National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
When a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth surfaces, Ben's great-great grandfather is suddenly
implicated as a key conspirator in Abraham Lincoln's death. Determined to prove his ancestor's innocence, Ben
follows an international chain of clues that takes him on a chase from Paris to London and ultimately back to
America. This journey leads Ben and his crew not only to surprising revelations — but to the trail of the world's
most treasured secrets.
It sure is funny how one can have two completely different takes on a movie upon seeing it for a
second time. I saw National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets in theaters several months ago,
and the movie failed to impress me. I'm not sure what was going on that day, but I remember
walking out of the theater disappointed, best remembering my severe bout of boredom. The
story, action, everything failed to impress, and I vividly recall my firm belief that should I
review the movie on Blu-ray, I'd be giving it a score of 5/10. Watching the
first National Treasure again on Blu-ray, a movie I definitely like, sparked an
interest to go into the sequel with a more open mind, and I did, pushing the bad taste the movie
left in my mouth aside and approaching it fresh. To my surprise, I really liked the movie this
go-round. In fact, I think that while the movie is equal to the first on the overall scale,
the story
told in this film is a bit more interesting, the characters showing a new level of development
(although I must admit to tiring of the "let's have the couple that got together at the end of the
first movie be separated at the start of the second" plot device), but overall, I was pleased with
the film after this second viewing on Blu-ray.
I know! It was John Wilkes Booth! Now where is my $100,000? I need to buy some Blu-rays.
Nicolas Cage (Face/Off) returns as Benjamin Franklin Gates, treasure hunter, and now
a man with a legacy all his own, known the world over for his discovery of the Templar Treasure
as depicted in the first film. As the movie begins, Gates is presenting a lecture about the famed
missing
pages from the diary of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln.
Following the lecture, Mitch Wilkinson (Ed
Harris, The Rock) presents Gates and his father Patrick (Jon Voight, Deliverance) with one of those missing pages, a page that suggests that
one of the Gates ancestors was a conspirator in the assassination of the President only five days
after the end of the Civil War. With the help of ex-girlfriend Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger, Troy), Ben Gates and his sidekick, newly published author Riley Poole
(Justin Bartha, Failure to Launch), discover a code on the back of the diary page, leading
them on a journey to clear the Gates family name, one that will take them to Paris, Buckingham
Palace in London, the Oval Office, and Mount Rushmore. Along the way, Gates receives
assistance in his search from a new character in the series, his mother and University of
Maryland professor Emily Appleton (Helen Mirren, The Queen). Will Gates salvage his family's pride and maybe even
discover a long-lost treasure along the way, or will Wilkinson be proven right, thus disgracing the
Gates family forever?
What a sequel. With several tricks and plot twists, National Treasure 2: Book of
Secrets easily manages to hold our attention from the first exciting frames featuring the
assassination of Abraham Lincoln to the rolling of the end credits (these are some spiffy looking
credits, too). With the primary cast increased in size and with a couple of secondary characters
from the first film becoming much more crucial to the proceedings, fans of the first movie will
definitely want to join the gang and see what co-writers Marianne and Cormac Wibberley have in
store for us in this installment. Just as clever and quick as the first, though this time sending our
heroes around
the world, running into people we never dreamed of meeting in the first film, and discovering
objects and places of magnificent historical importance and grandeur, NT2 proves
itself to be one of the finest and most entertaining sequels in recent memory.
I'm still surprised I didn't enjoy this movie the first time I saw it, but this
subsequent viewing on Blu-ray left me completely satisfied and yearning for a third film in the
series (the famed "page 47" or Area 51 [or both!] would be my choice for the subject material).
Not only is the story a good one, but like the first in the series its presentation is tight, perhaps a
bit far-fetched, but a fun ride to be a part of nevertheless. It's obvious that the cast has settled
into
their roles and
that director Jon Turtletaub is comfortable and confident at the helm, once again directing a slick,
rollicking adventure film that shows off stunning visuals from some of the most magnificent
locations around the world, not to mention great action. The almost-too-intuitive Ben Gates is
back, once again proving to be the world's fastest thinker on his feet, but like in the first movie,
that's perfectly fine -- his character is obviously well-versed in history, and as the audience, we
are so eager to discover just what each clue means that we're more than happy to let Gates
solve each one for us in record time. When the clues, locations, secrets, and dangers are
this well-scripted and filmed, anything with even a semblance of logic is perfectly acceptable to
keep us
moving towards the next fantastic locale and clue.
