Though the original broke box-office records and the sequel brought in a nice chunk of change for Disney during this past holiday season, this "Treasure" sequel might not provide enough bang for your buck. "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets" is now available in both Blue Ray ($34.99), a single disc DVD ($29.99), as well as a 2 disc collector’s DVD set ($34.99). Die hard Treasure fans will of course want to shell out the extra cash for the collector’s set, though everyone else should stick to renting, as the sequel is not the kind of film you could watch over and over and still love.
Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates is at it again, this time searching to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by uncovering the mystery within the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth’s diary. The real stars of this feature are Jon Voight and Helen Mirren, who give witty performances of Cage’s parents, and Justin Bartha, who plays the comical Riley Poole. Surprisingly, all of the other performances are largely forgettable, including that by the Academy Award-nominated Ed Harris.
The single disc DVD offers limited commentary while the 2 disc set offers lots of goodies including deleted scenes, commentary by director Turteltaub and actor Jon Voight, outtakes, as well as a behind-the-scenes look into how the movie was made.
While there have been worse special features, this set is certainly not going to make the best list given the high retail price. Perhaps the most enjoyable of the extras would be the outtakes, as they always provide a laugh and yet let you move on to other parts of the DVD menu quickly.
It is the love of adventure and devotion of the characters that will make people want to see the second film, though both aspects are lacking in this one. Even if you give leeway for the convoluted and unrealistic plot, it still seems like "Book of Secrets" just doesn’t measure up to its predecessor. Let’s hope the third film is better.
