Movie Review: 'National Treasure 2'

With a weekend box office of $45.5 million, "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets" grabbed first place from last week's No. 1 film, "I am Legend," starring Will Smith.

Although critics trashed the first "National Treasure" released in 2004, it went on to earn $347,510,216 worldwide. That's why there is "National Treasure 2," and probably "National Treasure 3."

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer was smart to bring back the original cast for the sequel. The actors are the best part of the movie. There's a genuine feeling of comraderie between them. They're likeable. Helen Mirren, who joined the cast for this film, fit right in. She was definitely a positive addition.

Another plus to the "National Treasure" franchise is its nod to history — even if it's a blend of fiction and fact. It brings history alive drawing people to learn more about what really happened -- not the fictionalized version. For instance, I know a lot more about the Knights Templar today than I did in 2004.

In "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicholas Cage) and his father, Patrick Gates (Jon Voigt) are drawn into a mystery that requires them to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln based on the 18 missing pages from John Wilkes Booth diary.

Interestingly enough, the History Channel ran a special on John Wilkes Booth and the assasination of Lincoln this past weekend. And, it's true -- there are missing pages from the diary.

I was a HUGE fan of the first "National Treasure." With that said, I liked the second film, but it could have been more tightly edited. I'd describe it as "flabby." The film was about 20 minutes too long. You also have to throw credibility out the window because there's a lot of impossible situations that our heroes face and overcome.