Naturally I had to follow "
National Treasure" with the sequel "
Book of Secrets". Why do I love these sorts of action adventure mystery films? I have no idea. The thrill of discovery? the thrill of finding clues and figuring out puzzles? or maybe simply the hunt for hidden treasure. Following a similar story as the first film, and with the same director
Jon Turteltaub, this time it is personal.
Nicolas Cage returns as Ben Gates, and after being accused in public of a historical lie, he is forced to find the truth. Gates, well the Gates family, is accused of being part of the conspiracy behind the Lincoln assassination. Naturally this can't stand and so Gates is off on another adventure to find the truth, which will also lead to treasure. Going along is
Diane Kruger (Abagail),
Justin Bartha (Riley), and Gate's parents
Jon Voight (Patrick Gates), and
Helen Mirren (Emily Appleton). The bad guy in this film is
Ed Harris (Mitch Wilkinson). We also have the return of
Harvey Keitel as Sadusky.
This film does take you to England, and Paris, as well as DC and the Black Hills in South Dakota. The clues are good, the mystery and hunt all makes sense, and is logical. There is humor throughout, and tension, and excitement...and a happy ending like most Disney films. The pleasure of a film like this, or even the first National Treasure, is how much truth there is in the fiction. It is just enough truth to make it fully believable, yet still fiction enough. For example, the Resolute Desk - an actual item in the Oval Office, which, in the film, has a twin in Buckingham Palace. Truth and fiction.
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