National Treasure (Full Screen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Fun Ride, But Not Very Believable
Review: Bring along a healthy dose of disbelief suspension and you'll enjoy this action/adventure story in a vein similar to that of the Indiana Jones movies. Don't expect much deviation from the standard formula: the hero, an underappreciated archaeologist, is convinced that he's the only man alive who can unravel a particularly challenging mystery. Just as things start to go his way, the bad guys realize he's their ticket to wealth and chase him for the rest of the movie. In the end everyone gets what they deserve.

If you're looking to be entertained by a fun romp with lots of action and interesting clues, National Treasure is worth your time. If you expect some deeper meaning to be revealed or for a film to have an impact on your life, keep looking.

Rating:
Summary: Fast paced Action thrill ride
Review: I had fun at this movie. It was interesting seeing Nicholas Cage the latest from a family with whom the secret of a long secured treasure was given. It was a treasure owned by the founding fathers whom all were freemasons.

Cage is first seen as a young boy who is filled with the fancy of the family legend. You then flash forward as he finally finds a major clue. The story, from this point on simply takes off and you are on a thrilling adventure ride through history and the present.

What is fun about the movie is not just the action. You see the Declaration of Independence and find out about other writings of people like Benjamin Franklin. You also get some behind the scenes views of some of the United States actual national treasures, including the liberty bell.

This movie will take you to New York, Washington DC, Boston and Philadelphia. Most fascinating is the little history lessons that are placed in, of course, a mythical context of the treasure. For those who have never seen places like Trinity Church in NY, you will get to see some of it close up.

The most fascinating parts of course are for those who have not seen the movie and I will not spoil it for you. You do feel that the movie moves quite quickly after they find the first clue. Hold on to your seat and enjoy the ride.

Rating:
Summary: A good story, but not very memorable
Review: I have to admit that I did not know what to expect from the film, but as it turns out it is a very pleasant and entertaining movie.
National Treasure, brings to the screen the rather unlikely scenario that the Declaration of Independence has invisible writing on the back leading to a long forgotten hidden Masonic treasure somewhere in NYC.
Overall, the acting is very good (Nicholas Cage does a good job), the special effects are excellent, and the plot is definitely original.
In short, though not a masterpiece, it is a movie worth watching!


Rating:
Summary: Way Better Than it Should Be!
Review: I saw this film the first day it came out and I left the theater glad that I didn't listen to the harsh reviews by most critics. There is almost no realism at all in this film, but it sure entertains for the entire two hour running time. It should have been trimmed down a bit, because 2+ hours for this kind of film is a bit excessive, but I will still be buying this one when it hits DVD in May.

Rating:
Summary: A surprisingly good movie....
Review: I'm not conspiracy theorist, but some of the stuff that was portrayed in National Treasure, is based on commonly known (to conspiracy theorists at least) facts. The Masons did exist, and they were a rather secretive society; it's not odd to find that many of our most famous presidents were part of the Masons.

Anyhow, onto the film itself. I personally don't really like or dislike Cage. I find hims suitable for films where his directness is useful. National Treasure is such a movie.

Without giving too much of the plot away, the film starts by him finding the "Charlotte." A pivotal clue that has been passed down through is family line, who have been searching for it generation, after generation- so much so, that the Gates (the main character's last name) name has a sullied reputation for being "conspiracy theorists."

Of course, it leads to the plot where the Declaration of Independence is going to be stolen by the scruffy Boromir (from Lord of the Rings fame); to his credit, he makes the character credible, even if I kept thinking, damn Boromir, didn't you learn that trying to steal the ring is wrong?

Anyhow, Cage decides that the best way to save the Declaration of Independence is to steal it himself. I mean, his logic is that a thief will just destroy it once he is done with it, while he will only use it to find the treasure and then return it. A rather weak logic, but hey, what is a guy supposed to do when not even the FBI will hear him out?

Needless to say, I think it was rather smart the way the movie approached the clues. From our awfully curious one dollar bill symbol (I mean, come on, I've always thought that symbol was rather out of place--and smells too much of the Illuminati), to the map being on the you know what.

It's plausible that there could be a treasure hidden. Although, the location itself kind of dissappointed. It seemed too easy to get to, but you know the old saying, the best place to hide things is usually in plain view.

The movie delivers in an engaging story, that keeps you occupied as it moves from clue to clue, and chase to chase. The action is not over the top so that it takes over the movie, but it's there in just enough to keep the adrenaline pumping. There is even a somewhat small love story, if you can call it that; it's funny though, the movie knows the love story is a bit forced and makes fun of itself when one of the bad guys says "Now why doesn't that ever happen to me?" It's towards the end of the movie, and you'll immediately recognize it.

Even the end is not a complete cop-out; it's more a compromise. They do play with your for just a little while, making you think Gates did the predictable "noble" thing. He still acted noble, but with just a little hint of the treasure hunter.

Good movie that won't dissappoint, as long as you are not going in there expecting a conspiracy ladden story like the DaVinci Code.

