SPY KIDS 2: THE ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS
Starring:
Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Steve Buscemi,
Ricardo Montalban, Cheech Marin and Holland Taylor
Writer/Director: Robert Rodriguez
Running Time: 92 mins
Certificate: PG
Out to buy on DVD 30 June
Carman (Vega) and Juni (Sabara) set out on a new mission to find out about the strange disappearances on the mysterious Island of Lost Dreams. Reclusive scientist Dr Romero (Buscemi) has created an island full of strange cross-genetic creatures, which have over powered him and taken over. When contact is lost, frantic parents Gregorio (Banderas) and Ingrid (Gugino) set out to find Carman and Juni with the unwelcome help of Ingrid's parents. (Montalban and Taylor)
The Spy Kids return for another adventure and this one is as thrilling and entertaining as the first. The gadgets are more advanced, the training has been more intense and the kids are slightly bigger.
Writer/director Robert Rodriguez seems to really love producing these movies and you can tell that by what you see on the screen. He knows what will entertain kids and he makes the two leads the stars of the show.
Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara are extremely good child actors and have great chemistry. The bounce insults back and forth as real siblings do but the pair of them make a formidable team. Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino are really just supporting characters but the interplay between them, Holland Taylor and Ricardo Montalban is very natural and tremendously funny.
The only real let down, as with the first movie, is the special effects. Where some of them are very good, Juni's robot bug, the gadgets and the dragonfly sub for example, the creature effects and the blue screening are terrible. The creature's look like they are paying homage to Ray Harryhausen, whether this was intentional or not they are no way in his class and they end up making the movie look really cheap.
This aside, Spy Kids 2 is still a great children's movie that will entertain the adults as well the smaller members of the family. Gadgets galore, fight scenes aplenty and some very funny in jokes this is a film that everyone can enjoy.
Robert Rodriguez 'film school', A new kind of stunt kid, Robert Rodriguez commentary, Lost scenes with commentary, School at Big Bend National Park, Essential gear: 'Spy Kids Gadgets', Behind the scenes, A day in the life of the Spy Kids, Stills gallery, Art gallery, 'Transmooker Trouble' game, Teaser trailer, Interactive menus & Scene selection
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