Movie Review: National Treasure

National Treasure

As someone obviously interested in both American history and movies, you didn't risk much if you bet I'd see National Treasure on opening weekend. I've been looking forward to seeing this movie since I saw the first trailer for it months ago, and I'm pleased to say that National Treasure doesn't disappoint.

The treasure referenced in the title is many hundreds of years old. In fact, the stories of its existence are from such a distant past that most people believe it to be legend. One exception, however, is Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage). Ever since his grandfather (Christopher Plummer) told him the story of how his ancestor first learned of the treasure gathered and guarded by the Knights Templar, Ben has been all but obsessed with the notion of finding it. He gets no support from his father (Jon Voight) who tells him to stop wasting his life, but the wealthy Ian Howe (Sean Bean) believes him sufficiently to fund an expedition to the Arctic to track down a possible clue as to where the treasure is buried.

Ben and his erstwhile friend cum assistant Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) use their knowledge and a good deal of luck to successfully reach their frigid goal. But in the midst of it all, the two are betrayed even as they learn that the key to the mystery is held by the original Declaration of Independence. Now they're not only determined to find the treasure before Howe can get to it, but they realize they have to protect the precious Declaration from Howe as well. Unfortunately, as they try to warn the authorities of tehe pending danger, their story is a little unbelievable to say the least. As a last resort, they attempt to explain the situation to Dr. Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) who is a curator at the National Archives, but she doesn't believe them, either.

Because Ben and Riley are both certain the Declaration is in danger even as theey're positive they're on the right track to finding the treasure, they don't let anybody else's doubts or warnings stop them. Meanwhile, Howe isn't inclined to let anything get in his way, either, and he and his men will do anything—even murder—to get the treasure for themselves.

Despite being farfetched, the story told in National Treasure is plausible in large part because it's so deftly interwoven into real historic events involving real people. The movie takes us from place to place not only in time, but to recognizable historic landmarks we know today which further adds to the realism. Sure, there's a real Indiana Jones feel to the film. But that serves to make the movie a lot of fun, not take away from its ability to make you suspend your own doubt. The script is sometimes trite and predictable, but often funny and always entertaining. Nicolas Cage—a leading man who also happens to be a brilliant character acter—looks like he's having a lot of fun behind the persona of Benjamin Gates, and his belief and awe are catching. Just ask Diane Kruger as her character is unwillingly drawn into Gates' capers! Christopher Plummer, Jon Voight, and Harvey Keitel (who plays an FBI agent) offer added acting cachet to the movie (though it's frankly good enough that their performances are icing on a very solid cake).

Action movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer is the force behind National Treasure, but a good deal of credit must be given to a clever and engrossing script, wonderful sets both authentic and recreated, and rock solid acting. You'll never have such a good time being given a bit of an education as you will when you see National Treasure. In fact, even if the movie repeats things you already know (you'll have to be quite knowledgeable for that to be the case; the script abounds with amusing bits of trivia), you'll still have a good time.

POLITICAL NOTES: One scene in particular made me smile even as it brought tears to my eyes. Benjamin Gates, while attending a soireé at the National Archives, proposes a toast. "To high treason," he says, much to the shock and dismay of those around him. But he then points out that the very men who signed the Declaration of Indpendence were guilty of that crime merely by doing so, and that if the Revolutionary War had turned out differently, those men's lives would have been forfeit as a result. It's a moment I'd hope would cause other moviegoers to pause as well.

FAMILY SUITABILITY: National Treasure is rated PG-13 for "action violence and some scary images." As far as your own kids are concerned, since the comparisons are impossible to avoid anyway, go ahead and compare this movie to the Indiana Jones trilogy. If your kids are old enough to enjoy those movies without being afraid or confused, they're old enough to get a kick out of National Treasure. As for you, well, there are many worse ways to spend your time than to take a couple of hours for yourself to enjoy National Treasure.