Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002)

A Disappointing Continuation

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Spy Kids 2 is a film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. AS I had seen the first Spy Kids film, I decided to give this film also a go, but with much lesser expectations. And what we get is the same mismash of the first film.Plot: It is upto OSS agents Carmen and Juni to recover a Transmooker device from a mysterious island.Story and direction: As usual, there is nothing much interesting to the story. BUt the way Robert decides to go with the story is very conventional. He follows the same old route that he followed with the first film. Even we have some new characters that are added to this venture, but none of them seem very likable. That may be because Robert Rodriguesz liked to do everything in the film but doesn't excel in any part. Although the visual effects are a wee bit better than the first film, but still it is a pain to the eyes considering the film's that came before this one employed much better VFX. And the implausibilties are so much that you cringe in almost every scene at the stupidity that happens. I am not saying that I have a problem with stupidity. But there is always a way to make it presentable, where this film fails the most.Performances: Alexa Vega and Carla Juni were again adorable as the Spy Kids agents. Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino were likable. Why were Alan Cummin and Tony Shalhoub asked to return for this, is still not understandable to me. Danny Trejo is will be always rememberede as Machete. The other rival kids were kind of irritating. I don't know whether it was their acting or characterization, I hated them.Verdict: Stepping down from the first film, Spy Kidfs 2 was not a great watch for me. I kept seeing my watch as to when this film will be over. Again this film will bring some smiles on the kids' faces, but nothing for teenagers or adults.I am going with a 4/10.

I gave this movie a 9/10 because not all movies are meant to be top quality in everything. This movie was made to be a sequel to a cheesy family friendly movie and it did not disappoint. If you saw the original and liked it at all, this movie followed up tremendously in a very short amount of time. It was funnier, cheesier, and had a surprisingly good actors/actresses. Sure there were plenty of things that didn't make sense (cinemasins would have a field day with this), but to me that's just part of what makes it so fun to watch.I've recently gone back to watch old movies I watched as a kid, and this is one of the ones I think held up the most.

As the story begins, Juni and Carmen Cortez are agents on the rise in the new Spy Kids division of the OSS. Despite all of their skills and accomplishments, they're denied a promotion in the agency as a result of blatant nepotism. Still determined to make their mark—and more importantly to upstage a pair of rival agents—they intervene in a mission to travel to a mysterious island and retrieve a sophisticated thingamajig that could be a potent threat if it falls into the wrong hands. Engaging sequel is far less cheesy than its predecessor, has a much better story, and lots of imaginative visual effects accompanied by exciting, cliffhanger action scenes. Overlong, and still corny at times, but has just enough ingredients to entertain all audiences. ***

Seeing Spy Kids 2 probably wasn't a very good idea for me, having not seen Spy Kids 1; but, well, I had nothing better to do. I do, however, almost wish I hadn't seen this film - as I have enormous respect for director Robert Rodriguez, and excluding the Spy Kids films; have been impressed with almost everything that the man has turned his hand to. While this film definitely shows Rodriguez's flair (the same flair which has made the rest of his films so enjoyable), Spy Kids 2 is hard to like simply because it's just so STUPID. I realise it's a kids film and I shouldn't really be watching it - but as hard as I try to think of a reason why there would be a 'Spy Kids' organisation, I just can't come up with a plausible reason. The film is also really patronising, and it's a good job, therefore, that it's aimed at such a young audience because any other group of people would surely see through the obvious ploys to get the audience to like the film. Aside from all the gadgets that the two kids have got; there isn't a lot to this movie.Rodriguez has done the neat little trick that he did with From Dusk Till Dawn and the latter two 'Mexico' films (not to mention Sin City), in that he's gathered up a bunch of 'names' to appear in the movie. Aside from Antonio Bandaras and Carla Gugino, the film also has smaller roles for the likes of Bill Paxton, Cheech Marin, Steve Buscemi, Alan Cumming and Danny Trejo. Of course, the main acting plaudits have to go to the two child stars, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, who aren't brilliant; but get to have a lot of fun spying and stuff. The side of the film that really lets it down is the special effects. The CGI is so bad that after a while, I actually started to think that it's bad on purpose. There's just absolutely no way that this is the best that the effects department could do. On the whole, this film isn't really meant to be taken seriously. I imagine a lot of kids will enjoy Spy Kids 2; but I didn't like it all that much. It sure beats being bored...but I felt like I was being talked down to all the way through, and that coupled with the rubbish effects and numerous ridiculous sequences make me give the film a thumbs down.