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 - Not as good as the first filmThis film is entertaining but does not live up to the first one, which is rather a pity. Rating:  - National Treasure 2--Book of SecretsThis was a fun movie to just escape in for the evening. No thought required. Rating: - The Knights of the Golden Circle National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets takes the viewer along on another one of Ben Gates' action packed adventures. The film picks up shortly after where the first movie left off. Mitch Wilkinson, a Confederate general's descendent, produces evidence pointing to Thomas Gates', Ben Gates' ancestor, involvement in plotting together with John Wilkes Booth to kill Abraham Lincoln. Ben Gates will try to clear his ancestor's name while embarking on a treasure hunt in search of Cibola, the legendary lost Indian city of gold. Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger (who is beautiful!), Ed Harris, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Harvey Keitel, Justin Bartha, and the rest of this great cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)! Very well written and very well presented, it combines mystery, action, and adventure, making it one of the best films of its kind. On the negative side: 1) What parents would allow their son to sacrifice himself to save them??? NONE! 2) The openly and provocative anti-southern/anti-confederate bias. All right they lost, now leave them alone! At the same time this blind and without-questions-asked adoration of Abraham Lincoln without presenting the actual truth about him regarding his political stance during the 1858 Illinois Lincoln-Douglas debates, his actions/policies/decrees from 1861 to 1865 as well as the overall legality of the American Civil War, takes away from any The hypocrisy and double standards remain unabated as the Sons of Liberty are often viewed as heroes, but the Knights of the Golden Circle are described in the film as "an extremist group." Moreover, technically John Wilkes Booth was indeed a murderer, but not a `traitor,' since he was a southerner. In short, it's the same old/usual cliché involving one of Hollywood's favorite villains/scapegoats: Southerners (it must have been really difficult to include Germans, Serbs or Russians in this one although there are a few jabs against Queen Victoria...). 3) The overly exaggerated relationship/behavior between the two parents. It got tiring very early on. Nevertheless, despite these setbacks the movie is highly entertaining. Additionally, the part about how the United States used to be "they" before the Civil War only to become "it" after the Civil War, was very interesting. The acting, the setting, the plot, the special effects, and the music are all wonderful and along with the mystery that accompanies this film will keep you on your toes throughout the entire movie. In short, National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets is a movie definitely worth watching as it will surely provide for an evening's entertainment, though it could have easily avoided the mistakes it made. 4.4 Stars Rating: - Better than the Original MovieNational Treasure 2 has more action, more excitement, and more drama than the original movie. I hightly recommend this sequel. Rating:  - wowMan hollywood has come up with some crazy moves in the past years. This movie is fast paced and incredible senses!
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