A modern Indiana Jones with just a brush of Bond...

Rating: 8/10 (14 February 2005)

** Here be a treasure of Spoilers **
Recap: In ancient times, the Knight Templar, collected a great treasure that they thought was too great to being owned by just one man. It didn't matter if that man were king or pope. So the treasure were smuggled out and hidden away by the Templars, who turned into the Free Masons, who among their ranks held some of the Founding Fathers of the independent America. History turned to legend, legend turned into myth, and the treasure is all but forgotten. A young boy however is told the story by his grandfather, who claims to have a little clue. The boy never forgets the treasure and now Ben Gates (Cage) is on the hunt for the treasure that his family has sought for many generations. Packed in ice Gates find an old ship with another clue that point towards the Declaration of Independence. However, the Gates family has a less than stellar reputation, and to examine the Declaration for hidden clues about a hidden treasure is out of the question. An associate and sponsor to Gates, Ian Howe (Bean), suggest that they "borrow" the Declaration. Gates opposes this and Howe then considers Gates an obstacle and tries to blow him up. Gates and his friend Riley (Bartha) survive and travels to USA to warn the authorities. But when no one believes them that the DoI is about to be stolen, they decide that the only way to protect it is to steal it before Howe does. But Gates and Howe attempt the theft almost simultaneously and it turns violent. Gates finally walk away with the DoI, but also get conservator Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) as a "bonus". Now the three must find the new clues but they are sought after, both by Howe and the FBI...
Comment: A very nice modern version of a Indian Jones type movie. The story is very nice, with a lot of historic connections to give an plausible (and somewhat exotic) story. The focus is on adventure but there are some moments of action and comedy as well. Especially the character Riley contributes with some funny parts and lines. It is the story that is the main attraction here with nice effects to augment it. The actors are mostly there just to tell the story and they do it well. Bean is very good as the bad guy (again), Cage is good as the adventurer, Kruger as the conservator (and guess what, love interest), Voight as the disbelieving father and Bartha was a very interesting new acquaintance for me. Mostly very entertaining, some little slower parts and unfortunately somewhat predictable, but as mentioned still good.
A weak 8/10