Product Description
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Double bill of action/adventure. In 'National Treasure' (2004),
Nicolas Cage stars as Benjamin Franklin Gates, an archaeologist
from the seventh generation of a family of treasure-seekers who
have all shared the same quest: to discover the whereabouts of an
old war chest full of gold hidden by the founding hers in the
last days of the Revolutionary War. Ben must work against the
clock to unravel the clues embedded in the original drafts of two
key historical documents - the Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence - before his criminal ex-partner Ian Howe (Sean
Bean), or the FBI - led by Agent Sadusky (Harvey Keitel) - get
their mitts on the loot. Helping him in his quest is beautiful
archivist Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger). In 'National Treasure 2 -
Book of Secrets' (2008), Nicolas Cage reprises his role as
artefact hunter and archaeologist, Ben Franklin Gates. When a
missing page from the diary of Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John
Wilkes Booth, surfaces, one of Ben's ancestors is implicated as a
conspirator in the murder. In an attempt to clear their family's
name, Ben and his her, Mitch (Jon Voight), travel the globe in
search of the other missing pages from Booth's diary. The journey
leads Ben and his crew not only to surprising revelations, but to
the trail of the world's most treasured secrets.
.co.uk Review
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National Treasure
Like a Hardy Boys mystery on steroids, National Treasure offers
popcorn thrills and enough boyish charm to overcome its rampant
silliness. Although it was roundly criticized as a poor man's
rip-off of Raiders of the Lost Ark ( /gp/product/B0014CDVEU ) and
The Da Vinci Code ( /gp/product/B000BYAELU ), it's entertaining
on its own ludicrous terms, and Nicolas Cage proves once again
that one actor's infectious enthusiasm can compensate for a
multitude of movie sins. The contrived plot involves Cage's
present-day quest for the ancient treasure of the Knights
Templar, kept secret through the ages by Freemasons past and
present. Finding the treasure requires the theft of the
Declaration of Independence (there are crucial treasure clues on
the back, of course), so you can add "caper comedy" to this Jerry
Bruckheimer production's multi-genre appeal. Nobody will ever
accuse director Jon Turtletaub of artistic ambition, but you've
got to admit he serves up an enjoyable dose of PG-rated
entertainment, full of musty clues, skeletons, deep tunnels, and
harmless adventure in the old-school tradition. It's a load of
hokum, but it's fun hokum, and that makes all the difference.
--Jeff Shannon
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
Less engrossing than its 2004 predecessor National Treasure, Jon
Turteltaubs busy sequel National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is
nevertheless a colourful and witty adventure, another race
against overwhelming odds for the answer to a historical riddle.
Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage), the treasure hunter who feverishly
sought the whereabouts of a war chest hidden by Americas
forehers in the first film, is now charged with protecting
family honour. When a rival (Ed Harris) offers alleged proof that
Gates ancestor, Thomas Gates, was not a Civil War-era hero but a
participant in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Ben and his
her (Jon Voight) and crew (Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger)
hopscotch through Paris, London, Washington DC, and South Dakota
to gather evidence refuting the cl.
The film is most fun when the hunt, as in National Treasure,
squeezes Ben into such impossible situations as examining twin
desks in the Queens chambers in Buckingham Palace and the White
Houses Oval Office, or kipping an American president (Bruce
Greenwood) for a few minutes of frank talk. Helen Mirren, the
previous year's O winner for Best Actress, wisely joins the
cast of a likely hit film as Bens archaeologist mother,
long-estranged from Voights character but as feisty as the rest
of the family. Returning director Turteltaub takes excellent
advantage of his colorful backdrops in European capitals and the
always-eerie Rushmore, and oversees some wildly imaginative
sets for this dramedys feverish third act in an audacious and
completely unexpected, legendary setting. If National Treasure 2:
Book of Secrets doesnt feel quite as crisp and unique as its
predecessor, it is still ingenious and wry enough to laugh a bit
at itself. --Tom Keogh