After collaborating on popcorn pics like The Rock and Con Air, Nicolas Cage re-teamed with megabucks producer Jerry Bruckheimer for the "big and brassy" treasure hunt caper National Treasure. Director Jon Turteltaub's formulaic approach got a mixed reception from critics, but box office receipts translated into a massive $172 million in the studio coffers.

Silvery Treasure

Perhaps the most novel thing about this DVD release is the treasure hunt feature. You'll have to hunt for clues to unlock access to all the bonus features, which may sound foreboding to younger users, but the codes are relatively easy to crack. The first extras menu contains all the clues you'll need, but first you'll have to trawl through a banal 'making of' featurette. It finds cast and crew on location, talking about the facets of the story that most interested them. "I was really concerned about what my character's motivation was," says Cage. (Erm, perhaps it was the same thing that motivated him to do this film?) Notes on production design and visual effects are also included, but very fleetingly.

Be ready to scribble down more clues between four deleted scenes, introduced by Turteltaub. The first is a humdrum historical flashback sketching former President Andrew Jackson as an unwitting conspirator in the mystery of the missing treasure. The second is an extended version of the "bottomless shaft" sequence, which occurs towards the end of the movie. The differences are minor, but it definitely feels more long-winded at over 6 minutes.

An alternate opening sequence is presented in the form of a CG animated storyboard. It features a booming voiceover by Christopher Plummer that sets up the story as well as lending a little gravitas. Meanwhile an alternate ending suggests that a second treasure map may be hidden on the back of the US Constitution. Turteltaub explains that he cut this because test audiences thought it was a hint at a sequel. Apparently this wasn't his intention.

Get A Clue

You'll need to make sense of your clues before gaining access to the second special features menu. (Once you've cracked it, a master code opens a shortcut to the full index.) Among the highlights are a fascinating featurette on real-life treasure hunters who travel the length and breadth of the USA to unearth sunken Spanish galleons and long-forgotten bank-robbers' booty.

For educational value, there's a potted history of The Knights Templar, a monastic order established after The First Crusade who are thought to have secreted a priceless collection of ancient artefacts. Plus, actor Justin Bartha (who plays Riley) hosts a brief look at code cracking and invites you to decipher a message which leads to a hidden trivia track that accompanies the film.

Don't go hunting for a director's commentary though, because there isn't one. It's a shame Turtletaub and Cage didn't dig a little deeper, because the novelty value of this DVD begins to wear thin after initial viewing. With their minimal contributions, only one or two gems stand out.

EXTRA FEATURES