Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams

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This was a very satisfying sequel to "Spy Kids". Even though I enjoyed the first film just a little bit more, "Spy Kids 2" thoroughly entertained me, my wife and my three children. As a parent, I appreciated how Carmen and Juni were in perilous situations, but it never felt like they were in deadly danger. I also enjoyed the overall message that family unity, love and respect is always important. Kudos to Mr. Rodriguez for including Ricardo Montalban and Holland Taylor. They were cool and funny! And is it any coincidence that the Cortez kids, their parents and their grandparents are all good-looking? I don't think so! Let's just say that the presence of Antonio Banderas (for my wife) and Carla Gugino (for me) made the movie that much more pleasant to watch. :) My family looks forward to spying on the further exploits of the Cortez family next year in "Spy Kids 3"!

I don't know why IMDb's user base is being so tough on this movie, but what really amazed me about it, besides the beautiful production design and use of special effects, is how much I know I would have loved it as a kid. It is SUCH a fun kid's fantasy, with gadgets, creatures, and the chance to act grown up without grossing people out. I liked this movie a great deal; not sure why it's being maligned here. What's also interesting about it is Robert Rodriguez's ability to work his Mexican pride into this film. While there are a lot of great Latino filmmakers, I think it's cool how Robert Rodriguez is able to put Hispanics into the mainstream, be it with his casting or with his films themselves. I've always said that as much as I love the indie heroes, the mainstream have the power to effect real change, and it's nice to see that actually at work.

What made the first movie wonderful is missing here. The movie is just all gadgets and special effects - no feeling and no fun. A few scenes are just plain stupid. The kids are fine actors. It's too bad that there is no human interaction here. Everything is overwhelmed by special effects.

Whilst the sheer psychedelic lunacy of the first is toned down (although Alan Cumming does return in a brief cameo), the second outing for the Cortez kids is still gloriously imaginative filmmaking shot through with a break-neck pace. How many other kids' movies out there are knowing reworkings of 'The Island Of Dr Moreau' (check out the character of, ahem, 'Romero'), featuring Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Steve Buscemi, and Mike Judge in the cast? Inspired madness. The sort of kids' movie only a deliciously warped adult with a love for the films of his / her youth could make. Funnier, faster, slicker and smarter than the flabby Bond franchise in its entirety.

I won't spoil the plot, which is quite good for a sequel. I took my boys (aged 7 and 12) to see it, as well as my brother. We were pleased to see a very strong pro-family message. In several instances there were examples of self-sacrifice, and of choosing family above one's own selfish desires. In that regard, this is one of the best movies to take your children to see, in spite of the shitake mushroom joke!

This movie was perfect for the under 12 years of age crowd. My two daughters, aged 11 and 7, loved it! I loved it less so, but it still was quite entertaining. Who even knew Ricardo Montalban was still alive and well?? Antonio Banderas looked extremely wonderful, but I think Carla Gugino is too young for that part! Steve Buscemi is absolute favorite of mine, but was definitely under used here! Take this movie as it presents itself: a kids only action flick! Cool amusement park rides, fun creatures and gadgets is what this movie has to offer. Actually, I'm not sure why any headlining adults are in this movie at all, quite frankly, given their extremely small screen time. On another note, Alan Cumming must be an extremely bizarre person. How and why he chooses his movie scripts is quite beyond me (Spy Kids 1 and 2, Josie and the Pussycats, SpiceWorld, Romy and Michelles' HS reunion!).

This non-sequel is a whopping mess of commercialism: nothing but gadgets and bad dialogue. It was not a spy film (aside from a bit of computer hacking, there was no espionage), it was a fantasy adventure, and it didn't even do that well. Not even good enough for straight-to-video genre. Rather, it should be filed under "straight-to-the-trash-can."