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12/7/2004

National Treasure stars Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Franklin (Ben) Gates, Diane Kruger as Abigail Chase, Justin Bartha as Riley Poole, Sean Bean as Ian Howe, Jon Voight as Patrick Gates, Harvey Keitel as Sadusky, Christopher Plummer as John Adams Gates, David Dayan Fisher as Shaw, Stewart Finlay-McLennan as Powell, Oleg Taktarov as Shippen, Stephen A. Pope as Phil (as Stephen Pope), Annie Parisse as Agent Dawes, Mark Pellegrino as Agent Johnson, Armando Riesco as Agent Hendricks, Erik King as Agent Colfax, Don McManus as Dr. Stan Herbert, Ron Canada as Guard Woodruff, Hunter Gomez as Young Ben Gates, and Deborah Yates as Rebecca.

National Treasure is a film about a treasure, secret clues, and an obsessed person looking for it. What could be wrong with that? Unfortunately, plenty! This film is not Indiana Jones, far from it. I love the premise of this film. A mystery treasure hunt. National Treasure just does not deliver on the mystery part. All clues are instantly analyzed and solved, no suspense! Of course, Nicolas Cage plays, who else, Nicolas Cage.

National Treasure is about a family who has been entrusted with the knowledge of a historical treasure. The treasure, accumulated throughout the centuries, ended up in revolutionary America. The Gates, who are historians, find clues in Masonic writings and symbols. Ben Gates follows the clues to the climax of the film, The Declaration of Independence. He believes there is a hidden, invisible map on the reverse. To see it he must steal it before a rival, Ian Howe, searching for the treasure steals it. Of course Ian Howe is the only compelling character, as he is the bad guy. He causes strife and mayhem for our heroes, who obviously triumph in the end. Wait for this one to hit a movie channel, save your money.

I give it 2 out of 5 Question Marks: ? ?