: The film operates on the principle that "those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action" when something is wrong. Historical Fact vs. Fiction
While the franchise is celebrated for making history feel "alive," it takes significant creative liberties with real events. National Treasure
: Ben decides he must steal the document to prevent a ruthless competitor, Ian Howe (Sean Bean), from doing so for personal greed. : The film operates on the principle that
: Ben discovers a clue pointing to an invisible map on the back of the Declaration of Independence . : Ben decides he must steal the document
The first film introduces Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), a historian and cryptologist descended from a long line of treasure hunters. The story is driven by a family myth: the Founding Fathers, linked to the Freemasons and Knights Templar, hid a massive, ancient treasure to protect it during the American Revolution.