National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Review by Sean Lynch

Does anyone else get the feeling that Spielberg finally decided to get off his bum after 20 years to make a new installment of Indiana Jones only to show the world that National Treasure ISN'T the way adventure movies should be made?

There's something deep inside of me that truly believes that Spielberg has opted to make the film in an attempt to discredit the Bruckheimer / Nicholas Cage led franchise from (what can only equate to) stealing cash from the pockets of ignorant movie fans. But then again - if your stupid enough to fall for the clever trailer tricks of Bruckheimer by this stage... you probably deserve to have your money taken from you anyway.

The follow up to 2004's National Treasure (which took a phenomenal $347,451,894 Worldwide) again takes us on the adventures of treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) who sets out on yet another action-packed global quest to unearth hidden treasures. This time around, a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth surfaces which implicates Ben's Great-Grandfather as a key conspirator in Abraham Lincoln's death. In order to prove his ancestor's innocence, Gates follows an international chain of clues which takes him on a chase from Paris to London and ultimately back to the States (and to one of the history's most sought after treasure).

Let's just get this out of the way, National Treasure 2 is pure junk. The jokes fall flat, there is no chemistry what so ever with the cast, the plot is down right ludicrous - and Nicholas Cage's teeth look like they were stolen from the set of The Mask.

The twists and turns are just so ridiculous, implausible, illogical unwarranted & unexplained (I could have sworn there was at least one security guard in the entire Buckingham Palace!!) that there will be more than a few times throughout the flick you could be excused for thinking you are watching an expensive version of Relic Hunter (minus Tia Carrare).

Even more inexplicable is the all-star cast on offer, with more than a handful of Academy favourites part of the proceedings (obviously added to hide the fact the film itself hasn't a skerrig of credibility). Ed Harris takes it all rather seriously and brings some weight to an otherwise unwritten cliche character, Helen Mirren is (admittedly) fantastic as Gate's mother, while John Voight does his best-worst Sean Connery impersonation as Gate's father (who is still just a treasure hunter at heart, of course).

It's hollow, over formulaic sugar coating of a far superior product - which is exactly why it will make a bundle at the Box Office (as will the next sequel) and is exactly why it's probably one of the most watchable flicks of the summer.

There are good no brainer popcorn films, and there are bad no brainer popcorn flicks. But history has shown us that even the bad no brainers end up living on as 'so-bad-they're-good' (Case in Point: Steven Segal's career), so I will happily admit that in spite of every part of my body hating every moment.... National Treasure 2 is actually quite bad - in a totally good way.

It's not setting out to break any new ground, it's simply out to entertain you and keep you occupied for two hours - and in that regard - National Treasure : Book of Secrets is surprisingly good value for money. The final action piece is good fun - and the set's look pretty damn cool (think Goonies meets Raiders of the Lost Ark).

Well worth checking out - because it's not as bad as it actually is (if that makes sense). However, do the world a favour and make sure you check out Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls as well - if only to see how good a film like this actually can be.

2.5 out of 5

National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Australian release: 20th December, 2007
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris
Director: Jon Turteltaus
Website: Click here.