Did anyone else see "National Treasure" tonight?

[Lisa]

I've started going to the theatre on Friday nights, because in my town it's a way to beat the weekend crowds (except for the really big premieres). Also, after a particularly hairy week, I find myself in need of some diversion -- before diving into the unpaid labour I do on the weekends, getting ready for Monday. I wouldn't call this a great classic film, but as a popcorn movie (and one which doesn't glorify Bush-style imperialism) it's a fun distraction. Better than a lot of the "entertainment" movies I've seen so far this year.

(some plot spoilers)













The film was better than I expected, without the usual number of big explosions found in Bruckheimer's movies. If one ignored the gigantic plot holes, and looked at the various historic American cities where the story takes place (what would you pick as a safe hiding-place for a treasure clue in Philadelphia?), it was rather fun. Kind of like Indiana Jones goes to the Eastern Seaboard. Then again, I'm kind of geeky -- as an example, in one scene where some 200-year-old planks are being pried off, I couldn't help noticing that the nails appeared to be modern. (I'm pretty sure they'd have had square-shanked ones back then, hand-forged or cut from metal sheeting?) But that's just me.

It was a little distressing to watch the Declaration of Independence being rolled up like a fish-wrapper and being dragged hither and yon -- but then again, after seeing what's happened to the Constitution over the past few years, this seemed mild by comparison.

Speaking of which, the film did get in a few subtle jabs at the Administration. First, the protagonist (Nicholas Cage's character) figures out that the secret map is on the back of the Declaration of Independence. (They could just as easily have made it the Constitution -- and in fact, this would have been a safer bet if the Founders wanted to make sure the map wasn't accidentally destroyed, since the Constitution certainly would have been preserved.) And Cage quotes a passage from the Declaration which emphasizes the responsibility of citizens to act when they think that they are being poorly governed.

Second -- there are a few Homeland Security and duct tape jokes in the script.

Third -- contrast the way in which Cage's team goes about trying to pull off the heist, vs. the villains. It's sort of like the Clinton/Gore approach, compared to "Shock and Awe". I'm trying to remember whether Cage's character even uses a gun.

Fourth -- citing the need for openness and democracy, Cage's character insists that the treasure be treated in a specific way. He mentions France and the Middle East, in particular. (Not the British Museum, though.)

[yvr girl]

1. I saw it

I enjoyed it too. It seemed more like a summer movie to me. It's fluff.