(3.5 out of 5 stars)

If you liked the first National Treasure, then you will like the second one as well. This movie does what most sequels should do; it starts from scratch with a brand new story but the same character and theme while giving an ever so slight connection to the last movie. This film was an interesting intriguing enjoyable ride of historical legend and action and adventure.

Nicholas Cage is in fine form as the lead with Jon Voight right beside. We are given small bits of character development with their relationship as well as Bage’s relationship to his ex played by Diana Kruger. We get to see the sidekick assistant played by Justin Bartha as well. Ed Harris is somewhat miscast as the bad guy, and Helen Mirren seems to be extra baggage as the mother, but Harvey Keitel as the FBI agent and Bruce Greenwood as the president are in fine form.

The fun thing about National Treasure and this sequel is that it takes what was fun in the Indiana Jones and Mummy movies. Not only are they in search of treasure, but they have to decipher clues, solve puzzles, and watch out for the traps and police and bad guys who are after them. Even better these movies give you a history lesson. Once you finish watching Book of Secrets you may wonder if there is a presidential book, a city of gold, some special desks in the Oval Office and the Queen’s office. I totally have to find out about these likely conspiracy theories.

Some may say the movie sucks because of its implausibility. They likely would be caught by the cops, never be able to kidnap the president, or get out of the Library of Congress or into the Oval Office, but this movie, just like True Lies, knows that the intrigue is in the story. What if these clues are real? What if they do find a city of gold? It does not matter that they probably would not have been able to do the things they did and in reality, you want them to keep doing them because to find something so amazing will take risks that are impossible. Should a city of gold be easy to find? Absolutely not; therefore, Secrets does not need to apologize for its implausibility.

This movie gives no hint at a sequel, but I have no problem with creating a third story. It would be fun. It would be interesting. It would be intriguing. It would be enjoyable. Book of Secrets is everything an adventure movie should be and more.

Similar recommended titles: National Treasure, The Mummy and True Lies.