Proving a mathematical theorem in high school is similar to finding treasure in this movie. It has been pre proven and when the problem is given to the student, the series of steps to be followed becomes a routine of placid uninteresting method than to understand it. It is the nature of educational system I was in and the film “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” cannot be more obvious relation to that. It is an adventure formula film only that it assumes to be in the path of rapid adventures but misguides itself into random acts of easy key findings. The probable tough part would be the travel for Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) and Co. Rest seems to be handed to them without any difficulty as their “knowledge”.Ben with his successful first treasure hunt is haunted by the allegations of Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) who claims to have the piece of a paper implying Ben’s great great grandfather being the master mind behind the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. And then to clear his name the movie happens. The expectation is simpler and straightforward for this and that is to be adventured with brilliance along with some funny characterization. The first venture “National Treasure” had the running going with some amusing information slightly twisting the urban legends to reality. It ran for its value because of the codes and puzzles as complex and the lengths Ben and Riley (Justin Bartha) go about was exciting too. The sequel has puzzle or code questions one too many and answers it quite immediately because they want to advance the location from one place to another for pace rather than substance. The result is a series of a student attending an exam with a key right by his side. The difference out here being we do not want to know the answer right by our side and the success lies in the disclosure of those with tidbit curious information being it either myth or fact.
The motive in the first part villain was clear, obvious and that’s what we need in a film like that. Mitch Wilkinson is supposed to be a man obsessed to create a name for his family in the history and he does not seem to be an adventurous person too. He suits more of a mercenary than esteem seeking adventurer. If instigating Ben is the way to drive him, he has wasted his time. With respect to the characterization of Ben, he is a seeker of new treasure for thrill and the fun. Hence, if he would have simply contacted and had an amiable discussion with him, things would have been easier. Rather than that he ends up as a foot note in the discovery of the “city of gold”. And if Mitch wants Ben to do most of his job, why does he try to kill Ben in London?
Now I do not want to start on the comedic tense string in between Ben’s father Patrick Gates (Jon Voight) and his mother Emily (Helen Mirren) whom he divorced. It is made up, awkward and does not even entertain a slightest bit. The same goes for the character of Riley who is neither funny nor pathetic. It is some what distressful to see renowned actors like Cage, Harris, Voight, Mirren and Keitel doing something predictable, bland and wasteful in nature.
It is a lazy holiday movie. These are the movies when watching in TV channels seems interesting to sit on during the lethargic day of nothingness. You know what to expect and you have the time to flip channels during the commercial breaks. You can come back and still watch not for its entertainment but it just is an easy movie for the brain and you are in one of those days when you do not mind abusing it for a while.
No comments:
Post a Comment