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NATIONAL TREASURE BOOK OF SECRETS
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SYNOPSIS:
Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage) looks to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by uncovering the mystery within the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth's diary.
REVIEW:
The sequel to its successful 2004 movie, National Treasure Book of Secrets takes us on another ride of adventure and learning more about the History of the United States. A definite takeoff of the Indiana Jones movies but the only difference is that National Treasure works within the confines of our modern times plus trying to keep things as 'real' as possible.
The trick of making movies like these is to make sure we the audience stays in reality as much as we can. As soon as something looks fake to our eyes on screen, we are immediately turned off. For someone who has been on many film sets and in many more editing rooms, fake usually happens when we either see the hand-prints of the Director, Directing team or actor on the screen. When a key member of the creative team begins to steer away from the plot and starts to do things that they want to do.
There are two scenes in this movie that are the keys to making this a successful film. One, is when the lead treasure hunter kidnaps the president in order to ask him a question. The plot and setup is very unrealistic but it works in the moment because the two actors (Nicolas Cage and Bruce Greenwood playing the president) pull it off. The other is the key scene in the final act which I can't reveal unless I spoil the ending. But that scene doesn't work out and therefore this is a good film, but not a great film.
It's tough directing a film like this. You must make it action oriented and keep the pace going, while also steering the plot when the explanation and exposition scenes take place with the characters. Director Jon Turteltaub is a good filmmaker and I'm sure this film will succeed commercially, but it just won't stand the test of time.
Entertaining nonetheless but I only can give it an OK grade.
2 1/2 out of 4
National Treasure Book of Secrets
