting and outstanding musical score, this is a film that will capture the hearts and minds of both young and old.
An action packed mystery adventure, good viewing from start to finish. This is an easy going film that is really enjoyable, although sometimes a bit far fetched never the less it was definitley worth the watch, a bit of a grown up style goonies! Nicholas Cage plays Benjamin Franklin Gates, a treasure seeker, the search for an old treasure chest has been a long one, his father had given up the search a long time ago, as every clue they found led them to yet another clue, and another... it was given up as a bad job ... but when Benjamin hears of a plot to find and steal the treasure, instigated by Sean Bean, the race is on to find the treasure first - let the treasure hunt begin!! Recommended viewing.
We will publish your review of National Treasure on DVD within a few days as long as it meets our guidelines.
None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. A family promise to locate and protect an ancient treasure hidden 200 years ago sends Ben Franklin Gates (Cage) on an incredible action-packed adventure, but first he must steal the map hidden on the back of the of most protected document in U.S. history, the Declaration of Independence! Alternative ending Deleted scenes 'National Treasure On Location' featurette Opening scene animatic 'Treasure Hunters Uncovered' featurette 'The Knights Templar' featurette 'Riley's Decode This' featurette Easter Egg (hidden feature) Actors Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Mark Pellegrino, Christopher Plummer & Justin Bartha Director John Turtletaub Certificate PG Year 2004 Screen Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic Languages English - Dolby Digital (5.1) Subtitles English ; Dutch Duration 2 hours 11 minutes (approx)
Directed by Jon Turteltaub and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, this rollercoaster action adventure stars Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates, an archaeologist from the seventh generation of a family of treasure-seekers who have all shared the same quest: to discover the whereabouts of an old war chest full of gold hidden by the founding fathers in the last days of the Revolutionary War. Ben must work against the clock to unravel the clues embedded in the original drafts of two key historical documents - the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence - before his criminal ex-partner Ian Howe (Sean Bean), or the FBI - led by Agent Sadusky (Harvey Keitel) - get their mitts on the loot. Helping him in his quest is beautiful archivist Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger).
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy
