The story involves one Ben Gates(Nick Cage)whose family has been guarding a passed down secret of a huge long lost treasure for generations.Finally getting a financial backer one Ian Howe(Sean Bean),they travel to the Arctic to uncover a long lost ship which contains a clue.The clue tells Ben the next important piece of the puzzle lies on the back of the Declaration of Independence.Howe tells him that he can obtain the document and this is the moment Ben realizes he has hooked up with the wrong people.A skirmish ensues and the ship blows up leaving Ben and a friend stranded,having to walk to the nearest settlement to be rescued.
Back in New York Ben visits several law enforcement agencies in an effort to alert them of what is coming.No one believes him and he decides in order to protect the valuable document he will steal it himself.Amazingly this is what he does with both the law and Howe on his tail.Mixed up in this is the curator of the the National Archives in Washington Dr.Chase(Diane Kruger).She inadvertently has to go on the run with Ben and they end up at the home of his father Patrick(Jon Voight),who has been a skeptic of the entire legend all his life.Ben finds his code and it makes a now skeptical believer out of Dr Chase also.When his father discovers what his son really has he is beside himself.In order to keep his father out of the situation however they tie him up and leave him just as the FBI shortly thereafter arrives at the house.
Howe is always dogging Ben and company's footsteps as they travel to Independence Hall in Philly.There they find a strange pair of bi-focals with which to view the back of the Declaration.The treasure they seek is under the old Trinity Church back in NYC.The FBI at one point lays a trap for Ben and for his pursuers Mr.Howe,but Ben manages to escape with the help of Howe who now has his friend,Dr Chase and his father captive.They all travel to the Church and discover a huge grotto which they descend.At the bottom is a room with nothing in it.Ben's father tells Howe the next clue lies in the North Tower in Boston,which is where Howe heads leaving the group stranded.However it is a false clue and Ben discovers an ante room which contains the real treasure.It is filled with thousands of years worth of artifacts and history.When the group re-enters the Church above the FBI swoops in.They are looking for fall guys and Ben gives them Howe and his men at the Church in Boston.As Ben wanted,the treasure/discovery is released to a museum in Cairo for the benefit of all mankind.
Once the movie establishes its premise the action seems to flow non stop throughout and the 130 minutes flies by very fast.Not only is the direction here very good,the editing of the film is fantastic and gives a greater impact to those moments which otherwise would have lagged.Cage,Voight,Bean,Kruger,Keitel(as an FBI man),et al turn in very good performances in their respective parts.
The movie is presented in its' widescreen 2:33:1 aspect ratio and the transfer is crisp and clean.Extras include a behind the scene featurette,deleted scenes,an alternate ending,director movie commentary, Knights Templar and "Treasure Hunters revealed" featurettes,an animatic of the opening scene(an animated storyboard)and some puzzle challenges(each special feature has a letter code to it).
All in all a highly recommended action packed film which is suitable for everyone's enjoyment.Made by Bruckheimer's production unit(Bruckheimer himself was deep into the production of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies at the time) and directed ably by Turteltaub,this film won't fail to please anyone.
National Treasure - Indian Prairie Public Library - Darien, IL
Share the adventures of a lifelong treasure hunter, his endearing assistant, and a tough archivist. Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) has been searching his whole life using the clues passed down through his family. When he finally breaks the first code, his partner Ian double-crosses him.
To preserve a precious piece of American history, Ben plots to steal the Declaration of Independence. Follow the clues as they take our heroes to historical landmarks with Ian and the FBI close behind.
The adventure continues in National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.
We kept forgetting to breathe! - Bibliophile - Grayslake, Illinois USA
I watched this film with my "8" &"10" year olds and we all loved it! My husband said he thought it was a great movie having seen it previously. We all found we kept holding our breath waiting for the next scene to unfold. Nicholas Cage is one of my favorites and two new actors (to me) are two I will look for! "Reilly" and "Miss Chase". Great! Action packed! A keeper!
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