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National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Time Out rating

Average user rating

32 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Equal parts sub-‘Indiana Jones’ hokum and ‘Da Vinci Code’ clue-solving, 2004’s ‘National Treasure’ was so anodyne, it’s hard to believe this Bruckheimer-budgeted sequel/rerun is upon us. In the meantime, Nicolas Cage seems to have aged by ten years, and his acting style’s crankier than ever, all arbitrary outbursts and receding hairline.

Mind you, he’s dealing with a plot so bonkers it’s very existence is an affront to reason, as the quest to clear his family name combines with the search for a secret city of gold – treasure so secret that clues to its whereabouts are dotted from Paris to London and several US states. As villainous Ed Harris and his over-ripe Deep South accent take up the chase, Helen Mirren’s a welcome addition as Cage’s no-nonsense archaeologist mum, but the cast remain helpless in the face of the script’s contrivances. It’s so daft you can’t help the odd smile, but enough is clearly enough.

Author: Trevor Johnston 2008-02-04 16:42:19

Time Out London Issue 1955 Feb 6 to 13, 2008

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User reviews of this film

Jester said...

Posted on Jun 19 2009 08:52 I think this film is an insult to anyone with the slightest glimmer of intelligence. How so many well known actors/actresses got involved is a mystery. Absolute trash written by a 10 year old american idiot

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Dingdong said...

Posted on Jun 26 2008 12:52 I can understand why this film came out so quickly, it appears the producers got the original script and got an eraser to replaced 'City of Gold' for 'Templar's Gold' and exchange the original locations for a few new exotic ones. This was barely a sequel but an utterly inept rehash of the first film... but this time filled with even more unbelievable set pieces - kidnapping the president, rifling around in the Queen's drawers and finding a secret city of gold just sitting under Rushmore? You don't need to suspend your belief for this one, you need a lobotomy.
What happened to Nicholas Cage? Once a great indie actor, he now fills his career with the most vacuous 99p store scripts he can get his hands on. Next? National Treasure? Ghost Rider? Movies must cost a lot of money to look that cheap. All I could look at were his Goebbels sunglasses and Trojan-dyed helmet. What was Helen Mirren thinking? Mind you, she does look absolutely mortified throughout the whole film.
A lot of the comments have suggested there are funny moments in this film. I can't remember any - unless you think Nicholas Cage acting like a maniac with a Dick Van Dyke English accent is hilarious then you are in for a treat. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting high art, but this was the pits. Don't let this movie ruin your day.

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Ed said...

Posted on Jun 18 2008 23:21 Reading the Timeout review of this film makes me wonder if the the reviewer is more interested in himself or the film! If the film makers took themselves as seriously as the reviewer then the review would be fair, but I doubt it! I cannot believe that the makers ever conceived of their work as more than mere entertainment, and that is what it is. Suspend your disbelief before viewing this film and, if you like action/adventure this film will be worth the money!!

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georgie porgie said...

Posted on Apr 02 2008 10:50 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

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THUMBS UP said...

Posted on Mar 26 2008 09:19 I don't usually write reviews, but alot of the comments above are just so unfair...
This is an Absolutely Awesome film
Suespend some believability and Go in expecting good action fun....
The film is fast paced,and fun
How would you get in to buckingham palace or the white house?
How would you go about meeting the President?
The Americans view of the british is just hilarious --- "time for some tea chaps"
Some scenes where i genuinely laughed out --
Nicolas Cage was on top form - He's not pretending to be indiana Jones but he comes across very inteligent and smart.
Perhaps a little complex for children, you have to follow the diaalogue and appreciate the characters motivations
credit where credits due - this is a fun movie i would definitely recommend

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BSM said...

Posted on Mar 09 2008 10:10 Pretty much the same as the first one. If you liked the first one you'll like this one. Something about Nicholas Cage is entertaining. A little bit above average but kind of entertaining although it could be shorter.

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dave said...

Posted on Mar 08 2008 15:12 An exact copy of National Treasure. Have seen worse.

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Georgous Me. Jacey Leigh said...

Posted on Feb 29 2008 16:43 This is Brillant film woth it brillllllliant xxXxXxXxXxXxXXxxxXxX Plz woth it

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indiana jones' daughter said...

Posted on Feb 27 2008 10:39 the last movie barely intrigued me. it was clearly an americanized version of the da vinci code. clearly the writers can't think of anything else! so i'm going out today to see this, despite the fact that everyone says rubbish purely because i like a good laugh. there's also nothing like watching a good star fade away right before your very eyes who happens to be the son of an award winning actress.. i'm excited!

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angus said...

Posted on Feb 24 2008 19:19 this film actually belongs to my cat. He's a very intelligent little chap, so I think he should clearly be nominated an oscar. meeoow

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nanny mcphee said...

Posted on Feb 23 2008 20:17 THIS FILM BELONGS TO MY DOG HE THOUGHT OF THE IDEA NOT THE FILM MAKERS$%^&*()_*&^%%$"!£%^&**())*&F$$££"!.com is my website

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Lee said...

Posted on Feb 21 2008 16:06 Pretty gd, i went to c it with my gf. it seems to miss the point that the first ational tresure was about the ultimate tresure, that a family have devoted generations and generations of searching to try and find, then the next film goes "phh, theres another tresure btw, the last one wasnt the ultimate tresure, it was just a good one" *sigh* this film should never of been released, ignoring the storyline and holw it makes no sense. its a ok film.

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Ammi said...

Posted on Feb 20 2008 13:47 This movie was BRRRRRRILLIANT. Can`t wait until it comes out on DVD. Wat everyone else is saying, well, they r talking crap

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THE 'SCMUCK' said...

Posted on Feb 19 2008 23:15 We are vavid film goers and must report that this film is the most APPALLING piece of rubbish ever produced. Absolute rip-off and an assault to the senses

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THE SCHMUCK said...

Posted on Feb 19 2008 23:05 I am a vavid film goer and must honestly say that this film was the most APPALLING waste of my time an money. Summed up, it's CRAP!!

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