National Treasure
4/4
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG for Action Violence and Some Scary Images
I really admire Jerry Bruckheimer. He is one of the most successful producers in Hollywood history, and there's a reason why: he knows what he's doing. Bruckheimer knows exactly what the audience wants, and knows how to give it to them. He's also willing to take chances. While some of his projects of late have been franchises, he's always done something new, and hasn't had anything to do with a superhero movie so far. "National Treasure" is an example of his softer side; early on in his career, he made ultra-violent action movies like "The Rock" and "Con Air." Lately, however, he's been working for Disney, and has been behind the megasuccessful "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. Of all the films he's done in the past decade, "National Treasure" is the most fun.
Benjamin Gates (Cage) is a history buff. Well, that's putting it lightly. In fact, he's more like a fanatic. Ever since his grandfather told him the story, he's been following his family's legacy: searching for the treasure of the Founding Fathers. It's a treasure that has been accumulating for thousands of years, but has been lost since the Revolutionary War. The only clue he has to go on is the one his ancestor got from one of the Founding Fathers: "The Secret Lies With Charlotte." Now with the help of his sidekick, Riley Poole (Bartha) and a gorgeous historian, Abigail Chase (Kruger), he's racing to find the treasure before his ex-partner, a nasty man named Ian (Bean) gets there first.\
Lately, Nicolas Cage has been getting a lot of flak. I'm not sure why. I've always liked him as an actor. He was terrific in "The Rock," and he seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself as the history nerd here. He's almost too smart for his own good, going off on historical tangents when he's trying to communicate with someone. Diane Kruger is also not given her due as an actress; she's much more than a pretty face. Abigail is at first in disbelief at Ben's obsession (the Gates family has long been ostracized as kooks within the historical community), but the more clues appear, the more she begins the believe that the treasure is real. Justin Bartha provides some effective comic relief as the sarcastic worrywart and Sean Bean provides a good villain (something which he is exceptionally skilled...anyone remember "GoldenEye?"). Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel and Christopher Plummer in a cameo all provide effective support.
Jon Turteltaub is known mainly for his family-friendly fare (although he did direct the R-rated "Instinct" with Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding, Jr), and "National Treasure" fits into the genre like a glove. There's nothing here that's inappropriate for young children. The scariest thing that happens in this movie is that a man falls to his death due to stairs that give way. There was more violence in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
That's not to say that there isn't any excitement in this movie. Far from it in fact. This movie gets the adrenaline going almost from the get-go. It's essentially one long chase movie, but it's filled with fascinating historical trivia, cool science, great humor and lots of genuine adventure.
This movie wasn't popular with critics. Their loss. I love this movie, and I always have fun watching it. Ignore the sequel, though. It's really a carbon copy of this one, and the magic doesn't strike twice.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG for Action Violence and Some Scary Images
I really admire Jerry Bruckheimer. He is one of the most successful producers in Hollywood history, and there's a reason why: he knows what he's doing. Bruckheimer knows exactly what the audience wants, and knows how to give it to them. He's also willing to take chances. While some of his projects of late have been franchises, he's always done something new, and hasn't had anything to do with a superhero movie so far. "National Treasure" is an example of his softer side; early on in his career, he made ultra-violent action movies like "The Rock" and "Con Air." Lately, however, he's been working for Disney, and has been behind the megasuccessful "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. Of all the films he's done in the past decade, "National Treasure" is the most fun.
Benjamin Gates (Cage) is a history buff. Well, that's putting it lightly. In fact, he's more like a fanatic. Ever since his grandfather told him the story, he's been following his family's legacy: searching for the treasure of the Founding Fathers. It's a treasure that has been accumulating for thousands of years, but has been lost since the Revolutionary War. The only clue he has to go on is the one his ancestor got from one of the Founding Fathers: "The Secret Lies With Charlotte." Now with the help of his sidekick, Riley Poole (Bartha) and a gorgeous historian, Abigail Chase (Kruger), he's racing to find the treasure before his ex-partner, a nasty man named Ian (Bean) gets there first.\
Lately, Nicolas Cage has been getting a lot of flak. I'm not sure why. I've always liked him as an actor. He was terrific in "The Rock," and he seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself as the history nerd here. He's almost too smart for his own good, going off on historical tangents when he's trying to communicate with someone. Diane Kruger is also not given her due as an actress; she's much more than a pretty face. Abigail is at first in disbelief at Ben's obsession (the Gates family has long been ostracized as kooks within the historical community), but the more clues appear, the more she begins the believe that the treasure is real. Justin Bartha provides some effective comic relief as the sarcastic worrywart and Sean Bean provides a good villain (something which he is exceptionally skilled...anyone remember "GoldenEye?"). Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel and Christopher Plummer in a cameo all provide effective support.
Jon Turteltaub is known mainly for his family-friendly fare (although he did direct the R-rated "Instinct" with Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding, Jr), and "National Treasure" fits into the genre like a glove. There's nothing here that's inappropriate for young children. The scariest thing that happens in this movie is that a man falls to his death due to stairs that give way. There was more violence in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
That's not to say that there isn't any excitement in this movie. Far from it in fact. This movie gets the adrenaline going almost from the get-go. It's essentially one long chase movie, but it's filled with fascinating historical trivia, cool science, great humor and lots of genuine adventure.
This movie wasn't popular with critics. Their loss. I love this movie, and I always have fun watching it. Ignore the sequel, though. It's really a carbon copy of this one, and the magic doesn't strike twice.
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