Shane R. Monroe
11-21-2004, 09:14 PM
We went and caught Jerry Bruckheimer's NATIONAL TREASURE starring Nicolas Cage tonight. Here is my mini-review.
First off, the preview trailers SUCKED ASS. Funny way to start a review, but trailers are at least 20% of why I see movies in theaters and not waiting for home viewing. I didn't realize that it was a Disney film until it started - if I'd know that, I might have waited. I like Bruckheimer, so it was a mixed message ANYWAY.
The first couple of minutes really had me rolling my eyes. There was a LOT of "I Believe Button" pushing at first. I had to remind myself that it IS a Bruckheimer flick, and he's known for being "out there" a little.
The plot is actually pretty cool. Seems that throughout history, there has been a treasure of Biblical proportions being constantly hidden, added to, and moved - not wanting so much wealth and power to go to a single man or entity. Over the years, it amassed so much, that a dedicated group resolved to protect it. Many of our forefathers (including the likes of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington) were part of this group. The last time they hid it, they left clues that their offspring and successors would be able to find and use to locate the treasure. Nicolas Cage plays Ben, a decendant of the group - bent on finding this fabulous treasure (more for the thrill than the money - let's send the right message here).
The movie begins 20 years into his search, where he finds an old ship buried under the ice (start pushing that button) which leads him to a clue that a treasure map is located on the back of the Declaration of Independance. Ben decides its not worth it to steal the document, and one of his own team turns on him - vowing to steal it and leaving Ben for dead.
So far, this is pretty much revealed in the trailer.
Ben decides to steal it first - to protect it of course. (Have you received the Disney Message Yet?)
The rest of the film shows Ben and his rival competing for the clues and the treasure (and the FBI thrown in - lead by the great Harvey Keitel). Of course there is the love interest and the sidekick joker (damn, they got the Disney formula DOWN).
Alright .. let's cut to the chase ...
Understand right up - this is a FAMILY movie - don't expect the R rated brutal Bruckheimer to show through. The actual ACTION is pretty minimal - standard car chases, very little hand to hand stuff. No blood. Etc.
There are TONS of little plotlines where you will go "been there - done that"; mostly from Indiana Jones flicks, Mummy flicks. The basic treasure hunter adventure.
Where this movie WORKS, though, is the story. Forget the action. Forget the 'hat tips'. Just go with the story. Enjoy the clues. Enjoy the gizmos. There is a lot to enjoy - with some solid acting (Cage actually doesn't really run the movie, and he does a good enough job - so don't let him stop you). This isn't a movie where you'll second guess the clues, but you will second guess many of the minor plot details (its the genre).
If you love heist movies, adventure movies, treasure hunts - its more at the top of the heap of most. Its good ol' fashion fun; not littered with CGI all over the place (I really appreciated that). Its spread a little thin genre-wise and in some cases tries too hard (the love story for example) - but its a good time, and that (after all) is what we go to movies for.
I'd see this in the theater; matinee price - bring the family. Go in late to miss the trailers. Don't think TOO hard. You'll have a good time.
First off, the preview trailers SUCKED ASS. Funny way to start a review, but trailers are at least 20% of why I see movies in theaters and not waiting for home viewing. I didn't realize that it was a Disney film until it started - if I'd know that, I might have waited. I like Bruckheimer, so it was a mixed message ANYWAY.
The first couple of minutes really had me rolling my eyes. There was a LOT of "I Believe Button" pushing at first. I had to remind myself that it IS a Bruckheimer flick, and he's known for being "out there" a little.
The plot is actually pretty cool. Seems that throughout history, there has been a treasure of Biblical proportions being constantly hidden, added to, and moved - not wanting so much wealth and power to go to a single man or entity. Over the years, it amassed so much, that a dedicated group resolved to protect it. Many of our forefathers (including the likes of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington) were part of this group. The last time they hid it, they left clues that their offspring and successors would be able to find and use to locate the treasure. Nicolas Cage plays Ben, a decendant of the group - bent on finding this fabulous treasure (more for the thrill than the money - let's send the right message here).
The movie begins 20 years into his search, where he finds an old ship buried under the ice (start pushing that button) which leads him to a clue that a treasure map is located on the back of the Declaration of Independance. Ben decides its not worth it to steal the document, and one of his own team turns on him - vowing to steal it and leaving Ben for dead.
So far, this is pretty much revealed in the trailer.
Ben decides to steal it first - to protect it of course. (Have you received the Disney Message Yet?)
The rest of the film shows Ben and his rival competing for the clues and the treasure (and the FBI thrown in - lead by the great Harvey Keitel). Of course there is the love interest and the sidekick joker (damn, they got the Disney formula DOWN).
Alright .. let's cut to the chase ...
Understand right up - this is a FAMILY movie - don't expect the R rated brutal Bruckheimer to show through. The actual ACTION is pretty minimal - standard car chases, very little hand to hand stuff. No blood. Etc.
There are TONS of little plotlines where you will go "been there - done that"; mostly from Indiana Jones flicks, Mummy flicks. The basic treasure hunter adventure.
Where this movie WORKS, though, is the story. Forget the action. Forget the 'hat tips'. Just go with the story. Enjoy the clues. Enjoy the gizmos. There is a lot to enjoy - with some solid acting (Cage actually doesn't really run the movie, and he does a good enough job - so don't let him stop you). This isn't a movie where you'll second guess the clues, but you will second guess many of the minor plot details (its the genre).
If you love heist movies, adventure movies, treasure hunts - its more at the top of the heap of most. Its good ol' fashion fun; not littered with CGI all over the place (I really appreciated that). Its spread a little thin genre-wise and in some cases tries too hard (the love story for example) - but its a good time, and that (after all) is what we go to movies for.
I'd see this in the theater; matinee price - bring the family. Go in late to miss the trailers. Don't think TOO hard. You'll have a good time.