National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets parents guide

National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets Parent Guide

Overall A-

The cast from the first National Treasure movie reunites in this second adventure. This time Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage), treasure hunter extraordinaire, discovers some missing pages from John Wilkes Booth's diary that point to a conspiracy over Abraham Lincoln's assassination.

Release date December 20, 2007

Violence C+
Sexual Content B
Profanity A-
Substance Use B

Why is National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets rated PG? The MPAA rated National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets PG for some violence and action.

Parent Movie Review

In the first National Treasure, Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicholas Cage) had to redeem the family name from infamy by uncovering a huge trove of ancient artifacts.

Now the Gates name is being sullied again, incriminated in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by a descendent of a Confederate general. Armed with a partially burnt scrap of paper from the diary of Lincoln’s killer John Wilkes Booth (Christian Carmargo), Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) accuses Ben’s progenitor of frequenting with the Knights of the Golden Circle and masterminding the murder of the U.S.‘s sixteenth president. The allegations have Ben and his father Patrick (John Voight) bristling and hot on the trail for proof that will clear their great grandfather’s reputation.

Reuniting with his estranged girlfriend, Abigail (Diane Kruger), and his computer nerd sidekick, Riley (Justin Bartha), Ben deciphers a cryptic code that sends him hopscotching across the pond and worming his way into Buckingham Palace. There he locates the next shred of information carved on a primitive plank stowed in the Queen’s desk. Having absconded from the royal household with the board in hand, Ben asks his mom (Helen Mirren), a university professor of ancient Native languages, to help unlock the meaning of the symbols.

As in the previous film, the discovery of one clue sends him scurrying after another, eventually driving him to seek out a concealed book whose location is known only to the country’s highest governing official. But as Ben races from the site of France’s own Statue of Liberty to the grounds of the White House, his search is hampered by the pursuit of trained mercenaries and a black market antiquities trader who wants to ensure his own place in history.

The movie’s opening scenes, set in 1865, may cause the most concern for younger audience members. They depict Lincoln’s death as well as the close range shooting of a man in front of his son. In modern times, Ben and his cohorts race through the crowded streets of London, smashing cars and nearly clipping pedestrians but narrowly missing a pack of dogs out for a walk. Other minor content concerns include some sexual posturing in the Oval Office and brief portrayals of social drinking.

Although the script suffers from a few moments of predictability, Cormac and Marianne Wibberley’s screenplay still brings another era of American history to life. It also extols the importance of preserving a family name for the generations who follow. Filled with honorable intentions and plenty of action, this adventure may prove to be a family treasure.

Starring Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha.. Theatrical release December 20, 2007. Updated

National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets
Rating & Content Info

Why is National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets rated PG? National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets is rated PG by the MPAA for some violence and action.

Depictions of Lincoln’s assassination along with the murder of a man in front of his child open the film. Other scenes portray car chases, weapon use and the assault of a man in his home. Some social drinking and the talk of tequila are included along with some brief, mild sexual innuendo and one profanity.It is also implied that an unmarried couple are living together.

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National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets Parents' Guide

Why is it so important to Ben to clear his grandfather’s name? What other characters are motivated to establish their family’s place in history? What honorable sacrifices do they eventually make?

How does this film portray the value of animal life verses human life?

A secret organization known as the Masons is portrayed in the first National Treasure. This film depicts the Knights of the Golden Circle also known as Copperheads. You can find more information on this covert group who fought for Southern interests at http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0827934.html.

Ben’s ability to decipher codes helps him unlock hidden mysteries. One clue he cracks is the Playfair Cipher. To learn how to use this cryptic message system for your own communications visit http://www.braingle.com/brainteasers/codes/playfair.php.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets movie is May 19, 2008. Here are some details…

DVD Release Date: 20 May 2008

Open National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets and you’ll find a wealth of bonus materials, like an audio commentary with director John Turteltaub and actor Jon Voight, a blooper and outtake reel, as well as deleted scenes (with introductions by Jon Turteltaub). There is also a cache of featurettes on the DVD including: Secret of a Sequel, The Book of Secrets: On Location, Street Stunts: Creating the London Chase, Inside the Library of Congress, Underground Action, Cover Story: Crafting the President’s Book and Evolution of a Golden City. Audio tracks are available in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English, French and Spanish), with subtitles in French and Spanish.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is presented in Blu-Ray format too, offering all of the extras materials listed above. Along with the previously mentioned audio features, the Blu-Ray version provides a 5.1 Uncompressed 48 KHz/24-bit track (English).

Related home video titles:

In Sahara, another aficionado of Civil War memorabilia takes an unscheduled detour up the Niger River in search of a Confederate ship. The Oscar-winning, Gone With the Wind is an epic saga of a plantation owner caught in the War Between the States.

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