National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (2007)

A great movie an adventure!

I loved this movie it is every bit as good as the first if not better. A great adventure. a must see! November 15, 2008

National Treasure II. Were they serious?

This movie combined with the bad scrip writing, the overacting and the repeated plot makes it a more of a torture device than a 'family fun' action drama. Most of the jokes aren't funny and the suspenseful parts are dull, drawn out and listless. November 8, 2008

Nothing special

I enjoyed "National Treasure 1" far more than I thought I would. That is a fun movie that manages to get you to suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride on the strength of sheer goofy energy, fast pacing, and fun. I'll buy into almost anything for 2 hours as long as you keep it moving, keep it fun, and keep it interesting.

"National Treasure 2" unfortunately bogs down under all of its weight. The plot bears the disjointed, cobbled-together hallmarks of any script burdened with three (count 'em, three!) different sets of writers on story alone. (It makes you wonder how many script doctors took a whack at it as well.) As a result, you never really know what this movie is about. Is it a romantic adventure? A Civil War story like National Treasure? A Spanish Colonial story? A story about a Blackwater-type CEO who is a mercenary treasure hunter manipulating Cage? A story about Cage's parents? The script doesn't know, and neither do we. As a result, we never really get things moving in a clear manner, which pulls you out of the movie and makes you start trying to figure out what's going on. (Finding the lost city of gold clears a guy of conspiring to kill Lincoln how, then?)

On the plus side, all of the actors are fantastic. How could you go wrong with Nicholas Cage (channeling the early, enjoyable phase of his career), Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, Jon Voight and Helen Mirren? Ed Harris did great with what he had to work with. It would have been a better film if it had been more about Harris and Cage trying to outwit each other, if only because Harris would have had more screen time and a more clearly defined character.

This is worth a rent if you liked "National Treasure" or like action movies. It's nothing special; it won't be a personal favorite; you may well forget all about it a week later. But it won't make you throw your shoes at the TV, and sometimes that's enough. November 6, 2008

Formula, formula, formula

Sometimes you can forgive, even appreciate, when Hollywood offers up a formulaic story that offers few surprises. This film isn't one of those instances. Pedantically predictable. November 5, 2008

A Fun Ride!

I absolutely loved the first movie, National Treasure, and couldn't wait to see the sequel. Now the first film is probably a better movie overall, but the second film is very enjoyable and has more action to it than the first. I think most people really enjoy seeing how Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage)can get into and out of severly restricted and off-limits places to check clues without getting caught, such looking into the Queen's desk at Buckingham Palace. All the original actors are back in this film from the first, giving it some continuity, and some new charactors make apperances here, notably Helen Mirren as Ben's language professor mom, Emily. The thrills and chills come fast and furious here, and overall the film is good clean family fun. I'm holding out hope for a third National Treasure! November 2, 2008

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