National Treasure is based on a theory that the Founding Fathers hid a secret treasure that changed hands from the legendary crusade group, the Knights Templar, to the Free Masons and then ultimately into the hands of the Founding Fathers.

Since he was a child, Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) has known that he has descended from a family whose job was to guard a treasure hidden by the Founding Fathers, which hid clues to where the treasure is in the country’s money, national monuments and on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Gates, through a betrayal by his business partner Ian Howe (Sean Bean) has learned of Howe’s plot to steal the Declaration. Gates, seeing only one way to protect the Declaration, steals it himself. While trying to put his own scheme together to steal the Declaration, the FBI gets wind of his plan and try to prevent the heist as well.

National Treasure is a very clean and entertaining movie. It is the kind of movie you can watch with anyone and not feel uncomfortable. Even though it is a Disney movie there is still plenty of action and suspense, the only difference is that there is very little obscenities and no gratuitous violence. The movie is at times predictable and at some points borderline unrealistic. For the most part, it keeps your attention and has a very good story line. It is not one that will make the DVD collection, but I would watch it again. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.