In the Arizona desert, there is a hidden treasure according to an old legend. It seems once the Colorado river was overflowing and a Chinese ship with jewels, gold, and other costly items went aground. Now, there is nothing but sand and an old map which may indicate where the ship is. Two groups collide to find the riches for themselves. One is a duo, with a greedy Brit and a nicer Asian man (Byron Mann) who got the map from ancestors. The other search party is a group of fourteen year olds on a field trip with their science teacher and his girlfriend as chaperones. Supposedly looking for geodes, the kids found the map at a photo shop, where negatives were left, and they switched the map without their teacher's knowledge. Soon, the Brit gets scared, as he sees an apparition of a camel at night and his Asian sidekick gets angry, leaving him to his own resources. Once the teacher finds out the kids are looking for the sunken ship, he, too, is angry, as their supplies are low. But, with great skills, the kids learn to make do and get more clues as to where the treasure is. However, there may be obstacles and bed folks out to stop them. Can they discover the gold and also live through it? This knockoff of The Goonies is okay but certainly not top tier. Young teens and grade school children may like it as the young actors are very attractive and just learning how to kiss! The gentleman and lady playing the two teachers were also quite wonderful as was various secondary thespians. But, the low budget scenery, costumes, and slow direction take away from the total impact of the movie. Nevertheless, if your kids liked The Goonies and other treasure seeking films, Ghost Ship might sail well for your family.
