This movie got panned by critics for being unoriginal and lacking in character development. That's a little harsh but "National Treasure" is an OK movie. It's good entertainment with all the required action sequences you'd expect from Jerry Bruckheimer. The characters are pretty one dimensional.

In spite of this, I can really recommend the movie because it's clever (although somewhat unbelievable), has great locations and it's a great family action movie (no blood, no swearing, no nudity but you won't miss it).

It's no award winner but it's good fun.

And get there early to see the teaser for "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" - cute.

Jim

I guess it would be on par with the fellow's Mummy pictures? Thought about going, but I thought it wasn't worth the money to go see the Mummy, figured it might be the same level of movie. Went to see The Incredibles instead.

I went with 3 kidlets (14, 12, 9). They liked it OK. So did I.

You're right. It's not going to win awards.

The plot was too contrived for my tastes. Too many conveniences allowed it to progress, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Worth renting.

"Incredibles" blows this thing out of the water.

The plot reminds me of a Clive Cussler novel.

I would love to produce some of the Clive Cussler novels as motion pictures. I actually wrote a draft to Night Probe back in the 80's, but it never made it into development, due to Mr. Cussler's dislike of the translation of Raise the Titanic (I couldn't blame him), which had good effects, but the script and characters were flat.

I had free passes to see a sneak of National Treasure, but the schedule wouldn't allow it. I would still like to see it, though.

Night Probe would make a great film.
Unfortunately, Clive Cussler has not only recently sold out, he also apparently lost his mental faculties - introducing a carbon copy "son" of Dirk Pitt in his last novel.
He really is out of ideas, but since the books sell he keeps writing them - and licensing the concept to inferior writers to add to his NUMA Universe.
AT

Night Probe was the all-time champ of the Pitt novels. The Kurt Austin books aren't too bad. In fact the Christopher Columbus plot of Serpent is what I'm reminded of by the National Treasure trailer. Haven't read any of the third series, reviews say Golden Buddha really sucks.

...The plot was too contrived for my tastes. Too many conveniences allowed it to progress, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Worth renting...
Heh. That's pretty much how I summed up "The Mummy". I guess I'll go rent it! Yeah. The Incredibles really rocked! A good story told well, IMHO.

Well, you needn't worry about the Mummy connection at least. There isn't one that I know of. The wrters, director, and producers of NT were not involved in the Mummy films written and directed by Stephen Sommers.

(shrug) I enjoyed both of the Mummy films for what they were: light adventure fantasies strong on humor and whimsy, not meant to be taken seriously. The elements were well played for that. Have no interest in National Treasure, though. Just personal tastes, the Mummy films work as fantasy but NT's much-reported clumsiness with improbability is on a whole different level.