RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £3.98 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
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 and The Da Vinci Code, 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, Amazon.com
Written in the wake of 9/11?
Review date: 2008-09-02 Rating: 4 out of 10
Although I enjoyed the film on a very basic, escapist level, the cynical American nationalism on show was quite replellent. As the film bowls along we are given endless panoramic views of American landmarks, cities, and - what a shock - an aircraft carrier brimming over with fighter planes. The theme throughout appears to be "Gee, aint the good ole USA amazing!" with a flimsy adventure almost tacked on. Also, in the company of Harvey Keitel and Sean Bean (what were they thinking?) Nicolas Cage proves once again that he can't act; I suppose that's what nepotism is all about - if Uncle Francis Ford Coppola couldn't give his nephew a hand up, who could? He did it with his daughter in Godfather 3, after all. Oh, and the villains are the Brits as usual. Well, it's about the Declaration of Independence, so roping in those nasty Brits was a must... right? As I've said, cynical. Are Americans really so unsure of themselves that they have to make such xenophobic nonsense?