Geeks logo

Not So Smart as the Critics, I Still Love National Treasure

2004 Nicolas Cage Film has Action, Laughs and History

By Rich MonettiPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
Like
Walt Disney Pictures Poster

Call me stupid but I love National Treasure. So of course, I know the historically based action adventure has never been well received by the critics. But I haven't read the reviews until now, and finally realize how stupid I am.

National Treasure is little more than tedious historical and patriotic hokum, a preposterous potboiler done in by slack pacing and pedestrian execution,” wrote Nathan Rabin in AV Club.

My degree in computer science and minors in math and history don’t amount to much I guess. Roger Ebert wasn’t any less kind to my intelligence quotient. “It is inelegant, pedestrian writing in service of a plot that sets up cliff-hangers like clockwork, resolves them with improbable escapes and leads us breathlessly to a disappointing anticlimax.”

History Stretches Back and Goes North

That may very well be. But prose has a pretty hard time being stationary when Christopher Plummer initiates the pace. The Temple of David, ancient buried treasure, and the Knights Templar sets your seat on alert. Locked in full and upright position, the Hollywood legend weaves historical conspiracy into a generational chase.

Others weren’t so moved. James Berardinelli of Reel Views called the opening a brief and confusing prologue. Really? I guess I’m not the only dumb one.

No matter, how are you not ensnared by an inciting incident that refuses to let go even today. The Vatican massacre of the Knights Templar in 1307, have you never heard of Friday the 13th?

The spook story then gives way to the first clue and what better way to show the length the Gage family will go then setting up in the Arctic circle. Ben Gage (Nicolas Cage) identifies frozen drifts as the final resting place of a ship called “Charlotte."

The treasure protector does find the actual “X” pretty easily so Ebert lets the filmmakers have it. “To say the expedition finds the ship without much trouble is putting it mildly; Benjamin digs about a foot down into the permafrost, and then bends over and wipes clean a brass nameplate that helpfully says “Charlotte."

That’s fair, but how long do we really want to be trudging through the ice to get on with it? So the expedition heads south, and the cavalcade of clues starts on the back of the Declaration of Independence.

Duh, It's Buried Treasure

This is really where the trouble begins for Ebert. “The central weakness of the story is the absurdity of the clues, which are so difficult that no sane forefather could have conceivably believed that anyone could actually follow them,” Ebert implored.

Have you forgotten, this is a movie about buried treasure? The clues aren’t supposed to be easy. At the same time, Cage’s knowledge is no different than a whole host of Sherlock Holmes' characters that we love so much.

Berardinelli does identify a twist but still not to his liking. “Ben is like an autistic Sherlock Holmes, alternating between genus-like leaps of intuition and moments of astounding stupidity.”

I don’t know, doesn’t that make the character more appealing and closer to us civilians?

Either way, the coordinates shift as each clue unravels, but Stephen Holden of the New York Times did not enjoy the ever changing backdrops. “Maybe, just maybe, an 8-year-old could pick up an interest in American history from watching "National Treasure," that is, if the child could stay awake for this sluggish two-hour trudge through landmarks in Washington, Philadelphia and New York," he wrote in 2004.

Real Places, Great Interaction

Too bad for you. Independence Hall, the USS Intrepid, and Trinity Church attach a realism that lets the fantasy travel alongside the action, the anticipation, and the mystery.

Of course, having Cage at the center of all the character interplay easily lets the viewer hitch their star to the uplifting unearthing.

Ben’s geeky historical knowledge tries to keep Riley at bay, but the computer whiz continually manages to get the upper hand through numerous retorts.

“Do you know what the Preservation Room is for?” Ben initiates the Declaration heist.

Unimpressed, Riley is up to the challenge. “Delicious Jams and Jellies,” the second banana deadpans.

More importantly, Ben must also ensnare “the mean declaration lady” so the chase doesn’t stop dead in its tracks. But even though Abigail initially chases him off in response to “the invisible map” revelation, her sarcasm says otherwise. “Did Big Foot take it?” Diane Kruger signals the start of he duo’s dance.

On other hand, Ian (Sean Bean) doesn’t hesitate to fire the warning shot, and Ben’s single-mindedness is able to match the appealing bad guy at every step.

But Ben’s biggest nemesis is his father and the voice of reason represented by him. “Sure, sure, I know, I'm the family kook. I have a job, a house, health insurance,” Jon Voight laments.

And finally Harvey Keital plods along in pursuit, and while intrigued by the whole affair, he knows the bottom line. “Somebody’s got to go to prison Ben.”

Lucky for the public majority, simple minded viewing isn’t a crime. After all, who would be left to read their reviews.

Author can be reached at [email protected]

Please Like Rich Monetti’s Facebook Page

movie
Like

About the Creator

Rich Monetti

I am, I write.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.