I didn't think much of the first National Treasure when it hit the screens a few years back (my review called it "equal parts forced banter, moronic plot device, omnipresent exposition and oh-so-familiar chase"), but I'm man enough to admit that the flick has managed to grow on me a bit after subsequent viewings. I still wouldn't come close to calling National Treasure an overlooked gem or anything like that, but perhaps I was expecting a bit too much from the movie the first time around.
So I told you all that so I could tell you this: National Treasure 2 (oh, sorry, National Treasure: Book of Secrets) won't be getting the same reprieve, simply because I'll never watch it again. Some movies deserve a second look ... and some sequels are just unquestionably witless. But hey, if you're one of those movie-watchers who loves to get the same old schpiel, recycled repeatedly, simply because people prefer things that are familiar over things that are different, then I suppose you'll wring two diverting hours out of this cookie-cutter retread. But even if you like the flick more than I did, I guarantee you'll have forgotten all about the experience in less than 24 hours. Movies like this make you wonder if sequels are more punishment than reward. (Obviously they're neither: They're commerce.)
For those who missed the first flick, here's the general gist on both: Nicolas Cage is a nerdly-yet-slick treasure hunter / historian, and apparently his job is to discover maps and clues that have somehow remained hidden from hundreds of previous treasure hunter / historians. In both movies, Ben Gates (Cage) has a powerfully annoying sidekick (Justin Bartha) who serves two purposes: Grade school-level quips of alleged comic relief, and the ability to do literally ANYTHING with electronics. He also has a blonde love interest (Diane Kruger, and the duo exhibit about as much chemistry as gym class), a dad (Jon Voight) who repeats every single plot point (for the extra-stupid viewers), and a pair of screenplays that are just a bit more believable than, say, Independence Day.
I have to be honest with you; there probably is about a zero chance that I will be watching 
The whole treasure-huntin' gang is back in 
The National Treasure junkies among us (and you know who you are) have probably already heard the rumors on this, but apparently it wasn't official until just this week. According to the Buena Vista's 
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