An exercise in self-importance

With its built-in audience of the millions of people who have already read Dan Brown's book, Ron Howard dind't actually have to make much of an effort with this movie. So he didn't. Instead, we're treated to entirely pedestrian moviemaking - adventure by numbers - which seems drunk on its own sense of self-importance. "National Treasure", brainless, entertaining hookum that it is, is a positive masterpiece by comparison.

2/10