Did we see the same movie?

Assigning worth to a movie based upon its gross is silliness.  Expectations for Holywood movies are so low, that people will flock to anything.  Is Bud Light the best beer in the world because it outsells all other brands?  It wouldn't even make it in the contest.

The point I was trying to make is that it is a bad movie -- period.  If people were enertained by it to such an extent, then I question their ability to discern good from bad.  I know I will be told it is entertainment and escapism -- but an esape to where -- bizzaro world?

My personal opinion is that the plot is ridculous, the acting plodding, and the movie a prime example of Holywood formulaic pablum that plays loose with all facts or believability. It falls into the same stereotype that most Holywood movies do -- archaeologists are treasure hunters.  It doesn't make any difference whether the gain is for money or fame, archaeologists are out for personal gain in what they do.  That is not a standpoint in which I would like to attach my professional wagon.

Call me a snob, but I have higher expectations for entertainment -- and that has nothing to do with my insider expectations.

Read (or reread) the reviews of the movie.  As Roger Ebert said "National Treasure is so silly that the Monty Python version could use the same screenplay line for line."

My rant.

bob





-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Patrice L. Jeppson
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 11:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: National Treasure: Historical Archaeology on the big screen
redux


Bob,
We have to learn to face the fact that the insider archaeologist 
perspective on this movie is not relevant to what our publics perceive.

This understanding for me for this movie started when people in my own 
social network started calling to tell me they thought it was one of the 
best movies they had ever seen. This while while the movie was having an 
extended run at #1 in box-office sales. YET, there was no chatter about 
this historical archaeology-theme movie on the Histarch listserv (beyond my 
postings -- I was interested in the movie in relation to my historical and 
public archaeology research for the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission.)

Indiana Jones is usually the movie archaeologists associate with 
archaeology - and it is so for the public too -- for one generation. 
However, even while there has been Laura Croft and The Mummy games and 
movies (with sequels), this generation of the public is deeply influenced 
by National Treasure. Important evidence exists in relation to this movie's 
impact.


At 09:55 AM 8/7/2006 -0400, you wrote:

>You forgot the most important part -- the original was a pathetic waste of 
>time that made a mockery of both archaeology and the audience's 
>intelligence.  I will not hold my breath for the redux.
>
>bob
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
>Patrice L. Jeppson
>Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 11:02 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Historical Archaeology on the big screen redux
>
>
>FYI: Historical Archaeology on the big screen redux
>
>...The film followed a team led by archaeologist Benjamin Franklin Gates,
>played by Cage, as they attempted to decipher clues and escape violent
>thieves in the pursuit of a treasure hidden by America's forefathers...
>...National Treasure," which was co-produced by Hollywood heavyweight Jerry
>Bruckheimer, earned a worldwide gross of $348 million for Disney in 2004...
>
>More 'National Treasure' ahead for Cage
>LOS ANGELES, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Most of the original cast of the film
>"National Treasure," including star Nicolas Cage, has signed on to make a
>sequel of the U.S. film from Disney.
>The L.A. Daily News reported that Jon Turteltaub, the director of the hit
>action movie, has confirmed nearly all of the cast will be back when the
>cinematic sequel begins shooting later this year.
>"We are just about to start preproduction," he said. "We'll have Nic,
>Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight and Harvey Keitel... Everyone's
>back except anyone who's in jail or died."
>"National Treasure," which was co-produced by Hollywood heavyweight Jerry
>Bruckheimer, earned a worldwide gross of $348 million for Disney in 2004.
>The film followed a team led by archaeologist Benjamin Franklin Gates,
>played by Cage, as they attempted to decipher clues and escape violent
>thieves in the pursuit of a treasure hidden by America's forefathers.
>The paper said that Turteltaub would not commit to anything, but said the
>sequel will likely follow closely to its predecessor with a variety of
>exotic locations.
>
>© Copyright 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved
>
>http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060804-064014-1698r
>
>'National Treasure 2' Starts Shooting in 2007
>National Treasure 2, the sequel to the 2004 Indiana Jones style treasure
>hunt, will soon enter pre-production, according to director Jon Turteltaub.
>
>"We are just about to start preproduction," the director told L.A. Daily
>News. "We'll have Nic [Nicholas Cage], Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, Jon
>Voight and Harvey Keitel ... Everyone's back except anyone who's in jail or
>died." Shooting will start sometime in the first half of 2007.
>
>Viewers will be taken on a treasure hunt ride which will bring them to
>"exciting destinations within America as well as around the world. As we
>were shooting the first one, it kept changing, so I'm scared to commit to
>anything, but I wouldn't be surprised if Mount Rushmore made an
>appearance," Turtelaub promised.
>
>Disney's 2004 hit National Treasure grossed $348 million worldwide and was
>co-produced by Hollywood heavyweight Jerry Bruckheimer, who will also
>produce the sequel.
>
>The 2004 National Treasure follows the adventures of Ben Gates, a treasure
>hunter who uncovers the existence of a mythical Masonic treasure, hidden
>after the Revolutionary War, which is mapped on the Declaration of
>Independence. Since his childhood, Benjamin Franklin Gates has known that
>he descends from a long line of people whose job was to guard a treasure
>hidden by the Founding Fathers, who also hid clues to its whereabouts in
>various places. He has to steal the document and gains (actually kidnaps)
>Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) as his sidekick, battling both his turned bad
>employer and the FBI. His foe and former employer, Ian, was played by Sean
>Bean, who eventually got jailed in the end (that means he's out of the
>National Treasure 2 cast).
>
>Jon Turteltaub's earlier work includes 2000's The Kid, starring Bruce
>Willis, a movie also put out by Disney. He also directed 1999's The
>Instinct, with heavyweights Anthony Hopkins, Donald Sutherland and Cuba
>Gooding Jr. That movie is a about a noted archeologist (apparently) gone
>mad (Hopkins) and the psychologist who tries to uncover what's on his mind
>(Gooding Jr.).
>http://www.playfuls.com/news_0001907_National_Treasure_2_Starts_Shooting_in_2007.html
>
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>
>
>
>
>
>--
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Patrice L. Jeppson, Ph.D.
[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
www.p-j.net/pjeppson

Barbara Jordan: "What the people want is very simple. They want an America 
as good as its promise."

Are you eager for some family entertainment? Then check out our summer OMNIMAX duo. BEAVERS explores the remarkable life and habitat of one of nature's greatest engineers. The film follows the story of a family of beavers as they grow, play, build and transform the world around them. Also playing, GREECE: SECRETS OF THE PAST is a sweeping journey back to the Bronze and Golden Ages of ancient Greece. This is Classic OMNIMAX. For information, tickets or to become a member of Cincinnati Museum Center, call (513) 287-7000, (800) 733-2077 or visit www.cincymuseum.org.