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 enlarge | Director: Jon Turteltaub
Actors: Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
Category: DVD
List Price: $34.99
Buy New: $8.73
You Save: $26.26 (75%)
New (58) Used (24) Collectible (2) from $6.90
Rating:  292 reviews
Sales Rank: 1340
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Ntsc, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 124 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: DISD57249D
UPC: 786936763331
EAN: 0786936763331
ASIN: B000YABYPQ
Theatrical Release Date: December 21, 2007
Release Date: May 20, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 276-280 of 292
 Queen Helen gets caged, let's hope just this once January 4, 2008
H. Schneider (wechselhaft)
8 out of 15 found this review helpful
Once upon a time, a man called Cage was a substantial actor. Then he lost interest and started making movies like this one.
Now Helen Mirren gets tricked somehow into the same level. Must be infective. But there is hope she did it just for fun and just once. Here she is Cage's Mum (does she deserve that?), she is announced as a ferocious hag and turns into the mildest of shrews.
Ed Harris tries his version of the bad guy, but apparently he did not want to be entirely bad in the Christmas season, so he is hesitant about it.
Have you ever seen a more non-sensical 'action' scene than the bus race in London? Or a sillier crime than the kidnapping of this President? Or an odder geographical stretch than an Eldorado in Mount Rushmore which was previously reported by a captive in Florida? (Maybe the Indian tribes at that time had their version of the United States, or at least a Free Trade Zone?)
I was able to enjoy, within limits, number 1. But there are limits, after all. No number 3 for me, unless I get kidnapped.
Very entertaining January 3, 2008
S. Brown (USA)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
We really enjoyed watching this movie. It was a lot of fun. My husband didn't like the first one, but he had fun at this one.
 Fun romp...forgettable but delivers solid diversion. 3.5 stars January 2, 2008
RMurray847 (Albuquerque, NM United States)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you can get past the silly title, NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS is a diverting couple of hours at the movie. This cross between RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARC (lite) with THE DAVINCI CODE (lite) will not stick in your memory for more than a few minutes after you leave the theatre...but you'll at least remember having a more or less fun time.
Nicholas Cage (with his bad hair-dye) is at least having more fun than he did in NEXT, WICKER MAN and GHOST RIDER. In those films, he looked absolutely exhausted and bored. The NATIONAL TREASURE films seem to spur him to some good energy. He clearly enjoys the upbeat attitude of these films...a kind of "can do" feeling. He plays Ben Gates, a renowned "treasure hunter" who in this film is in search of nothing less than the famed City Of Gold: Cibola. He wants to find this to clear the name of his great-great grandfather...who is accused of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to kill Lincoln. Sure, seeing the City of Gold would be nice...but clearing his family's name is more important.
After much running about in Europe, he and his team realize that in order to complete their quest (which basically is following one clue/puzzle to another), they must have access to the legendary "President's Book of Secrets," which only the President of the United States ever gets to see. So naturally, Cage must kidnap the president so he can have some time alone with the man to convince him to let him have the book. It's at this point that the movie goes completely off the deep-end...and in a way, that's the most fun. There is really not one single second of the film that is credible in any way...but if you are making a film that silly, you might as well work hard to outdo yourself. So yes, the film builds the silliness quotient to almost ridiculous heights...but if you go with it, and put your inner adult away from two hours...you'll have fun.
As I said, Cage is engaged in the film. Jon Voight, as his father, seems just a tiny bit lost in his role...like he's having trouble following the plot...but he's full of vim and vigor. He's matched by Helen Mirren as his feisty ex-wife, who just happens to be an expert in a long extinct Native American language that the hunters just happen to need translated. What a happy coincidence! But it's fun seeing Mirren engaging in a little action and trying to hold on to her American accent. Diane Kruger is Cage's love interest...she's bland but game enough. Bruce Greenwood is the president (something he's done before, I feel certain) and this Canadian actor pulls it off with panache. Ed Harris is the primary villain of the piece, and his character is poorly defined, so Harris just plays him with generic villainy...it's not really his fault, but just about anyone could have done the part as well. Also, Harvey Keitel shows up in a completely dispensable cameo...and looks totally out of place in the whole film.
However, the movie is nearly stolen by virtual unknown Justin Bartha, as Cage's fellow treasure hunter Riley Poole. He's a bundle of clumsy energy, eager to please, eager for attention, a bit of a geek but also brave and smart. He's almost manic in the role...but his gleeful demeanor brightens up every scene he's in. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a great performance...but it is most in keeping with the spirit of the movie.
The special effects are generically impressive. When they arrive at the City (is that a spoiler? Does anyone actually doubt for one second they will find it?), it's one of those spectacular underground temple/palace/treasure piles that we've seen a MILLION times before (THE MUMMY and TOMB RAIDER spring to mind.) It's huge, and it's also completely unimaginative. It's at this point that I most felt like all this movie really has to offer is a big screen version of any one of a thousand computer games where you following one puzzling clue to another to another.
This COULD be highly depressing, and make one feel that one's money has been wasted on totally unimaginative and derivative junk. That's certainly how a lot of critics took the film. But on the other hand, you could accept the film in the spirit it's been offered. True, it's a sequel that exists purely to cash in...but it delivers everything a person going to see it could want. That it slips from memory almost entirely upon leaving the theatre probably just means that everyone will buy the DVD so they can recapture what they saw, enjoyed and forgot.
Good romp through Resolute story January 1, 2008
Anjinsan (Shoreham-by-Sea, UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This movie was a great romp through history. The action was fast moving and very entertaining. I particularly loved the chase in London, with the product placement, Fullers beer, nearly going through the hero's windshield. Nicholas Cage plays the main character well, with the right balance of seriousness and humour. He is not helped by some of the dialogue at times eg. "The water must go somewhere", but hey, you can't have everything. I recently read HMS Resolute by Elizabeth Matthews and can verify that a lot of the tale about the desks is historical fact, as well as the involvement in Civil War politics. It's incredible how much actual history Disney has been able to fit in between the action. It is an ideal family film and has something for everyone. I recommend this movie.
History destroyed again, but without the fun January 1, 2008
Monkdude (Hampton, VA)
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
I liked the first film to some extent even though it was so bogus, but this sequel just went on forever. The plot is even more unbelievable this time around and the actors look like they are just cashing in a check. It's making a ton of money, but like I Am Legend (a better but equally flawed film) it fails to deliver the goods.
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