Looking for a family-friendly movie to see during these cold winter nights? You won’t go wrong with National Treasure. On the face of it, the film seems like a straightforward and enjoyable action feature, certainly appropriate for a Christian audience. It’s not without controversy, however.
Have you ever really looked at the back side of a dollar bill and wondered what the pyramid and the all-seeing eye on top of it mean? This and other mysteries from American history form the backdrop of National Treasure. Here’s a thumbnail sketch of the plot, which must remain skimpy lest too much of the story be given away. Nicolas Cage stars as an archaeologist who is searching for clues to find a vast “national treasure” hidden somewhere in America. The first clue is reported to be on the back of the Declaration of Independence, so of course Cage and his sidekicks have to “borrow” that document to locate the clue. Sound preposterous? It is, but somehow the movie works. The trouble is, each discovered clue just leads to the next clue, so Cage and friends don’t have an easy time of it. I won’t reveal what the treasure is.
Here’s the controversy: The film’s storyline leans heavily on actions of the Freemasons, whose historical members include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and 11 other signers of the Declaration of Independence. There’s an ongoing controversy as to whether Freemasons are fundamentally Christian or anti-Christian. The film takes a pro view, portraying them as essentially benign figures who act morally and engage in positive causes. Others weigh in on the sinister side. Christian author Michael Phillips, for example, takes Freemasons to task in his novels A Rift in Time and Hidden in Time. A visit to Google or Ask Jeeves will show you just how much has been written on both sides of the question.
Positives:
Acting: Quite accomplished throughout. Nicolas Cage gives one of his uniquely quirky performances. John Voight and Christopher Plummer are effective.
Tension: Lots of it. The bad guys are constantly on the tail of Cage and his friends. It can get pretty excruciating.
Speed: One of the best things about National Treasure is that it never slows down, never drags.
Values and Language: Cage and the other good guys act unselfishly and do the right thing. There’s no bad language or sexual innuendo.
History: The movie is a great history lesson. It’s chock full of interestingly contextualized facts and events about American history.
Negatives: Only one, really. A strength of movies of this type is they allow the director to play an engaging game with the audience by throwing in red herrings and testing the attention and perspicacity of the viewer. That’s absent here, since each unearthed clue simply leads to the next clue. There’s no real chance for the viewer to figure out what’s really happening.
Nonetheless: National Treasure is worth seeing. Besides being entertaining, it can teach you something and pique your curiosity about the Freemason issue.
Film Rating: PG
My Rating: 3 stars.
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