“National Treasure” (Touchstone Pictures)
“National Treasure” is a Jerry Bruckheimer film and that says it all. From “Pearl Harbor” to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Bruckheimer knows his audiences and he makes his films for them. They are not aimed at satisfying the critics and that is refreshing. His latest, “National Treasure,” is an action adventure in the Indiana Jones mode with Nicolas Cage leading the cast. It is action packed and energy paced, and never allows for even breathing room.
Cage plays Ben Gates, a man raised on tales of lost treasure. His grandfather (Christopher Plummer) first told him the stories, but his father Patrick (Jon Voight) tried to dissuade him of any ideas of lost treasure. But Ben is a believer and he pursues the dream of the “lost treasure” well into his adult years,
At one point a clue leads him to the Declaration of Independence. Ben believes there is another clue or map on the backside of the document. His nemesis, Ian Howe (Sean Bean), is also on the trail and Ben believe Ian plans to steal the document. So he tries to steal it first. This leads him to make the acquaintance of Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), a curator where the Declaration is kept.
Ben and his team, which eventually includes his father, Abigail, and his co-hort Riley (Justin Bartha), travel from city to city hunting clues and dodging danger. They are extremely lucky which makes the adventures less than plausible. This, however, is not a film that dots its “i’s” and crosses its “t’s” when it comes to reality. This is a movie that is made for fun and excitement and that is what it delivers.
Cage makes Ben a grand “treasure hunter.” He gives him a droll sense of humor and a hunger in his heart for excitement. Kruger is a wonderful member of his team and love interest. She is one pretty lady and yet she still makes the action events in which she partakes look believable.
Jon Voight is a reluctant member of the team as Patrick, while Sean Bean creates a sinister foe in Ian. Justin Bartha’s Riley provides some nerd information and is also a form of comic relief.
The film is rated PG for mild violence and profanity.
“National Treasure” is two hours of a good time. It has suspense, excitement, romance ands thrills. When you walk out of the theater you will feel exhilarated from the adrenaline rush.
I scored “National Treasure” a discovered 7 out of 10.
