Image credit : Victor de la fuente on flickr

This is the best sequel I have seen in a very long time, in terms of sticking to what was good about the first film, and enhancing it rather then ruining it.

Book of Secrets further develops the characters and story that we came to know and love in Disney’s original National Treasure back in 2004, following our intrepid treasure hunters on another adventure.

My main objection to this film, as with the first, is that all the puzzles, riddles and clues are based on details in American history, so as a non-American there was no way I was going to get the answer before the script told me, but it was still fun trying.

The cliffhangers and peril will keep you on the edge of your seat and because of the likable characters you’re rooting for them to win, even though they are doing things like kidnapping the President and breaking into Buckingham Palace!

The plot premise and the acting are not as strong in this movie as the first, but everything else is consistent, and it appears the script writers have already set us up for a third installment, if the box office favors this offering.

It may never win awards for originality, but this is a very good film in it’s own right (you can enjoy it even without having seen the original) and definitely worth seeing if you were a fan of the first.

Rating 3/5