Directors: Jon Turteltaub
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel, Bruce Greenwood
Genre: Action, Adventure
Rated: Rated PG for some violence and action
Plot: Tracking down the missing pages of John Wilkes Booth’s diary is the first step in treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates’s plan to uncover a worldwide conspiracy.

My Review: Awesome. I loved National Treasure and I loved National Treasure Book of Secrets. It wasn’t quite as good as the first but darn near close. National Treasure is the Indiana Jones of the 21st century. Unlike Indiana Jones though, the second movie wasn’t a bust. Ben Gates played by Nicolas Cage is back. this time he must find Cibola, the legendary City of Gold, to clear the name of his great great grandfather who has been accused of being a conspirator to the Lincoln assassination.

The plot breaks down a little bit in that I was never quite sure how finding the treasure cleared his ancestors name. The motivation of the lead villain is a little weak and why they need to kidnap the president other than to stick to the National Treasure formula is beyond me. Nevertheless, if you can get past these flaws in the plot you’ll love this movie and so will you’re kids. The trio of main characters Ben Gates, Riley, and Dr. Chase joined by Ben’s mother as well as father this time again trace their way through American history. In addition to the cool puzzles and exciting action you’re kids may actually learn something, like the name of the guy who designed the Statue of Liberty. Did you know there are actually three statues of Liberty? Its true.

The action is fun. The history is interesting and the little bit of violence is well within Disney standards making it suitable for young children. This is a great film to take your kids to see over the Christmas break. Once they are exhausted, have played with all of their presents, and you just have to get them out of the house take them to see Book of Secrets. I loved it and I can’t wait for it to come out on DVD.

P.S. What’s on page 47?

Rating: 4/5 stars
High Point: Breaking and entering into many of our national historic places
Low Point: Plot flaws can make the story difficult to follow

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