Just as Silly as the First Installment

Rating: 6/10 (23 March 2009)

If you thought the first "National Treasure" movie to be surreal, well look no further, "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" surpassed the level of surrealism of its predecessor. The trailer looked like it had potential with promising tense scenes like breaking into London's Buckingham Palace and the White House, holding the President himself hostage for the purpose to unravel the plot behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Being the enthusiastic film critic that I am, I went on my mission to to the sequel to "National Treasure" just for the sake of it. And although there was plenty of action to keep you entertained, and no scenes were never short of boredom, many scenarios left me in a state of confusion and I left the theater clueless.
Archaeologist Dr. Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) receives the grim news that his great-grandfather was behind the plot to murder President Lincoln. The evidence was brought to attention from a soldier (Ed Harris). In his search to prove this is untrue, Gates goes on a dangerous mission in search of a treasure that his deceased relative protected from the clutches of the Confedrate government. Helping Dr. Gates in his quest is a longtime comrade (Justin Bartha), his lover (Diane Kruger) and his father (Jon Voight). The journey takes the gang to Paris, Buckingham Palace, The White House and finally South Dakota's Mt. Rushmore. Also joining the gang is Gates' mother (Helen Mirren), a linguist in many Native languages.
Many absurd question left me curious. What does this treasure serve to prove a relative's innocence? What nomadic Native tribe successfully traveled from Florida to South Dakota at a time when transportation was very limited? And finally what the hell is so secretive on page 47 of the President's Book of Secrets?
All in all the action sequences were fun to watch like all Jerry Bruckheimer produced movies. It falls in the same format that made Indiana Jones a cultural icon. Maybe it's better to not worry about the format of the script and just watch the action because if you do, this movie will take a downward spiral. I must say, the actors look like they're having a ball, especially Justin Bartha who delivers some of the best lines in the movie. Voight, Mirren and Harris though are only after a quick buck. The writers were crafty to manipulate its audience into thinking they've made a clever script, but we are much smarter to know that is not the case.
Director Jon Turtletaub, you're much better at making romantic comedies. Action-adventures are just not your forte. While this movie is an improvement than the first part, there is still more tweaking that needs to be done if this series should make another sequel.
I'm trying to be fair about this movie as much as I can, but I think this movie is only successful in the thrill factor rather than showing any historical accuracies. It makes you believe it's intelligent and better than the rest, but I beg to differ on that. The suspense factor was sadly absent from this movie than what "The Bourne Ultimatum" delivered. Bad decisions the characters make never pays dividends for their wrong-doings which makes the hero of the story a flawless character.
I liked the movie overall, but in the end it doesn't do me any good because it offers very little to keep me convinced. It offers just as much surrealism like in the first installment. If this keeps up I might just throw in the white towel and not even consider watching another sequel.