National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (*½)
Director: John Turtletaub (Phenomenon, Instinct, Cool Runnings, The Kid)
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Jon Voigt
Seen: January 11th 2008
*½ Out of ****
Without much expectation I walked into the cinema, and was given exactly what I expected. This sequel delivered almost exactly the same as the first film, and therein lays its first flaw, a sequel must be bigger and better (or at least one of the two); this is just more of the same.
Now Nicholas Cage is not a bad actor, he proved that by winning an Oscar so many years ago. He hasn’t turned in a significant role since he played Yuri Orlov in 2005’s Lord of War. And to get to the point, he did not venture far from the type of part he played in National Treasure if you look at Next and Ghost Rider (CGI played the part that differed from the one he usually does. And looking at trailers for two of his coming films, Bangkok Dangerous and Knowing, he also doesn’t deviate from it too much, not even his ridiculous hairstyle – a la Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code). I want him challenged again, that’s where he gets really good.
Back to the film. Indiana Jones for a new millennium with an upcoming Indiana Jones film – you’re going to need more than this one delivers. There are a few novel ideas, such as a big tilting platform collapsing under its own weight, and one innovative car chase shot, but the story does not feel coherent at all. We’re simply running around after clues that the bad guys seem to figure out ahead of our heroes. Ed Harris can also do much better – this was a villain carbon copied out of most B-grade films, nothing special or intimidating here.
John Turtletaub has directed drama and comedy with much more aplomb. This is much too derivative for a director who is capable of much more.
That said, I believe that despite my low rating, this film is silly fun, but more silly than fun. It is not memorable to an almost spectacular degree, and I believe that to be a big element of the power behind a film. If you want to completely shut down your brain for a ridiculously long 124 minutes, then this might be the film for you. I for one prefer something a bit more engaging.
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Jon Voigt
Seen: January 11th 2008
*½ Out of ****
Without much expectation I walked into the cinema, and was given exactly what I expected. This sequel delivered almost exactly the same as the first film, and therein lays its first flaw, a sequel must be bigger and better (or at least one of the two); this is just more of the same.
Now Nicholas Cage is not a bad actor, he proved that by winning an Oscar so many years ago. He hasn’t turned in a significant role since he played Yuri Orlov in 2005’s Lord of War. And to get to the point, he did not venture far from the type of part he played in National Treasure if you look at Next and Ghost Rider (CGI played the part that differed from the one he usually does. And looking at trailers for two of his coming films, Bangkok Dangerous and Knowing, he also doesn’t deviate from it too much, not even his ridiculous hairstyle – a la Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code). I want him challenged again, that’s where he gets really good.
Back to the film. Indiana Jones for a new millennium with an upcoming Indiana Jones film – you’re going to need more than this one delivers. There are a few novel ideas, such as a big tilting platform collapsing under its own weight, and one innovative car chase shot, but the story does not feel coherent at all. We’re simply running around after clues that the bad guys seem to figure out ahead of our heroes. Ed Harris can also do much better – this was a villain carbon copied out of most B-grade films, nothing special or intimidating here.
John Turtletaub has directed drama and comedy with much more aplomb. This is much too derivative for a director who is capable of much more.
That said, I believe that despite my low rating, this film is silly fun, but more silly than fun. It is not memorable to an almost spectacular degree, and I believe that to be a big element of the power behind a film. If you want to completely shut down your brain for a ridiculously long 124 minutes, then this might be the film for you. I for one prefer something a bit more engaging.
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