National Treasure: Book Of Secrets, 2007

National Treasure: Book Of Secrets, 2007
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha


Stage: Home TV selection, Saturday evening


National treasure in short: While Ben Gates is presenting new information about John Wilkes Booth and the 18 pages missing from Booth's diary, a man by the name of Mitch Wilkinson stands up and presents a missing page of John Wilkes Booth's diary. Thomas Gates, Ben's great-grandfather, is mentioned on the page. It shows that Ben's great-grandfather was a co-conspirator in Abraham Lincoln's murder. When doing more research, the conspiracy takes Ben, Abigail Chase, and Riley Poole to Buckingham Palace (which they break into). They discover a plank that has early Native American writing on it. The plank has only one symbol that Patrick Gates can identify. The symbol is Cibola (see-bowl-uh) meaning the City of Gold. In order to define the rest the have to go to Ben's mother, Patrick's divorced wife. After 32 years it brings back old arguments.


Preps: I have seen this once already. Not really something remarkable, but maybe worth another seeing and reviewing.


Reality: Yep, I am right. Nothing remarkable. A nice adventure, something to brighten up your afternoon. No special effects, some historical travelling through the american history. I need to confess I never thought Nicholas Cage to be a very persuasive leading action hero, neither did he convince me in this perticular piece.
Furthermore, they teamed him up with Diane Kruger, who we saw dazzle in Troy (in 2004), here she is yet another blonde face we soon forget, without any perticular points I can give her for the cast. The same goes for all other action figures in the piece.

There is something worth mentioning, though. This is one of more fun-driving treasure hunts. It takes you through familiar places, known people, american history. In some ways, it's the juvenile version of The Da Vinci Code. Of course, the latter is of bigger proportion and has made a bit more homework. In terms of belief, the Da Vinci Code is superior in comparison with the National Treasure. But National Treasure is still a good copy of The Code from 2006. It will take you to the president's chamber and make you think about all the national secrets every nation keeps dear in a hidden place noone dares to taste. In this sense you will be stumbled with numerous events and occasions (coincidences) that occur in the piece and drive you to think about conspiracy theory, etc. Plus, they will also (similar to Da Vinci Code), make you go through your closets and wardrobe closets, looking for the secret pocket and secret map. And drive a bit of adventure you forgot since being adult, in your veins.

A good Sunday entertainment. Since our local TV decided this is the crown jewel of a Saturday night, I don't recommend it in that way.


My personal rating: 5,0 (watchable adventure, will ease your mind :) and make you curious about US history and its treasures).


National Treasure on IMDB

While you were sleeping, 1995

While you were sleeping, 1995
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher


Stage: Home theatre, TV selection


While you were sleeping in short: Lucy's life consists of constant loneliness that is until she saves Peter's life. Now she is a part of his family, and with a strong heart and fate on her side, others begin to realize what a terrific person she is, especially Jack, Peter's brother. An extraordinarily true-to-life sequence of events begin to take place as Lucy and Jack become closer and learn more about each other and themselves than one would ever expect from such coincidental, yet believable events.



Preps: wow, a wonderful surprise on a Thursday evening. I adore Sandra and also Pullman. I saw this piece a few times and it makes me dream away every time.


Reality: As always, not dissappointed. The storyline is interesting, the philosophy behind it even more. How far are you going with things you make up and where do you choose to have the limit? Especially if you are as sad and yearning for love and someone to love (and that would love you back). So she makes something small up which afterwards comes up to a giant fat lie she can't back away from. She grows into the heart of his family, she plays the game until she falls in love with the brother. After that still plays the game. Do women really want to be comfortable until the very last breath?
The charade is really fun to watch and I love the witty scenes and the confusion she brings with her intelligent statements. Also the side role of her friend in the building that proposes to her constantly, is really intriguing.
Setting is placed around Christmas, the perfect time you can forgive her for making things up. The perfect time to be with the family and ones you love. You can easily feel with a person that is all alone, working on Christmas. So with the personification of the viewer, a bit of romance, fluffy yearning.. and the director wins the homerun.
Can you give me any reason I shouldn't marry your brother?, she asks Pullman. What would be the answer if he told her he loves her? Then the charade of the wedding, family love, etc, would vanish and she would be stuck with her conscience. The mixup at the wedding scene is really touching. We all need to confess our sins, especially if they are mixing with other people, influencing other people's feelings. The proposal at the ticket station is so romantic it really makes your heart turn a bit mushy. Life doesn't always turn out the way you planned.


My personal rating: 7,0 (a solid romantic comedy. You will love it, especially if you are fond of family way of living and are cheering for happy endings).


While you were sleeping on IMDB