She Likes to Watch

Revisionist historian Jon Turteltaub directs Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, and Diane Kruger in places where they can almost re-create American history and relive the past. But “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” lacks a well-told original story, offering little more than a replica of the first “National Treasure” movie.

The only element that makes the two movies distinct from each other are the new clues leading to the hidden treasure that drives the plot.

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) finds himself on a treasure hunt to prove the innocence of his great-grandfather, code breaker Thomas Gates (Joel Gretsch), who was deemed a conspirator on the night of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Gates and the same companions he had in the last movie — and I mean the same in every way — deceive the highest levels of government and security to succeed in their quest.

The plot of the film sparked my interest only because of the history retold throughout the movie. Viewers are advised that much of this “history” is pretty inaccurate, but it was still decently interesting. This is not, however, a movie to be taken seriously.

The weak character development lowered my overall opinion of the film. The movie’s antagonist failed to meet my standards, making the hero’s motives less feasible.

I wouldn’t recommend “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” for serious historians, but viewers who liked Nicolas Cage’s sense of adventure in the first “National Treasure” or who appreciated a somewhat twisted picture of reality would enjoy this movie.

— Anya Rossa-Quade

Anya Rossa-Quade, a junior at Arroyo Grande High School, loves to write and watch films with her friends.