It really IS Fun for the whole family...

Rating: 9/10 (28 November 2004)

I saw National Treasure with my kids (9 yrs. & 12 yrs.) and we had a GREAT time. There are few movies that I can make that statement about about with confidence, apart from most PIXAR offerings. Maybe I am old fashioned, but I take movie ratings seriously. I don't take my kids to PG-13 movies, yet, which seriously limits one's options. I found National Treasure to be a fun ride, with likable characters, plenty of suspense, good effects and well-placed humor.
I will grant you that this is not Raider's of the Lost Ark, but the cool thing about it is that it used a great deal of actual historical information in the story-building process (unlike most adventure films that rely on fictional myths and legends). My kids (and yes, I too) were more interested in all of the objects and places we saw in the movie AFTER it was over. Does it make you contemplate the meaning of life? No. But does it make you want to go to the National Archives? Absolutely - and I think that is a pretty worthy legacy.