Adding insult to injury is the alleged вЂњlove interestвЂќ between Chase and Gates which not only fails on paper, but fails in its chemistry between Cage and Kruger. But for needing the character as a means to access the Declaration of Independence, the role is pointless, under-developed and Kruger unconvincing. Chase and unfortunately is less than appealing. Although a weak script doesnвЂ™t fully develop the character, CageвЂ™s inherent talent and passion takes over, bringing an unbridled enthusiasm to Ben that carries through the film. Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Gates is, as always, flawless in his performance. (Trivia Note вЂ“ It was Ben Franklin himself who designed the layout of the streets in Historic/Downtown Philadelphia, many of which are shown here.) If nothing else, this film is a great travelog of our Founding Fathers and some of the 13 original colonies.

And what a race this is as the quest takes our principles through some of the most historic sites in the United States вЂ“ Independence Hall and the former Liberty Bell Tower, the Franklin Institute, the Library of Congress, Trinity Church, the Lincoln Memorial and countless cobblestoned alleyways, streets and darkened cemeteries in Historic Philadelphia. A race against time begins as Ben attempts to out maneuver Ian and solve the myth and mystery first. Standing in the way, however, (besides the US government) is Ian Howe, former partner with Ben, who has turned the tables and wants the treasure for himself. Abigail Chase and she soon joins Ben in his quest to what has now become, steal the Declaration of Independence. How do you convince the National Archives and the US government to open their vaults and let you remove the Declaration of Independence from its vacuum-sealed vault?ДЄs luck would have it, Ben finds a sympathetic ear in National Archivist Dr. Ah, but now Ben faces a challenge more difficult than finding a frozen ship in the Arctic Sea.

With a clue that revolves around the word вЂњCharlotte,вЂќ Ben, together with his best friend Riley and financier partner Ian Howe, embark on an expedition north of the Arctic Circle in search of a 19th century sailing ship long embedded in the frozen ice, where they discover another clue вЂ“ one that leads to an invisible map is hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Thanks to his grandfatherвЂ™s belief and passion, Ben has made it his lifeвЂ™s work to prove the existence of the treasure. Surprisingly, the clue was placed on the back of the Declaration. BenвЂ™s father always dismissed the myth, but his grandfather, who believes in it wholeheartedly and would like nothing better than to prove naysayers wrong and find the treasure, gives Benjamin a clue handed down through the generations from Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. As the Freemasons, they travelled to America with their fortune during the Revolutionary War, and together with our founding fathers, such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, hid the fortune, but with cleverly developed clues planted in various places for those daring enough to seek it out. The Knights were Crusaders who excavated the Temple of Solomon, finding enormous riches which they used as their power base, transforming themselves into the Freemasons. Legend has it that a vast and valuable treasure was brought back from the Crusades by the Knights Templar and hidden by the Masons, who also just happen to be the founding fathers of this country. Are we surprised by the delay?ДЄ descendent from one of our nationвЂ™s founding fathers (can you guess who), Benjamin Franklin Gates comes from a long line of men who believe in the myth that a treasure exists long hidden by the Freemasons. вЂњNational TreasureвЂќ was commissioned in honor of the United StatesвЂ™s Bicentennial of 1976 but, due to a governmental slip-up, is just getting to us now.

Sean bean national treasure