National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Let me preface my following opinion of this movie with this disclaimer....I am sick, was sick when I went to the movies, and to make my movie watching experience even more miserable I had three young men (I use the word men lightly) sitting behind me that would not shut up after I asked them to do so.

I loved the first National Treasure (NT1), even though I thought the scenes that take place in Philadelphia dragged on far too long. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (NTBS) is an all right sequel, however there are many elements of the plot that were left undeveloped and not explained very well. My largest complaint of the film (besides the three yappers behind me), is the main story line of Ben Gates proving his great grandfather was not involved with Abraham Lincoln's assassination was very undeveloped. Ben Gates (Nick Cage) nemesis in the movie is Mitch Wilkinson, (Ed Harris). Unlike NT1 in which was very clear what Ian Howe's (Sean Bean) motivation was in chasing Ben Gates, it is not clear as to the motivations of Mitch Wilkinson in smearing Great Grandpa Gates good name. Another example of poor plot development is why is the love interest of Ben Gates, Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) is so upset with him and why she has kicked them out of their amazingly ostentatious home.

I hope that when National Treasure 3 comes out (which there are hints in NTBS) the writers do a more complete plot development than National Treasure Book of Secrets.

The big movie screen and surround sound is nice for the amazing cinematography but if you have a big screen tv at home, I personally would wait for this film to be released on video.

Happy New Year!