National Treasure

[Just Myself]

From the main page as of September 11, 2004:

"National Treasure, a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced adventure which comes to theaters in November, appears to be under the Walt Disney Pictures heading now. As such, we've added this film to the Disney Films Coming to Theaters page, with some pictures, and a link to the trailer. Seems like unusual fare to release as Disney, not Touchstone, but we'll have to see if that changes."

Luke, what's your source? It's not shown at either IMDb or the Walt Disney Pictures main site.

[Luke]

Tomorrow's NY Times has the Fall Preview of Movies, etc. "Walt Disney Pictures" appears twice on the full-page National Treasure ad. All the other materials says Touchstone, and the material seems to just scream for that, so I'm reluctant to think that it will be released under Disney. But that's definitely what the (as far as I can tell) most recent ad says.

On a semi-related note, there's a cool full-page ad for The Incredibles that I hadn't seen before. Shows the whole family, plus Syndrome, Frozone, and in the corner there's a little thing that says "All Costumes Designed by Edna Mode." High hopes for that one.

[Jake Lipson]

Actulally, I have an old Disney Magazine from, I think, earlier this year, that said this was Disney. That was before the trailer was under TouchStone's banner. So they seem to have been going back and forth on it for a while.

Personally I think it makes sense to release it under Disney. It's a family adventure film, sort of like Indiana Jones.

Plus - Disney may be thinking that it'll have more chance of success under the "Disney" label, as Disney is a more well known brand. Plus, Bruckhimer's most successful film ever (Pirates of the Caribbean, of couse) was released by "Disney."

[Just Myself]

This is a game I will update weekly where we come in and predict a movies rating and when it will be rated. It may be a little slow, but it could get interesting! Now, this week's film to be predicted is

"NATIONAL TREASURE", the most-likely-to-be-Blockbuster Jerry Bruckheimer film that has been juggle from Touchstone Pictures to Walt Disney Pictures.

I'm geussing this film will be rated PG for Action Violence and Language. C'mon, it looks like Indiana Jones in the modern day, it can't be THAT violent... oh what the hell yes it could

[MickeyMousePal]

Well, when I first saw the preview the type of action and the plot of the movie amazed me. It seems like a mystery movie with action, which I like. Also Nicolas Cage stars in this film so I predict it might make about $25 million on the first week and overall about 100 million who knows I say the media will want to know the secret of the movie were lays the treasure in the pyramid that knows.
I’m going to wait for the DVD debut of this film.

[Paka]

Geez... how many times do they say "treasure" in that dang trailer? O_o

"There lies a treasure..."
"I believe there's a treasure..."
"I don't think there's a treasure..."

Yeesh... it takes a couple notches off its credibility... I'll say that.

Sorry, Chris - I smell another bomb. Especially during the insane and highly competitive holiday season. Who's gonna take a plot like that very seriously? Yeesh... an American history lesson rolled up into a "treasure hunt" plot? No thanks. e_e

But anyhoo, as to the rating; what with the violence, mature themes, and doubtless a few "bad words" sprinkled in, I'm hedging my bets on a PG-13. This is as likely to get a PG as it is to be a holiday hit.

[TheZue]

I'm thinking PG-13....the studio will want that anyways since it's more likely to get the teens in.

[Just Myself]

Paka- Yeah, it does look kinda silly, but all the other good movies, like Flight of the Pheonix, have been postponed. There's nothing but children's crap coming out around this time(SpongeBob, Polar Express). I want to see those, but this looks like the only film teens would give a crap about. I see a minor Blockbuster, even over the silly plot.

[Luke]

To me, this looks like a generic Bruckheimer action film. From the past films in this class that I've seen ("Con Air", "Gone in Sixty Seconds"), I don't hold too much hope. The decision to release it as Disney not Touchstone is odd. From the trailer, it looks every bit as PG-13 as other recent glossy action films.

Will there be more emphasis on plot as there was in the past 2 Bruckheimer films released under the "Disney" banner? Don't know, but I wouldn't count on it.

[TheZue]

Are we sure it's still going under the Disney brand? The poster I saw at the theatre last week said Touchstone. I totally agree that it doesn't look very Disney-ish...but it does look interesting enough that I will be checking it out.

[Luke]

Are we sure it's still going under the Disney brand? The poster I saw at the theatre last week said Touchstone. I totally agree that it doesn't look very Disney-ish...but it does look interesting enough that I will be checking it out.

Yes, this is a recent change. I had my doubts when I posted it on the front page a couple of weeks ago, but the new poster has Disney on it, and it's now on the Disney website. Unless it changes again, but that'd be cutting it awfully close.

[disneyfella]

they did the same thing with Hidalgo, changing it's company banner after a trailer and posters were already out. i was so hyped to go see this after i saw the trailer on pirates of the caribbean and then when i saw that they changed it to touchstone pictures i was like, "well, i won't go see that one". i know that's ridiculous, but i at least rented, but part of my big reason for wanting to see it was that it was a disney movie appealing to adults (i.e. pirates). i hope this one does well. i really like john turtletaub (the director of this film) and i'm interested to see his take on this film.

[Just Myself]

National Treasure has been rated PG for Action Violence and Some Scary Images.

[Luke]

Bruckheimer Lite! Now, the question arises - which came first the "Disney" or the "PG"? Did the MPAA let Disney know it would get a PG, hence the branch switch? Or did Disney switch the branch, submit to the MPAA, and dutifully get their PG?

The world may never know.

But I guess based on Paka's earlier statement, we can hedge our bets on this being a box office success!

[Just Myself]

I still think it will do well, especially when your major competition is The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. And no Incredibles doesn't count cause it will be three weeks old when this comes out.

[Luke]

I still think it will do well, especially when your major competition is The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. And no Incredibles doesn't count cause it will be three weeks old when this comes out.

I think The Incredibles will have legs enough to take it through Thanksgiving. Not that it's the same audience as this, but The Incredibles will RUUUUULE November.

[Just Myself]

Nah. It will rule the first two weeks and then fall. You watch.

[Paka]

Well, shut mah mouth and paint me red!

Luke makes a valid point, though - I'm suspsicious that there were some studio politics involved with the rating and the distributor change. Ah, well. Guess that means that indeed, this will be a smash holiday hit for the whole family!

Poor, backwards Chris - thinking that National Treasure will be successful and that Incredibles will bomb.

[Just Myself]

I don't think Incredibles will bomb, I've said it before- I just don't see it making Nemo like success. And National Treasure will do well- just not as well as The Incredibles which won't do as well as Nemo.

[Bill]

Okay, okay, it's not a DVD. But it hopes to be this November's Big Blockbuster. Disney hopes it will be the next PotC. What do you think? Wait, before you rate it, maybe you should watch the first ten minutes of the film...

http://movies.channel.aol.com/franchise ... easure.adp

There, go watch it and tell us what you think!