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NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS
DVD release date: May 20, 2008
 If you’re seeking even more treasure hunting, action and adventure than “National Treasure,” then follow the path to your DVD store to pick up “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.” Join Ben, Abigail, Riley and the original characters from “National Treasure” as they span the globe in search of the Golden City and the answers to a personal search for the truth in the Gates family past.
 In addition to the movie itself there's a great commentary on the film
featuring Director Jon Turteltaub and Actor Jon Voight. For the most
part, Jon plays sidekick to Turteltaub, but Turteltaub's offers a wealth
(get it? treasure... wealth...) a wealth of information into all kinds
of aspects of the movie making process of this film.
If you purchase “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets” on DVD, do yourself a favor and get the two disc set, because the second disc is filled with plenty of DVD treasures!
I’m always craving behind-the-scenes footage and there’s no shortage of it here.
The menu was a bit strange in that I’m watching the menu, waiting for my choices but they didn’t show up. I’m thinking, this is a long time to wait for the options to appear but they didn’t.
It’s kind of strange but you just need to figure out how to proceed. It’s pretty simple once you figure out that you’re not going to get anywhere.
Once you get to the menu of Bonus Features, it’s pretty cool looking and here are your choices:
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 Deleted Scenes - There are five deleted scenes with some intros by Director/Producer Jon Turteltaub. These run a minute to several minutes and one of the scenes is over seven minutes long and an interesting twist of events that didn’t make it in to the film.
- Secrets of a Sequel - This nearly seven minute pieces is, as you’ve probably guessed, about making a sequel. This has insight from some of the film’s producers and cast sharing thoughts and some behind the scenes clips.
- The Book of Secrets: On Location – This is nearly ten minutes. Since the film was really on location around the world you’ll get to see and learn about filming internationally and even security measures at various locations.
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 The Treasure Reel: Bloopers and Outtakes - Here’s only five minutes of bloopers and outtakes. It’s a typical Disney fast-paced montage of bloopers, but jam packed with fun moments you weren’t supposed to see.
- Street Stunts: Creating the London Chase - For nine and a half minutes you’ll learn about the making of the big London car chase. From the stunts to the special effects masters there’s some fascinating meaty substance to this feature.
- Underground Action - This is nearly seven fascinating minutes which demonstrates what’s involved in creating the scenes that take place in the underground cave. There’s some truly amazing viewing material here!
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 Evolution of a Golden City - The City of Gold serves up ten more minutes of Hollywood Magic. This segment really gives you some insight into the set building including some time lapse photography on the building of the amazing Golden City set. Beyond the massive set, there is quite a bit of computerized digital effects necessary and with comparisons and before’s and after’s this will answer many of your “How’d they do that?” questions.
- Knights of the Golden Circle - The Knights of the Golden Circle was a Southern extremist group of the Confederates who believed in slave labor and did not want to accept the end of the Civil War. Learn about the real group and the real treasure. Although less than three minutes, this is a very interesting look at real life history.
- Cover Story: Crafting the Presidents Book - The Book of Secrets has all the President’s secrets, passed since George Washington. This segment is a bit more lighthearted, but the question remains… is there a real Book of Secrets? Learn about the great detail that went into the Book of Secrets in the film.
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 Inside the Library of Congress - Part of this film was actually shot in the Library of Congress and this eight and a half minute piece gives you a tour and history of the beautiful and extraordinary institution. A lot more goes on there than I certainly was aware of! The Library of Congress has an amazing world of artifacts and history… the first photograph, the first book ever. Unbelievable.
EASTER EGG ALERT: There are at least three Easter eggs hidden somewhere on
disc 2, each with some quick but awesome behind the scenes info and footage.
Hint: Can't figure out the sequence of arrows to get to the Easter egg? Pop it
in your computer and run your mouse all around the screen.
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