With Jim Sabatini

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Rated: PG for some violence and action
Reviewed by: Chris
Release date: December 21, 2007	Released by: Walt Disney Pictures

The lot of film-goers have been awaiting the Disney sequel to the very popular National Treasure. Well, Nicholas Cage is finally back as extraordinary treasure hunter, Benjamin Franklin Gates and this time his adventure takes him from Washington, D.C. to Paris, London and South Dakota.

His quest begins while lecturing with his father, Patrick (Jon Voight), they are approached by Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) who claims he has proof that the Gates' great grandfather was involved in the assassination of President Lincoln. So, the Gates men are off clear their ancestor's good name.

Returning also as part of the search party is Abigail (Diane Kruger) as Benjamin's girlfriend, although this time they're broken up and Justin Bartha's Riley is back to add some humor as the techno whiz partner.

They believe the answers that are needed will be found at the lost Golden City of Cibola. However, just as they crack one code, another cipher pops up to take its place. There are secret books, hidden compartments and pre-Columbian language to decipher, good thing Benjamin's mother Emily, played by the wonderful Helen Mirren, is an expert in the art. The only problem is that his dad would rather fall through a trap door than deal with his bitter ex-wife.

Harris ends up being the bad guy, and he follows the Gates with gun-toting thugs to capture the Golden City for himself.

The storyline is somewhat confusing, but a good chase sequence with a large truck barreling down narrow streets chasing the hero, exciting cave scenes with a giant teetering structure and lots of water, should keep youngsters involved.

Director Jon Turteltaub gives us an entertaining sequel and the additional of Mirren was just what the Gates family and National Treasure needed.