The cast all have a great chemistry, work well together, and have some genuine funny moments. My favorite scene in the entire movie is when Patrick Gates is reunited with his ex-wife Emily Appleton (Helen Mirren) after not seeing each other (literally) for decades. The back and forth between them as they bicker is so well-executed I could believe they were actually an old married couple.
The Video
While National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is a standard movie as far as content goes, the visual aspects are nothing short of spectacular. Disney has always delivered amazing Blu-rays and this film is no exception. Presented as a 1080p, 2.35:1 framed transfer, it is stunning. Black levels are so important to movies, especially ones like this that transition from day to night and travel into underground settings. National Treasure 2 features spot on inky black levels and a present but understated grain that just adds to the cinematic feel. Clothing, skin tone, even writing on paper is so three-dimensional you almost feel like you can touch things at times.
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets travels around the world and the flawless transfer is able to flex its muscles when the crew is in locales like Mount Rushmore, Buckingham Palace, and Paris. Disney has made another high water mark transfer with this film and it is a testament to how great transfers like this can validate the Blu-ray format and actually improve the experience of the movie you are watching.
The Audio
I have mentioned that Disney is a master at making quality Blu-rays and this applies nearly universally to their audio mixes as well. National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets features the main audio format in the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless surround sound format and it is a treat to hear and experience. Other studios need to listen to this soundtrack to see how ambiance and background sound details need to be heard. At almost every stage of the movie there is some form of audio coming from the rear channels, whether it is dripping water, light music or people having low conversations — the world just feels alive.
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