National Treasure
reviewed by Benn "Where's the Humanity?" Farrell & Brian "the Naked Gun" Felts
"National Treasure" is this high end dollar production of Fall 2004 where Nicholas Cage (Adaptation)
plays yet another Hollywood attempt to nab the essence of Indiana Jones. He is a treasure hunter/protector
named Ben Gates charged by his grandfather at a young age to search for a treasure hidden by the country's
founding fathers, cause they were Free Mason's and the Mason's had treasure.
I know I over used the word "treasure" in that last sentence, but so does the movie. I terribly
dislike pictures that define a protagonist's goal as the acquisition of "treasure," or "the gold"
or "diamonds." This happens to do exactly that. It is tiring.
Also, Nicholas Cage's character has a feeble subplot brought by his father Patrick Gates, played
by Jon Voight (Heat), was even little to care about, so much so, Cage's forgot to give a shit when
his father's character had growth and was proud of him.
The best part of the picture was this hot chick named Diane Kruger running around as a reflective
character for Gates, as well as Gates' comedic sidekick, played by Justin Bartha. Bartha carried
the enjoyment of the film's dialogue scenes. Kruger was poorly cast in the picture. I cannot believe
someone THAT good looking would have such an important job at the National Archives without being
sexually harassed every flipping day, but the actress did her part well with what she had to work
with, and its fun to watch her run around in tight jeans for much of the movie.
I hate to judge this picture on its dialogue laughs and a hot chick in tight jeans, but when the
plot is as conventional as "National Treasure," you have to look for what brainless elements there
are to give it merit.
If you don't see "National Treasure," I will not cry. However, it wasn't as painful as I'd expected
it to be.
Benn - Where's the Humanity?
This movie is very hard for me to say anything about just because it was so run of the mill in terms
of action that I can't figure out why I like it. Well, I guess I do enjoy the comedy that was written
into the movie. But in terms of action it was just very, very, very, ok.
National Treasure is a movie about the founding father's of this great land having secured a large
treasure passed down from the ages and hid it because they feel that the treasure is to large for
any one man to possess. The last surviving member of the signing of the declaration, on his death
bed, described the first clue to where the treasure was to his ward, Mr. Gates. Mr. Gates handed
the information down to his son and so on until modern day when Benjamin Franklin Gates, played by
Nicholas Cage (Con Air,) is the latest treasure hunter.
The movie is very adequate, but it did not set any new standards in movie making. The action is fun
but the saving grace is its comedy. Everyone had good one liners written into their part. The acting
was standard with Nicholas Cage leading the way, along with Jon Voight (Anaconda), Sean Bean (Golden Eye,
L.O.T. R. Fellowship of the Ring,) and the very yummy Diane Kruger (Troy,) and Harvey Keitel (Red Dragon.)
One guy worth note is Justin Bartha (Gigli) who does a wonderful job as the comedic sidekick.
I may end up buying this movie just because I like history and this isn't a bad movie. I did not
go in expecting much and I was well rewarded. But, I still suggest go seeing it over the Thanksgiving
holiday, its better than sitting at home after the dinner watching the Sound of Music.
Brian - the Naked Gun
Here's probably one of the biggest summer blockbuster hits of the summer…except its released in the
tail of November…?