Any attempt to dissect the clues, their meanings, and the solutions that Gates comes up with will leave the viewer flustered.  It's not just that the clues make little sense, the solutions and their implementations are often far too convenient.  Sitting back, turning off one's brain, and letting the mystery unfold however can lead to an enjoyable experience. 

While Bean is good in his role, he has clearly been typecast.  He has now appeared in numerous Hollywood features that cast him as an apparent good guy who turns out to be evil at just the wrong moment.  It has become so obvious to use Bean in this manner that the switch is no longer exciting.  From the moment he appears on screen in this movie one immediately wonders why the good guy, Gates, would be spending time with such an obvious villain.  It takes a moment or two for the viewer to realize that Howe as not yet revealed his true intentions.

Working with Gates is the over-eager comic relief, Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) and at times Gates's father, Patrick (Jon Voight) and Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger).  Gates and his band solve riddles, find improbable clues, and perform ill-advised feats (such as stealing the Declaration of Independence).  Harvey Keitel appears as the hard-nosed lead investigator tasked with retrieving the Declaration of Independence, and adds some levity to what could have been an overly serious role.

The new two-disc set features all the usual supplementals that have become standard within a DVD release.  There are deleted scenes, an alternate ending, an opening scene animatic, documentaries on the historical realities that the movie uses, and a code-breaking challenge.  Some of the features are initially hidden and are only "unlocked" by watching others and decoding a riddle.  While some of the supplemental material is vaguely interesting, only the truly dedicated viewer will spend the time to watch them all. 

National Treasure is a big, loud, pseudo-intellectual Hollywood blockbuster.  Much like the clues and riddles Benjamin Franklin Gates finds on his hunt, looked at from the right angle it can provide amusement, excitement, and a fun two hours in front of a screen.