Red River Scrapbook
The Critical Couch Potato reviews the DVD ""Spy Kids 3D: Game Over"
By J Osborne
Feb 25, 2004
“Spy Kids 3D: Game Over” is scheduled for release Tuesday. This DVD is a satisfactory release for the children to whom it is marketed and tries to throw in some attractions for the adults also. The “Ten-minute film school” alone is worth the price of the DVD. It shows by example the difference one small addition can make to amateur videos.
For the adults, “Spy Kids 3D: Game Over” pokes fun at all sorts of genre and films, beginning with the classic film noir opening before going on the matrix-like computer play.
Inside jokes regarding "Khan" and some fine Corinthian leather. A few other such cultural references are present (including ones from "The Matrix" and "The Lord of the Rings," as well as a brief gumshoe film noir type spoof.
The story begins with Juni (Daryl Sabara) narrating his situation like some film noir anti-hero. The noir style opening should go completely unrecognized by the main target audience.
Celebrity cameos litter the landscape of the DVD, Salma Heyek, George Clooney, Steve Buscemi, to name a very few.
The action, for the most part, takes place within a video game called ‘Game Over’ and like video games there’s not a whole lot of logic as to why you go from one level to another – it’s just the way it is.
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| The toy maker watches the Spy Kids and cohorts on his virtual reality tray. Ryan Pinkston, Bobby Edner, Robert Vito, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara and Sylvester Stallone in Robert Rodriguez’s SPY KIDS 3D:GAME OVER. |
The “Spy Kids 3D: Game Over” DVD comes with 2- versions, one is the regular movie, and the other is the highly hyped three dimensional version.
3-D or not 3-D? That is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of 3-D’s critics or by this DVD release, ignore them. For me, 2D is the way to watch this film, no red and blue-lensed glasses, no double images, and vibrant colors
I think some of the stuff was put in just because it was filmed in 3D irritating. For example, after lava-surfing they brush the glowing lava off and it flies right toward the camera. Or the fighting robots hands or the staff fight while within the game.
If you have younger children, they will most likely enjoy this release. The third installment breathes new life into the series, but it's obvious Spy Kids has seen its last. A lot of charm was lost by removing the adults – except for a computer-enhanced, mobile Ricardo Montalban -- from the action until near the end.
Three-dimensional special effects launch the viewers into a topsy-turvy world of battling robots, souped-up motorcycle races, frogs on pogo sticks, surfing on hot lava, and much, much more. The story is even more incoherent than an actual computer game -- but the movie rushes along, driven by sheer enthusiasm.
“Spy Kids 3D: Game Over” is a good family film with morals and no bad language, a consistent grounding in positive values, especially mutual support within one's family and most importantly, positive values without preachiness.
“Spy Kids 3D: Game Over”mimics what it is spoofing too much. And it’s spoofing, mainly, a couple of movie genre and video game enthusiasts. It does an excellent job of jibing the Matrix, Tron and the Lord of the Rings as well as all of the video gamesters in its target audience.
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| The DVD menu of the release of Spy Kids 3: Game Over. |
To me, the entire movie just makes fun of the seriousness with which gamers approach the video games. They get angry, frustrated and even out-of-breath while playing the games. They are completely immersed in the game.
I found this a relatively enjoyable diversion. If the viewer is able to suspend disbelief, to believe and accept the concept of people going inside video games then the DVD will be worth the purchase.
This was done before. It was called Tron then. I think this must be the prequal, when the characters were younger and without the geekiness. Most kids, even young kids understand video games. They know about lives and cheat codes.
The viewer doesn’t have to speak geek to understand Spy Kids 3D: Game Over. Of course, the fact that the protagonists moved from one action sequence to another with no real effort to tell a story is bothersome to adults, it probably won’t bother the youngsters.
On a positive note, I continue to applaud -- for the most part -- the moral values conveyed in the Spy Kids films. It's nice to know there are movies I can take my grandsons
One cameo appearing star, who played “THE GUY” really surprised me. I thought at the time “Wow, how appropriate (and yeah, I do think like that).”
But remember, it’s for kids. It's not going to be King Lear, don't expect performances worthy of Sir Alec Guinness, and don't be disappointed if there are a few plot holes.
It's a kid's movie, and it works well on that level. All the things that movie aficionados might pick this movie apart for don't matter to the target audience, and shouldn't. It's just a fun time.
The conclusion is simplified and unrealistic with everyone living happily ever after and all of the main characters from the other two Spy Kids movies in at the conclusion, but it’s the way kids would like everything to be.
Kids enjoy it, adults can tolerate it, and the content is safe. Pop some popcorn for movie night and sit and watch this with your kids or grandkids.
Cast: Daryl Sabara, Alexa Vega, Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Bandares, Carla Gugina, and Samla Hayek.
“Spy Kids 3D: Game Over”
Rating (*** out of *****)
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| Daryl Sabara and Alexa Vega in Robert Rodriguez’s SPY KIDS 3D: GAME OVER. Photo courtesy of Dimension Films. |
Synopsis: (Courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment) America’s favorite spy family returns in an all-new, action-packed adventure, “Spy Kids 3D: Game Over”, the biggest, best and final mission on DVD and VHS, available on Feb. 24 from Dimension Home Video. The thrills and excitement are more fun than ever as the Spy Kids return to action with new gadgets, new creatures, new cyber-space vehicles, and a brand new, power hungry villain.
On DVD, “Spy Kids 3D: Game Over” comes complete with four pairs of special viewing glasses that will transport the whole family right into the action. Now you can experience all the thrills and cutting-edge special effects of what it’s like to be in a bigger-than-life video game
This latest and greatest Spy Kids adventure, from writer/director Robert Rodriguez, features returning cast members Antonio Banderas (“Frida”), Carla Gugino (TV’s “Karen Sisco”), Ricardo Montalban (“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”) Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara as the Spy Kids, and Sylvester Stallone (“Cop Land,” “Rocky”) as the new villain “The Toy Maker.”
In “Spy Kids 3D: Game Over” Juni (Daryl Sabara) must save his sister Carmen (Alexa Vega) who is being held captive inside a video game and controlled by the evil toy maker (Stallone) who wants to take over the world. It is up to Juni to call upon his mom (Carla Gugino), dad (Antonio Banderas), grandparents (Ricardo Montalban and Holland Taylor) and his friends to keep their greatest foe from world domination.
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| The Spy Kids and the Beta Testers watch "The GUY" walk towards the door to the final level. Ryan Pinkston, Alexa Vega, Robert Vito, Daryl Sabara and Bobby Edner in Robert Rodriguez's SPY KIDS 3D:GAME OVER. Photo courtesy of Dimension Films. |
DVD Features:
Commentary by filmmaker Robert Rodriquez
Contains 3-D and 2-D versions of the film
4 pairs of 3-D glasses included
Ten minute film school on how to make cool home movies
Alexa Vega in concert
Making Traks with Alexa Vega
The making of the film
Multi-angle piece on surfing and stunts
Big Dink, Little Dink
Mega Race Set-Top Game (2-D & 3-D versions)
Widescreen anamorphic format
Number of discs: 2
