National Treasure: Book of Secrets: Action, Wit Make this Film a Winner

Nicolas Cage is back in the role of Ben Gates in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets". This time, he and his team are out to clear the Gates family name. With the help of his old sidekicks, Riley and Abigail, along with his mother and father, Ben follows a trail that takes him to both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and back into history itself. Does this sequel live up to its predecessor or will it fall short? Read this review and decide for yourself.

After "National Treasure", we find Ben Gates is now a well-respected lecturer who is confronted by Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris), a historian and collector in his own right, who has a piece of John Wilkes Booth's diary which implicate Gates' great-great-grandfather in the murder of President Abraham Lincoln. Gates gathers his old team together, including Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) and Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) to follow a trail of clues that will eventually exonerate his family name. Gates enlists the help of his father, played once again by Jon Voight and even his linguist mother, Emily (Helen Mirren) in his heroic quest. Dogging their footsteps are Wilkinson and FBI agent Sadusky (Harvy Keitel). Their quest takes them from America, to France, Britain and eventually back to the U.S. as clues lead them to historic monuments with hidden messages which urge them on.

While there are plenty of historical references, this film uses a lot of artistic license with real facts. Audiences are best served suspending their belief in reality until this movie is over. The acting is as good as anything out there and the chemistry the actors bring to the screen really makes this an enjoyable film to watch. This is a smart, snappy story with plenty of twists and action, making it fun for just about everybody. One of the main features of this film is the titled Book of Secrets. This book, handed down from President to President holds all the secrets of American history, along with clues Gates and his crew need.

"National Treasure: Book of Secrets" may not be one of the most believable movies ever made, but it sure is fun. Cast from the same mold as the Indiana Jones movies, this film combines action and wit to make a film that you're sure to enjoy. If you enjoy a little adventure with your history lessons, this is one film you'll want to see. I recommend this film for everyone.