NOW ON DVD

NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS
Rated PG-13
Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel

Brian’s Rating       

When interviewed about the subject, Nicholas Cage said that he has avoided making sequels because he thought they should be better than or at least as good as their originals. With the release of the second National Treasure movie he may have achieved this goal.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets, now on DVD, once again finds our intrepid treasure hunter Ben Gates on a quest to protect his family name while following clues that will lead him to yet another pot of gold. Jon Voight is back as his long-suffering father and we get to meet his harpy of a mother, played by Helen Mirren.

The story, which starts with the Lincoln assassination and ends at Mount Rushmore, is clever without being overly complicated and it should be easy for both kids and adults to follow. The presence of Ed Harris and Harvey Keitel gives additional strength to a film that is equipped with a good script and a sense of humor.

Like the original, Book of Secrets is solid family entertainment.