Movie Review: National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
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Written by Carly Hope Finseth
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
A long-time fan of classic movies like The Goonies and newer attempts like Spy Kids, I've gotta say that I'm a sucker for cheesy, kids action adventures. I have no good excuse for this (having no kids myself) other than the fact that, sometimes, I don't want to think; I just want a movie to entertain me.
Enter in National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, the latest Walt Disney family adventure film starring the ever-so-entertaining Nicolas Cage. By all accounts, I should have loved this film (the first National Treasure remains one of my favorite kid-friendly flicks), and while I would have loved to report that it was fantastic, I've gotta say that it was - while not wonderful - at least pretty good.
You can't take a movie like this too seriously - and you shouldn't, because National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets doesn't pretend to be anything its not. It's not terribly smart, nor well acted; it's just good, old fashioned, family friendly fun. The bonus just happens to be that it stars Nicolas Cage (as professor-slash-treasure-hunter Ben Gates), the perfect answer to a film laden with Disney campiness.
This time around, the plot centralizes around Gates going on a mission to clear his ancestor's name with regard to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The result is that he must find the mysterious Lost City of Gold, the location of which can only become clear through clues left behind in a hard-to-locate tome called the Book of Secrets. Of course, as Gates and his friends try to locate the Lost City, he's got rivals on his tail (led by the great Ed Harris). The question is: Will either of these groups find the Lost City and, if so, who will find it first? It's rife with messages of good vs. evil, yadda, yadda, yadda - and sometimes it gets a bit old - but all in all, the result is a fun, quick-paced action adventure that most kids should love.
In comparison to the first National Treasure film, though, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets didn't spend as much time as I would have liked on decoding mysterious clues. After all, half of the fun of these sorts of movies is trying to decipher the mystery... Here, though, the focus is much more on keeping up the pace of the film. Not much time is spent going through books or trying to decipher much of anything; most of the characters here conveniently already have the knowledge they need to move the story along. Gates's mom (played by the always riveting Helen Mirren), for instance, knows how to interpret ancient languages just by looking at them. (Some speculation, collaboration, conspiracy theories - or even a wrong answer or misdirected clue - would have made for a more exciting addition to the film.)
Also, the film had sub-plot relationship difficulties that didn't need to be there at all. Quibbles between Gates and his girlfriend were inane to say the least and added nothing to the plot. I couldn't help but feel that it was a generic, formulaic addition that some Hollywood exec added at the last minute for "drama." But even with that said, just like the original, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is a fun joyride that made me feel like a kid again.
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets starring Nicolas Cage Walt Disney Pictures, Rated PG. Available online at Amazon.com.
Carly Hope Finseth spends much of her time pondering what she wants to be when she grows up. She alternates between days filled with cozy socks, hot tea, and meditative reflection - and others, which are loaded with caffeine fixes, grueling commutes, and one fire to put out after another. When she’s not sifting through e-mails, dropping her cell phone, or sticking another reminder Post-It on her desk, Carly also somehow finds the time to write and reflect on important (and the occasional not-so-important) feminist issues.
My curse is my gift. My nightmares, deep sensitivity, and emotional instability gives the best (and most uncomfortable) inspirations I could ever have. For me, art is passion - and visions are the mirror, which show my feelings and connect me with the rest of the world. Read More...
Carly Hope Finseth spends much of her time pondering what she wants to be when she grows up. She alternates between days filled with cozy socks, hot tea, and meditative reflection - and others, which are loaded with caffeine fixes, grueling commutes, and one fire to put out after another. When she’s not sifting through e-mails, dropping her cell phone, or sticking another reminder Post-It on her desk, Carly also somehow finds the time to write and reflect on important (and the occasional not-so-important) feminist issues.
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