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets takes us on its exciting journey in a wonderfully
reproduced 1080p, 2.35:1 framed transfer that ranks among the very best I've seen yet on
Blu-ray. The print itself is completely pristine with absolutely no blemishes. Excellent black levels
are
obvious from the get-go -- they are indeed inky and wonderfully presented, serving as a case
study in how other transfers should approach this all-too-important
aspect of creating a great transfer. Grain hardly makes is presence known, but it is indeed there,
never
intrusive
or too noticeable, and like the first movie, it adds to the look of the film and presents to us that
lovely
cinematic look that showcases what Blu-ray is all about. Detail is simply marvelous and there are
more awe-inspiring images here than in most other movies combined, due both to a fabulous
transfer as well as the breathtaking scenery that's been expertly filmed by director Jon
Turtletaub, his shots truly allowing everything to shine. When the Civil War-era Gates is looking
at Booth's diary, we can easily see the frayed edges of the paper, and the pencil markings
couldn't look any more real had we written on the paper ourselves. As Ben and Abigail
decode the secret of the Resolute desk, the image is so clean, clear, and easily visible that I
couldn't believe I was watching a movie and not lying under the desk with them. Clothing is also
finely rendered, every loose thread , stitch, and seam visible on appropriately tight shots. The
leather-bound edition of the President's Book is meticulously reproduced, the cover appropriately
faded and broken in, and we can almost smell the mustiness when it is discovered. All of these
ornate decorations and locations are bright and offer up a
wonderful array of colors, showcasing just how vibrant and true-to-life Blu-ray can be. Flesh
tones are also perfectly rendered. Disney has presented National Treasure 2: Book of
Secrets in what can only be labeled as a flawless transfer, one of the very top available on
the format.
This time presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless surround sound (the first National
Treasure on Blu-ray contains a PCM track), National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
proves itself to be reference-quality listening material. A top-notch soundtrack will always make
the viewer feel immersed in the action. Whether in a crowded Civil War-era tavern, a
contemporary five-star restaurant, or at the President's birthday party (where Randy Travis has
never sounded so good
as he does in TrueHD), there is always ambience in the rear channels, livening up the track and
making us feel like we're in the movie. An adventure movie at its core, dialogue remains the
primary tool the characters use to decipher each clue, and the disc
reproduces said dialogue with crystal-clear perfection, as if we should have expected anything
else. The movie's pleasing soundtrack is never obtrusive, but perfect in its blending even when
loud; it plays in the rear channels as well as the front, resulting in a fine,
high quality score. There are plenty of "wow" moments to be heard throughout. A fire alarm
plays in the surround speakers at Buckingham Palace loudly and clearly (and annoyingly), just
another addition to the fine soundtrack heard here. The car chase scene is elevated several
notches by the high quality sound, every squeal of the tires and rev of the engine is placed in just
the right speakers. When the car runs over an uneven surface, the bumps are so distinctly
heard and felt that we imagine what it feels like to be in the car, being jolted up and down,
bracing ourselves so as not to hit our heads on the roof. There is wonderful minor ambience,
such as the
sound of slowly dripping water in an underground passageway at Mount Vernon. The entire last
half hour of the film is a case study in how to make dynamic, extraordinary action movie
soundtrack. All I can say about it is to simply listen to it and be prepared to be amazed. I found
this mix to definitely match the best I've heard, no surprise coming from a brand-new Disney
movie. Well done!
Just as jam-packed as the first National Treasure Blu-ray, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
offers up a wealth of features sure to have you searching for hours, this time in high
definition. First up is a
commentary track with director John Turtletaub and actor Jon Voight. This track isn't quite as
lighthearted as the track on the first film, but it's still fun, managing to mix the technical aspects
of
the film and historical anecdotes that inspired parts of the film with some fun moments of levity.
There are some interesting tidbits, such as filming a scene in London meant to be New York (and
digitally inserting the Statue of Liberty behind a character), or Turtletaub discussing why the
Library
of Congress building is one of his favorites and why Washington, D.C. is the best city to shoot
movies in. I enjoyed this track; Voight definitely adds some charisma and stature to the
proceedings. While there are some moments of dead air, the track moves along briskly enough
and
it's a recommended listen for those who enjoyed the movie.
