Movie Reviews
It begins with a little seed that his grandfather planted when he was a little boy. As he grew, so did that seed, and now he’s congruent to Indiana Jones in the way of needing an adventure to find what he’s looking for. Like Spielberg in those films, director Jon Turteltaub knows where to put the clues and how to introduce them in a way that seems natural in a silly way, of course.
But really, folks, this is a great film; a clean, fun, overly-excited piece of action that rarely lets up, and yet is okay for anyone who wants to watch it. It’s suspenseful, it’s taut, and it’s electric. I find that focusing on the now is what makes the film good. Being in the moment is the key to your viewing pleasure.
Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha play Abigail and Riley. Both become involved in the chase for this national treasure. Kruger is surprisingly good in only her third film (all of which were made in 2004), and Bartha is funny and obtuse in equal doses. Jon Voight is Ben’s father, virtually the only living Gates that has no faith in the myth, and believes that every clue will just lead to another and another. “I wasted twenty years of my life,” he says. Sean Bean is Ian Howe, an ex-colleague of Ben’s who abandoned him during the search. He comes across convincingly villainous, but took a swift change of character too fast and too early. Of course, if it hadn’t happened that soon, the film would’ve been even longer than its 126 minute running time.
What “National Treasure” is meant for is to watch for just plain old-fashioned fun. If you’re not in the mood for a good time, then you’re watching for a host of reasons that it was not meant to be watched for. Turteltaub’s film blazes with large sets and convincing history, all of which is not to be taken seriously. And yet, once the film begins, you can’t help but take it seriously. It’s one of the many clever tricks of the movie.
At the end, you’ll probably feel adventurously indulged, which is fine. That means you’ve had a good time. Besides, “National Treasure” is nice and clean, and in a time when filmmakers feel the need to barrage an audience with profanity and graphic violence, I consider that to be the greatest treasure of all. *** ½