Nicholas Cage Is A "National Treasure"... More Or Less

National Treasure (2004)

Rated PG for language and peril

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Havey Keitel,

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

The Story:

Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage) is the latest historian in the lineage of the Gates family to seek the rumored Templar Treasure hidden by the Founding Fathers since the Revolutionary War.  However, his reasons are noble, and wants to ensure the treasure doesn't fall into the hands of mercenaries led by Ian Howe (Bean), so Gates and his pal Riley (Bartha) do whatever it takes, including stealing the Declaration of Independence to discover the clues to find the treasure.  But will they succeed?

Of course they will!

It's been 10 years since this movie came out, and was critically bashed.

Boo.

This movie is fun.

Check your brain at the door, and let Nicholas Cage have some fun on the screen and just enjoy it.

It's the most enjoyable trip in history, this side of Indiana Jones.

The sequel was decidedly less enjoyable, but nope, I still have a soft spot in my heart for this one.

It's a family-friendly popcorn film, courtesy of Disney.  Good action sequences, competent acting, some funny bits...


There's something for everyone, except the haters.

;)

Cage rules!

:)

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  I already own it and it gets a spin every few years.

"The Real Story: Indiana Jones" Or, At Least That's What They Claim

The Real Story: Indiana Jones (2009)

The Story:

The Smithsonian Channel began a series in 2009 where they looked at the behind the scenes real-life stories that may have inspired some of Hollywood's biggest hits. From the first season, a look at the stories that may have inspired Indiana Jones.

While George Lucas and Steven Spielberg say that Indiana Jones was a throwback to the movie serials of the 30s and 40s, apparently those serials were inspired by Roy Chapman Andrews, adventurous archaeologist.  While his were purely scientific endeavors, a German scholar, Otto Rahn spent his life searching for the Holy Grail.

Through recreations and archival footage, the show makes a case that these were the real inspirations, whether Lucas or Spielberg knew it or not.

Again, not a bad show, but a lot of repetition of stock footage and the same facts throughout the 43 minute run time.  I suppose with commercials, this works, but going from start to finish without a bathroom or kitchen break... this show should be paced at 30 minutes.

:)

Now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Once was good.  I may give another shot or two at some of their other episodes.

You Know Him. You Just Don't Realize It Yet. "Drew: The Man Behind The Poster"

Drew: The Man Behind the Poster (2013)
N/R- Documentary...does contain a bit of language and a few artistic nude paintings

Starring Drew Struzan, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Steven Spielberg

Directed by Erik Sharkey


The Story:

You may not know his name, but you know Drew Struzan's work.  At least assuming you've ever seen a movie poster between the 1970s and now.

This is his story, and it's actually pretty interesting stuff!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I could put my 5 favorite Struzan posters on this review and call it good.



Hmm... I still might...

But that misses the point!

This is the story of a man who made a name for himself by being himself.  A dedicated artist who loved to work, and with a few twists of fate wound up becoming famous in Hollywood, and shaping how fans around the world came to view the movies.



You will hear Michael J. Fox, Harrison Ford, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and many, many others gush about how great his work is, and how amazing it is to have Drew complete a poster for their movies.  In fact, it's quite praiseworthy how much they realize they need to make their movies as good as Drew's posters make them out to be.



You will also be amazed at the business venture that Struzan wound up in that went horribly wrong, but had the ultimate revenge at the end.  You can't script a story better than that!

Most remarkable, Struzan seems to be the most humble, likeable guy to ever be in any Hollywood circle.

THAT, is amazing, and elevates this piece even more.  Usually you'll hear someone say, yeah, but he's an @#$@#@#$...



Not here.  There is nothing but universal praise for his body of work and the man himself.

Amusingly, as many point out, even Drew's work on inferior movies never diminished his paintings, which most considered to be better than the movie they represented! :)

Count me as another fan, who is happy after all these years to put a name and face to the man who brought me a lot of joy on movie posters and VHS/DVD cases over the years.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  I could definitely watch it again, probably a viewing in the near future with my art students is in the works.  A purchase?  It's possible...As I glance Amazon I see they have books that contain his work... and that might be better still. : )

I'm Still Waiting for My Hoverboard..."Back to the Future Part II"

Great Scott!

The Story:

Picking up from the end of Back to the Future, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) returns from the future for Marty (Michael J. Fox) and they even take Jennifer (Elisabeth Shue) this time to the future.  It appears that Marty's son is about to make a mistake that will cost him dearly, and Doc wants to prevent that from happening.  But alas, while in the future, Biff (Thomas F. Wilson) steals the DeLorean, goes back to 1955 and changes the past.  This creates a horrible alternate future that Doc and Marty must go back in time once again to prevent from happening.

Was it a case of too much of a good thing?

Back to the Future Part II is much like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  It works for what it is... it is simply darker and more sinister than the awesome film that preceded it.  Then a third part of the trilogy is made, that rivals the first film in tone and quality, and you are stuck forever as the ugly duckling of the franchise.

Luckily for Back to the Future, unlike Indiana Jones, they never made a 4th one to make you realize that the 2nd film wasn't quite so bad after all.

: )

Perhaps Part II is simply too ambitious?

I mean, with the first one, you have 1985 and 1955, and then finish in an altered 1985.

In Part 2, you have 1985, 2015, a changed 1985, 1955.. a whole lot of story had to be crammed into all of this, with a final payoff of getting back to 1885.

So maybe a little rushed... maybe too many layers crammed into this outing...

But it's still really good.

On its own, this would likely be an A/A- movie...

When sandwiched between 2 superior parts of a franchise...

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it... I love it... but yes, while the original gets all the love and attention, Part 2 is the Jan Brady of the series.  : )