A True Treasure of a Film

It didn't use to be that way. In the old days, Hollywood largely subscribed to Sam Goldwyn's famous dictum: "If you want to send a message, use Western Union." With the exception of supporting the United States while it was at war, its "message" was mainly wholesome family entertainment.

But those days are gone. This is not particularly surprising. The artistic fields of endeavor have always disproportionately attracted individuals with a non-traditional outlook on life. Such people tend to gravitate to fields that thrive on artistic and personal expression, free from external restraints and conventions. Their worldview typically entails a rebellious defiance of the status quo and authority, an often-adversarial relationship with reigning traditions, institutions, and values.

"National Treasure" jettisons all such twisted motives, and just seeks to entertain. And it does so in a way that glorifies our nation's history and pays respect to what America stands for. These are the kinds of films that Hollywood used to make, and it's nice to see that Tinseltown still knows how to make them.

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