Book of History: The Fact or Fiction of NT2 ranks as one of my favorite interactive
features yet on Blu-ray, encouraging us to learn more regarding the true-life history behind the
movie. "Desk of the President" provides insights into the history of the Presidency; "History
Makers" gives viewers facts about the most
famous (and infamous) figures in American history; "Chronology" provides key dates and events
in history; "Archives" is a collection of the treasures and events that have influenced history.
Clicking on any of the four icons representing each category when they become available will
provide a pop-up fact of interest pertaining to specific scenes in the movie. Movie watchers will
also have their knowledge of history put to the test by answering whether a question is "fact" or
"fiction." Players of this feature may save their program and return to continue later. Great
fun, especially for history buffs!
Next on the list are seven deleted scenes (1080i, 20:27) with introductions by director John
Turtletaub. It's hard not to get excited when watching these scenes as Turtletaub explains why
each was removed; his passion for the project and easygoing attitude have won me over, and I
can officially now state that I cannot wait for another National Treasure film, as long as
Turtletaub is at the helm. The Treasure Reel: Bloopers & Outtakes (1080i, 5:03) proves
to be your standard-fare blooper reel. I'm not much of a fan of these, but I know many are, and
there are a few genuinely funny moments. Secrets of a Sequel (1080i, 6:48)
features Turtletaub, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and the cast discussing the advantages of
making a sequel and the importance of retaining the cast and crew from the first film. 'The
Book of Secrets': On Location (1080i, 9:48) examines the many world-famous locations
where National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets was filmed, including Paris, London, and the
Black Hills of South Dakota.
Moving along, Street Stunts: Creating the London Chase (1080i, 9:41) is a
behind-the-scenes look at how a Hollywood car chase is made. Inside the Library of
Congress
(1080i, 8:43) is a peek at the history and inner-workings of the real Library of Congress as cast
and crew discuss what makes this location so special. Underground Action (1080i, 6:47)
examines what it took to bring the film's crucial climactic sequence to life. Cover Story:
Crafting the President's Book (1080i, 4:32) is a fascinating look at how this special book was
created for the film. Evolution of a Golden City (1080i, 10:19) looks at the creation of
Cibola, the fabled, oft-sought, and as-of-yet undiscovered (if it does indeed exist) city made of
gold. Knights of the Golden Circle (1080i, 2:36) is a short feature that looks at the real
KGC, a group depicted in the film whose aim was to continue the Civil War. Finally, 1080p
trailers for Tinker Bell, Sleeping Beauty, Wall-E, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before
Christmas, a Blu-ray promotional montage, and a commercial for Disney parks and resorts
concludes a fine and interesting supplemental package.
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets and its predecessor rank as two of the better
action/adventure films in recent memory. The sequel builds off the first film but tells a story all its
own, the characters becoming more real and easy to cheer for as each minute of the movie passes
by. As great as the actors are, as wonderful as Jon Turtletaub's direction is, and as classy and
important as the locations are, the real stars of the National Treasure films are its
co-writers, Marianne and Cormac Wibberley. Their incorporation of history into the scripts and the
sheer brilliance of their secrets and clues (even if they are resolved a bit too easily) is definitely what
makes these movies so successful, and the best way to see them now is on Blu-ray high definition.
Both films look great, though NT2 does fair a bit better, and as good as the
supplements were on the first movie, the package here is just as good, if not better. I am glad
I had the opportunity to review this film; I would have likely passed on it otherwise based on the
reaction I had to seeing it the first time in theaters. I believe that
any Blu-ray fan with an inkling towards history or simply solid action and adventure movies will
want to add this film, and its predecessor, to their high-definition collections. Highly recommended!
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets: Other Editions
2-disc set $15.19
Blu-ray bundles with National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (1 bundle)
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment in conjunction with D-Box Motion Technologies have announced that the upcoming Disney Blu-ray release of 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets' will feature support for D-Box Motion systems. This support allows owner of D-Box ...
Buena Vista Home Entertainment has announced that they will release 'National Treasure' and its sequel 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets' for Blu-ray on May 20th. Both blockbuster films will get special two-disc treatment and features exclusive Blu-ray extras ...
Buena Vista Home Entertainment has announced that they will release both 'National Treasure' and its sequel 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets' for Blu-ray on May 20th, with 'Book of Secrets' being a day-and-date release with the DVD. In typical Disney fashion, ...
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