National Treasure

Main Plot

"National Treasure" is an adventure film that follows historian and cryptologist Benjamin Franklin Gates as he seeks to find a legendary treasure that has been hidden for centuries. The treasure hunt begins when Ben discovers a clue on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Believing that the document holds the key to a map leading to the treasure, Ben decides to protect it from falling into the wrong hands, particularly those of a wealthy treasure hunter who is also on the trail. Ben assembles a team, including a computer expert and a museum curator, to help him decode the complex series of clues and riddles that the founding fathers left behind. Their journey takes them to various historical sites across the country, each clue bringing them closer to the treasure but also deeper into danger. As they race against their ruthless competitor and evade the FBI, Ben must balance his quest with the moral implications of potentially damaging a national relic. The film blends action, history, and mystery, culminating in a high-stakes finale that tests the limits of Ben's knowledge and courage.

Characters

• Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian and treasure hunter, deciphers clues to find the legendary Templar Treasure before a team of mercenaries does.
• Diane Kruger plays Dr. Abigail Chase, a National Archives curator who assists in solving historical puzzles and finding a hidden treasure.
• Justin Bartha plays Riley Poole, a tech-savvy sidekick helping to solve historical puzzles and find hidden treasures.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of 'National Treasure,' directed by Jon Turteltaub, protagonist Benjamin Franklin Gates (played by Nicolas Cage) successfully uncovers the legendary Templar Treasure, proving both his family's long-held belief and his own theories correct. The climax unfolds in an underground chamber beneath Trinity Church in New York City, where Gates, along with his friends Riley Poole and Abigail Chase, discovers the vast treasure hidden since the founding of America. After a tense confrontation with antagonist Ian Howe, who has followed Gates throughout the treasure hunt, Gates manages to outsmart Howe, leading to Howe's arrest by the FBI. Gates, as a gesture of goodwill and to clear his family name, decides to share the location of the treasure with the authorities rather than keeping it secret or using it for personal gain. The film concludes with Gates and his team receiving a reward for the discovery, though it is only a small fraction of the treasure's total worth. However, Gates seems content as his primary goal was to honor his family's legacy. The final scenes show Gates and Chase starting a relationship, and Riley humorously lamenting his modest share of the reward. The ending underscores themes of patriotism, sacrifice, and the quest for historical truth.