Wait. No . . . It’s not Harrison Ford this time. No hearts are not being ripped out or bad guys being consumed by the angel of death. It’s the Declaration of Independence, not the Ark of the Covenant. Nonetheless, we do have a true “national treasure.” The tagline for National Treasure (2004), directed by Jon Turteltaub reads: “The greatest adventure history has ever revealed.” Not sure I can say that, but it sure was a great film, and for many reasons.

It had all the daring adventure of a Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), yet none of the blood and guts. Who says you have to have a PG-13 rating to draw a crowd? With one win and six nominations, National Treasure has become a modern day “Indiana Jones” flick. No, the plot wasn’t perfectly believable, and yet I found myself joyfully intrigued as I rehashed the glory days when Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) was where all the action was! While there can never be another “Indy,” Nicolas Cage brought life to Benjamin Franklin Gates and offered to famished viewers a true taste of good, clean fun! This movie had plenty of action and adventure, a touch of mystical U.S. history, and a happy ending. The mysterious plot is not unlike a real-life treasure hunt, skipping from clue to clue in a precarious puzzle that leads to a dark and dangerous cavern.

Also, I was quite pleased to finally leave a movie without some regret. It’s been a while. I find myself saying often, “Wow…if they had only left out that one scene and those four vulgarities and those two times where they took God’s name in vain, THEN it would have been a great movie! It doesn’t make a film funnier or make a point stronger to add these extras. I hope this is the beginning of a new trend - great plots, plenty of action, and you don't have to cover your children's eyes and ears . . . or your own, for that matter. I can’t believe I’m actually writing it, but . . . GOOD JOB DISNEY!