Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Brand: National EAN: 0786936735390 Format: Anamorphic Label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone Region Code: 1 Release Date: 2008-05-20 Running Time: 124 Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) sets out to find the lost 18 pages from the diary of Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. One of the 18 missing pages has been discovered by Jeb Wilkinson (Ed Harris). On that page are the names of the Lincoln assassination conspirators. Thomas Gates, Ben Gates' great-great-grandfather, is listed on the page. After discovering this, Ben does not want Thomas Gates to be remembered "as a conspirator in the assassination of the man who brought this nation together." His quest to clear his family's name leads to unexpected twists and turns. Agent Sadusky (Harvey Keitel) tells Ben that a secret book has the information he needs. The president's "book of secrets" holds documents, for presidents' eyes only, of all the nations secrets; from the truth behind the JFK conspiracy, the missing minutes from the Watergate tapes, and Area 51. When Ben's request to see the book is denied, he says he must kidnap the president. Each clue leads him closer "to a discovery that the world isn't ready to believe."
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: A great movie an adventure! Comment: I loved this movie it is every bit as good as the first if not better. A great adventure. a must see! Customer Rating: Summary: National Treasure II. Were they serious? Comment: This movie combined with the bad scrip writing, the overacting and the repeated plot makes it a more of a torture device than a 'family fun' action drama. Most of the jokes aren't funny and the suspenseful parts are dull, drawn out and listless. Customer Rating: Summary: Nothing special Comment: I enjoyed "National Treasure 1" far more than I thought I would. That is a fun movie that manages to get you to suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride on the strength of sheer goofy energy, fast pacing, and fun. I'll buy into almost anything for 2 hours as long as you keep it moving, keep it fun, and keep it interesting.
"National Treasure 2" unfortunately bogs down under all of its weight. The plot bears the disjointed, cobbled-together hallmarks of any script burdened with three (count 'em, three!) different sets of writers on story alone. (It makes you wonder how many script doctors took a whack at it as well.) As a result, you never really know what this movie is about. Is it a romantic adventure? A Civil War story like National Treasure? A Spanish Colonial story? A story about a Blackwater-type CEO who is a mercenary treasure hunter manipulating Cage? A story about Cage's parents? The script doesn't know, and neither do we. As a result, we never really get things moving in a clear manner, which pulls you out of the movie and makes you start trying to figure out what's going on. (Finding the lost city of gold clears a guy of conspiring to kill Lincoln how, then?)
On the plus side, all of the actors are fantastic. How could you go wrong with Nicholas Cage (channeling the early, enjoyable phase of his career), Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, Jon Voight and Helen Mirren? Ed Harris did great with what he had to work with. It would have been a better film if it had been more about Harris and Cage trying to outwit each other, if only because Harris would have had more screen time and a more clearly defined character.
This is worth a rent if you liked "National Treasure" or like action movies. It's nothing special; it won't be a personal favorite; you may well forget all about it a week later. But it won't make you throw your shoes at the TV, and sometimes that's enough. Customer Rating: Summary: Formula, formula, formula Comment: Sometimes you can forgive, even appreciate, when Hollywood offers up a formulaic story that offers few surprises. This film isn't one of those instances. Pedantically predictable. Customer Rating: Summary: A Fun Ride! Comment: I absolutely loved the first movie, National Treasure, and couldn't wait to see the sequel. Now the first film is probably a better movie overall, but the second film is very enjoyable and has more action to it than the first. I think most people really enjoy seeing how Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage)can get into and out of severly restricted and off-limits places to check clues without getting caught, such looking into the Queen's desk at Buckingham Palace. All the original actors are back in this film from the first, giving it some continuity, and some new charactors make apperances here, notably Helen Mirren as Ben's language professor mom, Emily. The thrills and chills come fast and furious here, and overall the film is good clean family fun. I'm holding out hope for a third National Treasure!
