National Treasure (2004)

Director: Jon Turtletaub
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha

Synopsis:
A treasure hunter steals the Declaration of Independence to uncover the hidden treasure map on the back and to keep it out of the hands of his ruthless former partner.

Impressions:
When I saw the first trailer for this movie, I wasn't sold on the idea, but when I gave it a shot, I discovered it to be a highly enjoyable adventure with lots of cat-and-mouse chases and fun puzzles. I particularly like that both the rival group led by Sean Bean and the FBI led by Harvey Keitel are worthy adversaries that keep our heroes on their toes to the very end. There's a lot of real US history thrown into the mix, which adds to the fun, and there's a good balance with the core power trio. (Some people may find Justin Bartha's Riley to be annoying, but I found him amusing. If you find yourself in the former camp, you can take comfort in the fact that he's something of a chew toy.) The score by Trevor Rabin is quite good and a perfect fit for the tone of the film. If you're looking for a fun ride, give this one a watch.

Rating:
Watch It