Rating:
Summary: Non-stop action/adventure!!!
Review: National Treasure was realeased on November 19, 2004, to pretty low expectations. People expected it to be big, but since it was up against the SpongeBob SquarePants movie, they figured it would be a hit, but not the boffo blockbuster it has become. And I can see why this was the action/adventure hit of the year. The story, acting and action are on par with The Mummy Returns or Raiders Of The Lost Ark. The story is about Benjamin Gates (Nick Cage) and his quest to find the greatest treasure ever buried, along with the help of his comical sidekick (hey, this is a swashbuckling action movie, right), and his girfriend from the Government. It's Mission: Impossible, every Indiana Jones movie, Ocean's 11, and the Da Vinci Code all rolled into one. The greatest action hit of the year!

Rating:
Summary: National Treasure is a teasure not worth wanting
Review: Nicolas Cage (Adaptation, Snake Eyes) plays Gates a man on a mission and that mission is to find a historical treasure from getting clue after clue until he finds it. Gates has been searching this treasure from stories that were in the family of Gates', his grandfather played by Christopher Plummer (Dracula 2000, A Beautiful Mind), in a throwaway part and his father, Jon Voight (Zoolander, Midnight Cowboy). Cut to when Cage is a growunup, goes on a expedition with his crew...Riley, played by Justin Bartha and Ian, portraited by Sean Bean (GoldenEye, The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy). Bean and the rest of Cage's crew except for Bartha turn against him. Cage finds out that there is a map on the back of The Declaration Of Independence in which it will lead them even furthur but his now turned enemy, Bean is hot on his trail trying to take it all for himself. Meanwhile, Cage steals the document and is accompanyed by the beautiful Abagail Chase, played by Diane Kreuger (Wicker Park) and Cage also has some pissed of cops after his tail led by Sudusky, Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction). Cage follows the clues in which it leads them to the treasure. Predictable when in situations not story because it is a nicely written script but it is extremely silly...hey some people liked this but I didnt..I liked most of the parts. Bartha adds some spark as the funny sidekick to Cage. Nicolas Cage is good as usual but its hard to really care about the treasure and of course they had to use millions of effects when they find the treasure...they have to. Sean Bean is a good enemy to Cage but like I said before... Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...he'll produce anything and put out by Walt Disney in which the crew of Pirates Of The Caribbean also worked on and a lot of people thought...well, maybe this movie would be exactly like this...but no..ni..it didnt even come close. You know what they should of had...when Cage actually finds the room with treasure it should be empty and in the middle stands some old guy laughing at them...that would of been interesting.

Rating:
Summary: NATIONAL TREASURE--THE BEST MOVIE EVER
Review: omgsh...if u havent seen this movie...SEE IT!!! when i was watching it, i was on the edge of my seat the whole movie! it never gets dull! nicholas cage does an awesome job in this movie!

filled with action, adventure, history, and romance, this movie is a must see for all ages! dont let the disney name turn ur intrests off, this movie is awesome!

the music is great too! this movie never gets dull!! its great! on the top of my list!

Rating:
Summary: No Profanity!!!!
Review: The problem with the Amazon.com review of this movie is that it reeks of the same sandal flapping geekish condescending attitude that was enunciated by critics in newspapers all across this country.
Just in case no one has noticed...America by and large gives TWO THUMBS DOWN to movie critics who are out of step with middle America and just overtly in love with the sound of their own "anything profane or morbid or in your face sexuall..or Satanic is the work of genius"...attitude.
This movie is downright intriguing and incredibly fun!!!!
Best yet it is a movie you could show a 10 year old or a 30 year old at the same time.
NO profanity!!!!!!
They even make fun of cursing in the dialogue.
This is a movie that I will let my 9 year old watch without worry.
What many of the dimwitted reviewers do not understand these days is that what they refer to as silliness is what we loved and still love about the old Stewart Grainger movies.
Good clean descent fun.
Many who loved the movie should check out the cover story of this months March/April #50 Issue of Atlantis Rising Magazine which has this movie and the truth of such of what was presented in the movie as their cover story; a fascinating article on a wonderful movie and subject.
By the Way,.....I have not like Nicholas Cage in anything since Raising Arizona.
But you have got to give the guy credit. He starred in this movie and that shows a glimpse of a guy who obviously has more class than he is portrayed as having in the press.
He and his sidekicks were wonderful in this movie and I will buy it on DVD when it is out!
The majority of prognosticators predicted that Bush would lose and that this movie would flop.
Prognostication is a profession in decline and in danger of losing its credibility.
But...Nicholas Cage is not in danger of losing any fans with this movie, and may have just gained one back!

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Wehn I went to see this one, I wasnt expecting to like it but I did. So basically Nicholas Cage plays and archaeologist that is follwing in his father and Grandfather's footsteps looking for this map that everyone says doesnt exist. The bad guys get the first clue and it's on. So now, he has to steal the Declaration of Independence before the bad guys do to protect it. It was suspenseful, exciting and just overall a great movie. I really hope they make a second part to it.