Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, Troy (2004) is a loose re-telling of Homer's Ancient Epic poem, "The Iliad." Focusing on the wooing of Helen by Paris, and the resulting bloody Trojan War, the film plays up the action and seemingly disregards the strong supernatural role played by the Greek Gods in the original story text. Nevertheless, the grand-scale battle scenes are spectacular and the set designs beautifully recreate the look of the Ancient world circa 1200 B.C. The all-star cast is great, including Brad Pitt as the great warrior Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector, Orlando Bloom as Paris, Brian Cox as Agamemnon, Diane Kruger as the beautiful Helen of Troy (the face that launched a thousand ships), Sean Bean as Odysseus and Peter O'Toole as Priam.
Directed by Jon Turteltaub, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures, National Treasure (2004) adds a family-friendly element to the museum heist and treasure hunt genres. The story centers on Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian and cryptographer who is on a quest to find the world's most valuable treasure… collected over centuries by Secret Societies and the Knights Templar, and then taken to the US and hidden by the Freemasons in the 18th Century. Clues and Masonic Symbols lead Gates to the conclusion that the Founding Fathers made a secret treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Now, Gates must steal the document from the highly secure National Archives before the bad guys get it first. An implausible storyline doesn't hinder this fun tale… traveling from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia to New York and Boston. Full of adventure and history, the film is entertaining and a cut above the usual dull family fare. The cast does a good job, including Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Harvey Keitel, Sean Bean, Christopher Plummer, Justin Bartha and Jon Voight.
Christopher Plummer: National Treasure. The Freemasons
The Secret lies with Charlotte: National Treasure. The Freemasons
: National Treasure. The Freemasons
: National Treasure. The Freemasons
The Declaration of Independence: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Freemason Symbol: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger: National Treasure. The Freemasons
George Washington Medal: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Nicolas Cage and the Declaration of Independence: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Freemason Symbol: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Jon Voight: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Harvey Keitel: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Freemason Symbol : National Treasure. The Freemasons
Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger: National Treasure. The Freemasons
The All Seeing Eye: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Nicolas Cage and Harvey Keitel: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Cage: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Freemason Symbol: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Ancient Treasure: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Ancient Treasure: National Treasure. The Freemasons
Diane Kruger, Nicolas Cage and Jon Voight: National Treasure. The Freemasons
