Globe-Trotting adventure of epic proportions!

Rating: 10/10 (10 September 2007)

Research. Plot. Understand. Decipher. Listen. FULL SPEED AHEAD! That is the style of this movie, which is truly one of the greatest caper movies of all time. For all of you out there who have not yet seen this movie, it is about Ben Gates, played by Nicolas Cage in a winning performance as a treasure hunter who is seeking a treasure beyond all of his dreams, imaginations, and thoughts, a treasure that has been hidden for centuries. But there is one problem: the clue to finding the treasure is on the back of the Declaration of Independence- but in invisible ink! The plot carries its own weight from there on. Nicolas Cage is the hero, Justin Bartha is the weird geek along for comedic relief, Diane Kruger is the very attractive female counterpart to Gates, Voight is the never believing father, Mr. Gates, Keitel is the detective who is determined to make sure that somebody goes to jail for this whole mess, Bean is Ian who was once Gates friend, but, because of greed, he becomes the badguy not long after the movie has started. The viewer, when first watching this movie, may think that Bean is at a disadvantage, since he has ditched Gates and Riley. But not so. Bean is very smart in his own inventive and original way. However, he is not as smart as Gates. That is why Gates is always one step ahead of him. Sure, this movie does have clichés, but who cares? I do not think it is a copy off of the Da Vinci Code or Indiana Jones. Something cannot be called a copy off of something else just because they have some things in common with each other. Those things are similarities, not copies. Besides, even if the similarities are too good to be true, I do not mind. The reason for this is that as long as a movie is good and can hold my attention, I will suspend my disbelief and act like the similarities are not even there. After a while, I forget all about the similarities and clichés, and just sit down and watch a good action/adventure movie.