Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Gates, search for a chest of riches rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin during the Revolutionary War. The chest's whereabouts may lie in secret clues embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and Gates is in a race to find the gold before his enemies do.
National Treasure is a fun, moderately clever adventure romp that blends American history with treasure-hunt puzzle mechanics in an entertaining way. The plot is engaging and keeps things moving, though it leans heavily on convenient coincidences and logic leaps. Nicolas Cage leads a serviceable but uneven cast — his performance is committed but the supporting roles (particularly the villain) are underwritten and broadly played. Cinematography is functional blockbuster work with nothing distinctive — competent location shooting in DC and Philadelphia but no visual ambition. The novelty lies in its use of Americana and historical mythology as puzzle fodder, which felt fairly fresh in 2004, giving it a slight edge there. The ending resolves neatly but too easily and conveniently, wrapping everything up in a tidy bow that deflates any lingering tension.