movie coverI'd rather be watching TV![IMDB link] [Netflix link]

PLOT SUMMARY: Like the last movie, but relating to the Civil War instead of the War Of Independence.

UNCOMFORTABLE PLOT SUMMARY (inspired by this): [highlight for spoilers]→ Guy kidnaps president; bad guy dies because of his own lies.

PEOPLE: Same as the last movie, but with the addition of Jon Voight‘s character’s ex-wife Helen Mirren (Inkheart, The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover, 2010, Caligula), and a new bad guy: Ed Harris (A Beautiful Mind, Christof from the Truman Show, Creepshow 1).

QUIRKS: See also: National Treasure 1. Treason, treasure, lies, conspiracy, all that jazz.

MORALS: Treason is sometimes necessary!

BAD STUFF: Mom & Dad relationship: Corney. Both generations having relationship problems: Totally contrived, so that the events of the movie could be related to a romantic subplot that gets solved. Pffft.

And definitely more plot holes than in National Treasure 1.

CONCLUSION: Still an entertaining popcorn movie, but, like many sequels, it did not live up to the original. Less interesting history, too. And more made up: The Mudd story is just wrong.

RATINGS:
Clint: Netflix: 3/5 stars. IMDB: 6/10.
Carolyn: Netflix: 3.6/5 stars (a low 4). IMDB: 7/10.
The native public rating for this movie is: IMDB: 6.5/10, Netflix: 3.8/5 stars (Netflix‘s predicted rating for us was 3.4/5 stars).

RECOMMENDATION: If you need a generic popcorn action movie, or liked National Treasure 1.

SIMILAR MOVIES: National Treasure 1 :) And 3 is coming out in 2011.

MOVIE QUOTE: Riley Poole: So, what’s new with you?
Ben Gates: Well, my girlfriend kicked me out, I’m living with my dad, and my family killed President Lincoln.

Mood: itchy
Music: NoFX – Brain Constipation