Few films were critically panned but widely accepted by viewers across the country. The National Treasury is one of them. Even after receiving mediocre reviews, including only two stars from Roger Ebert, National Treasure won over audiences, earning nearly $350 million worldwide. Even though the film is owned by the Walt Disney Company and is rated PG, this film is not just for children. Superb acting and action from start to finish will keep people of all ages glued to their seats as they follow one man's quest for hidden treasure. Benjamin Franklin Gates, played by Nicolas Cage, comes from a family of treasure hunters. When he was young, Gates discovered that his family's job was to guard a treasure hidden by the Founding Fathers. Hidden clues help locate the country's currency, and a crucial clue can be found on the back of the Declaration of Independence. The only problem is that the clues are very cryptic and scattered all over the country. After an initial clue from Gates' grandfather, he heads to a sunken ship, the Charlotte, in Alaska, where he believes the treasure may be found. He is disappointed when this only leads to another clue located on the back of the Declaration of Independence. To make matters worse, Gates has discovered that one of his partners, Ian Howe, played by Sean Bean, is also going after the treasure. In order to protect the treasure, Gates decides to notify the relevant authorities of the planned theft. When no one believes him, Gates is forced to steal the document with the help of his sidekick Riley Poole played by Justin Bartha. The film's motto helps describe this situation perfectly by stating "In order to break the code, one man will have to break all the rules." »...... middle of paper ...... film. During the chase scenes, dramatic and thrilling music makes the audience feel like they are involved in the real chase. Action/adventure films have one goal, and that is to have the audience on the edge of their seats for the entire duration of the film. . National Treasure accomplishes this feat. Staci Layne Wilson of The Fantastica Daily sums up the film perfectly, writing "The Secret Societies revealed a quest for truth and treasure, a hateful villain, and a good guy and a good girl who share a romance along the way . » National Treasure has something for everyone and this film will keep audiences of all ages glued to the screen. Even though the film can be deemed unrealistic at times, those who manage to look past this fact will truly enjoy the film. National Treasure is a must-have for action/adventure fans and can be found in stores on DVD.