National Treasure, anyone going to see it?

[John Oteri]

The clips of National Treausre look pretty good, but as an historian I'm very wary of this flick. I'm curious how they handle some glaring problems with the concept.
1) During the Revolutionary War, the Colonies were so bankrupt that if there was a national treasure out there they would have already dug it up. the Continental Congress would have snapped it up to buy much needed arms from France.
2) Many of the Declaration's signers went broke, and died penniless.
3) Many Patriots fled the army because they had to return to their farms and go back to work to feed their starving families. The army had rarely been paid, they owned many of the generals a ton, and were unable to pay them. That was one of Bennidict Arnold's big complaints.
4) Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, was in debt up to his red hair by the time he left the White House. He would have surely raided the goods.
5) The new country under the Articles of Confederation was broke, they had no way of raising taxes, it would have been spent by the time the Constituion was finished.
6) The Founding Fathers would have never put a treasure map on the back of the Declaration, invisible ink or no. The copy that remained with them would have been so man-handled that it would have been too easy to lose.
7) Alexander Hamilton, who created America's banking system, treasury, and currency would have been wise to "clues" imprinted on the money. If he wasn't in on it, he was also shrewd enough to have figured it out, and taken the loot. He was a great man, but not a saint.
8)Aaron Burr would have solved it too, and bought an entire army or his own country.
9) Washington was also in need of funds throughout most of his retirement, he would have dipped into the cache.
10) Jefferson would have used it to pay off Napoleon for the Louisana Territory by 1803.

Other than that, it would have been a good idea.

[Bolero]

I think what *really* happened is they lost it in a game of scrabble with a bunch of cavemen...

[John Oteri]

I think what *really* happened is they lost it in a game of scrabble with a bunch of cavemen...


Come on---respect the facts of history---you know darn well they were playing Cribbage!

[Gary]

John, are you trying to inject a little reality into Hollywood? ;)

[Dave D]

The clips of National Treausre look pretty good, but as an historian I'm very wary of this flick. I'm curious how they handle some glaring problems with the concept.
1) During the Revolutionary War, the Colonies were so bankrupt that if there was a national treasure out there they would have already dug it up. the Continental Congress would have snapped it up to buy much needed arms from France.
2) Many of the Declaration's signers went broke, and died penniless.
3) Many Patriots fled the army because they had to return to their farms and go back to work to feed their starving families. The army had rarely been paid, they owned many of the generals a ton, and were unable to pay them. That was one of Bennidict Arnold's big complaints.
4) Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, was in debt up to his red hair by the time he left the White House. He would have surely raided the goods.
5) The new country under the Articles of Confederation was broke, they had no way of raising taxes, it would have been spent by the time the Constituion was finished.
6) The Founding Fathers would have never put a treasure map on the back of the Declaration, invisible ink or no. The copy that remained with them would have been so man-handled that it would have been too easy to lose.
7) Alexander Hamilton, who created America's banking system, treasury, and currency would have been wise to "clues" imprinted on the money. If he wasn't in on it, he was also shrewd enough to have figured it out, and taken the loot. He was a great man, but not a saint.
8)Aaron Burr would have solved it too, and bought an entire army or his own country.
9) Washington was also in need of funds throughout most of his retirement, he would have dipped into the cache.
10) Jefferson would have used it to pay off Napoleon for the Louisana Territory by 1803.

Other than that, it would have been a good idea.
Geez....and I thought I was bad cuz I nitpicked about the "mis-fact" in The Birth Of The Beatles ....they showed John playing a Les Paul in Hamburg!

[stereoptic]

thanks for the info John. I was planning on seeing the movie, probably when it comes around as a rental DVD. To me, just based on the TV commercial, my first impression was that they are cashing in on the success of The Davinci Code . Instead of works of art they have substituted historical documents.

[Pug]

I have to admit it. I want to see it.

I figure it'll be a fun way to spend an hour and a half.

Sean

[Jimbo]

Based on the previews, my friends and I have been derisively referring to it as Indiana Jones and the Declaration of Independence. Despite that, and the fact that Nick Cage is among my "top 10 least favorite actors," I'll see it eventually...

[poweragemk]

Come on...looking for accuracy and factuality in a Bruckheimer movie? :rolleyes:

[RDK]

This one looks horrible! We've been laughing at the trailer for months... :rolleyes:

[Peter D]

I'm perfectly capable of suspending my disbelief, but I'm not able to completely obliterate it, which is probably what would be required for me to enjoy this movie. Even by Bruckheimer standards it looks ludicrious...

[JohnG]

When my wife first saw the TV promo she thought it was a trailer for the "Davinci Code". She has read the book, I haven't.

But of course now we read their will be a "Davinci Code" movie next year.

[John Oteri]

John, are you trying to inject a little reality into Hollywood? ;)

Putting a treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence would be easier.
Now you know why my phone never rings anymore for writing gigs in town.

As far as Lennon's Les Paul in Hamburg...he used it when playing a duet with Mary Ford.
But I bet if someone re-enacted The Beatles on Ed Sullivan in '65 when McCartney sat solo to sing "Yesterday" they'd fire the historian who'd say he used Epiphone Texan! :eek:

[Ere]

Heck, they filmed part of it where I used to work, so I've got to see it :D

[Gary]

Now you know why my phone never rings anymore for writing gigs in town.

Eh, you're just not "off the wall" enough for Hollywood writing.

:)

[John Oteri]

Eh, you're just not "off the wall" enough for Hollywood writing.

:)

I'm actually pretty far off the wall...but when writing about reality I like to stick to it now and then! ;)

[Beatlelennon65]

Hey, Cribbage is a fun game! I've been playing for over 20 years! Anybody else play?

[Joe Nino-Hernes]

I might go see it. I rarely go to the movies. I go with my friends occasionally, when we have nothing else to do. Movies are kind of expensive here. I like to save my money for rekkids!!

[JohnG]

It looks like a guilty pleasure movie though its recieved very poor reviews here in NY.

I can wait for the DVD.

[Jimbo]

I was astounded to see that this film pulled in $11,000,000 on Friday alone, according to boxofficemojo.com. That's 2 mil more than "Spongebob"! I suspect the Saturday numbers will turn that around, but "NT" just might be a hit after all.

[Jimbo]

"National Treasure" outgrossed "SpongeBob" in its opening weekend. I'm stunned. I know grosses don't necessarily reflect quality, but I thought NT would sink like a rock.

1. "National Treasure," $35.3 million.

2. "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie," $33.5 million.

3. "The Incredibles," $26.8 million.

4. "The Polar Express," $15.2 million.

5. "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," $10.1 million.

6. "After the Sunset," $5.3 million.

7. "Ray, $4.6 million.

8. "The Grudge," $3.8 million.

9. "Seed of Chucky," $3.1 million.

10. "Saw," $3 million.

[JoelDF]

Well "NT" prabably has a slightly wider audience. But the final numbers still won't be known 'til tomorrow.

Still, not bad if the top two films grab almost 70 mil. together. Throw in "The Incredibles" and you're over 90...

[Dave D]

The Incredibles seems to not be doing crazy biz like other Pixar movies, does it?

[Jimbo]

Incredilbes is up to $177 mil so far, and should continue strong through the holidays. Probably won't top Nemo in grosses, but will easily pass $200 mil and has a shot at $300 mil.

[Dave D]

Incredilbes is up to $177 mil so far, and should continue strong through the holidays. Probably won't top Nemo in grosses, but will easily pass $200 mil and has a shot at $300 mil.
Thanks. Wasn't sure of the numbers