Stars: Antonio Banderas, Alexa Vega, Carla Gugino, Steve Buscemi, Mike Judge, Ricardo Montalban, Bill Paxton, Holland Taylor, Alan Cumming, Danny Trejo, Daryl Sabara, Taylor Momsen, Matthew O'Leary, Emily Osment

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Summary: Juni and Carmen Cortez return for another big adventure in which they travel to the Island of Lost Dreams and encounter another set of Spy Kids...

The spy kids are back in this highly inventive sequel to the original smash hit. Once again, cinematic multi-tasker Robert Rodriguez (SPY KIDS 2's director, writer, producer, director of photography, editor, and composer) brings his high-octane, technicolor brand of antics and special effects to the screen. This time the kids are a little older and a lot more experienced as they fight to save the world and secure their reputation as the best in town. After proving themselves as top-notch spies like their parents (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) in the original SPY KIDS, Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara) are now at the top of the new OSS kids division. That is, until they meet a new sibling spy team, Gary and Gerti Giggles (Matthew O'Leary and Emily Osment), and their position is threatened. In a race to save the world, the rival spies travel to the Island of Lost Dreams, a world that resembles the Bermuda Triangle, which is populated by fantastical genetically altered creatures, brought to life by the resident mad scientist, Romero (Steve Buscemi). However, on the mysterious island none of the kids' high-tech James Bond-inspired gadgets work, so they must rely on their own cunning and family smarts to save the world. Viewers of all ages will enjoy this delightful sequel full of tongue-in-cheek humor, wacky creatures of all shapes and sizes, and nonstop action.

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

If you liked the original, then Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreamsis more of the same, with perhaps a touch less heart and a stretch more scale. The Cortez Family are back in action, with dad (Antonio Banderas) annoyed not to get the job as head of his spy organisation, mum (Carla Gugino) stuck with her overbearing and meddling spy parents (Ricardo Montalban is fun as her father) and kids Juni (Daryl Sabara) and Carmen (Alexa Vega) coming second to a new, nastier pair of spy siblings, the Giggles kids.

The story is negligible, with an evil spymaster plotting to use a device that neutralises all electrical gadgets everywhere, and the nice idea of paying homage to those Ray Harryhausen adventures with big hybrid monsters (a spider-legged monkey fights a cobra-headed lizard, sword-wielding skeletons feature in a lost temple scene) is slightly undermined by the use of flat-looking CGI rather than proper model work. But there's a nice bit from Steve Buscemi as a paranoid mad scientist and director-writer-editor Robert Rodriguez, who makes these films between more grown-up action pictures (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn), can stage a stunt better than most. --Kim Newman

On the DVD:Spy Kids 2is a nicely presented disc with fun menus and informative extras. The most interesting is Rodriguez's "Ten Minute Film School" which offers an easy-to-follow explanation of the digital effects. The director's commentary is also upbeat and full of useful information. As you would expect of an action spectacular such as this, the sound and visual aspects are superb. --Nikki Disney

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Audio Commentary - 1. Robert Rodriguez - Director, Deleted Scenes, Trailer - 1. Teaser Trailer, Featurettes - 1. Robert Rodriguez Film School, 2. A New Kind Of Stunt Kid, 3. A Day In The Life Of The Spy Kids, 4. School At Big Bend National Park, 5. Behind The Sc
Year:	2002
Release Date:	June 30, 2003
Runtime:	96 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B E D 888703
Label:	Dimension / Miramax
Keywords:	Family, Lost, Island, Kids, General, Spy, Dreams, Childrens
Genre:	Family