Spy Kids 3 Movie Collection

Description

Spy Kids: The hit SPY KIDS trilogy captured the imaginations of families everywhere with its wild adventures, hysterical hijinks, and slick style. In this first adventure, super-spies Gregorio (Antonio Banderas) and Ingrid (Carla Guigino) give up their lives of intrigue to raise their children Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara). But sinister super-villain Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming) desires one of Gregorio's inventions to complete his plans for world domination, and when he kidnaps the parents, it's up to the kids to come to the rescue. Spy Kids 2: In the sequel, the OSS now has a full child-spy section and our hero siblings Carmen and Juni Cortez have become agents. This time, they're on a mission to recover a dangerous device that threatens the entire world. Enlisting the skills of Mom and Dad (Carla Gugino and Antonio Banderas) and their grandparents (Holland Taylor and Ricardo Montalban) the adventure is on to stop a mad scientist (Steve Buscemi) on a secluded island with mutant creatures. Spy Kids 3: In the third installment of the popular SPY KIDS trilogy, Carmen is kidnapped by an evil Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone) and imprisoned inside a virtual reality game. It's up to Juni to venture into the game and save his sister from the villain's clutches. Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Holland Taylor and Ricardo Montalbán return, with all-star appearances by Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Alan Cumming, Steve Buscemi, Bill Paxton, Elijah Wood, George Clooney and Selena Gomez. Review: For a family that enjoys Robert Rodriguez's unique blend of action and imagination. - The **Spy Kids 3-Movie Collection on Blu-ray** brings Robert Rodriguez's inventive and high-energy family adventure trilogy to high-definition. This collection is a fun package for fans looking to own the original adventures of Juni and Carmen Cortez with enhanced picture and sound quality. --- ### **The Films** The collection includes the original three films: *Spy Kids* (2001), *Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams* (2002), and *Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over* (2003). * ***Spy Kids*** **(2001):** A delightful, original, and charming movie that establishes the world of spy-parents Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez and their super-spy-in-training children. It's often cited as the best-balanced film of the trilogy, successfully mixing heart, humor, and inventive gadgets. * ***Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams*** **(2002):** A bigger-budget sequel that expands the world with more agents, a new exotic location, and more creature effects. While sometimes criticized for being "overlong" compared to the first, it maintains much of the original's charm. * ***Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over*** **(2003):** This entry takes the action into a virtual reality video game world, making heavy use of CGI and the original theatrical **3D format** (which often translates to a **2D-only presentation** on standard Blu-ray releases of the collection, though some individual discs or special editions may retain the original anaglyph 3D with glasses). Critics were generally split, with some finding the heavy CGI distracting and the story derivative (a lot like *Tron*), while others enjoyed its zany, unique style and fun cameos like Sylvester Stallone as the Toymaker. --- ### **Blu-ray Technical Quality** The trilogy's visual and audio quality generally improves incrementally with each film, largely due to the evolving filming techniques used by director Robert Rodriguez. * **Video Quality (1080p):** * The later films, which were shot in High Definition digital video, often feature a **razor-sharp and vivid image** on Blu-ray. * Colors are frequently **vibrant and rich**, making the often-glossy, high-tech, and cartoony visuals pop. * The high-definition detail can, however, make some of the early **CGI effects (especially in *Spy Kids 3*) appear more obvious and less convincing** than they did on standard definition. * **Audio Quality (Typically DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1):** * The lossless audio tracks are generally **stellar and aggressive**, especially during action sequences. * The sound design makes **good use of the surround channels** with discrete effects, creating an engaging and immersive experience suitable for a home theater. Dialogue is typically clear and well-prioritized. --- ### **Special Features** Depending on the specific release of the 3-Movie Collection, you can generally expect to find many of the bonus features carried over from the original individual DVD and Blu-ray releases. Highlights often include: * **Audio Commentary** with director Robert Rodriguez. * **Robert Rodriguez's "Ten Minute Film School"** featurettes, often focusing on the use of green screen ("Dream Screen") and effects. * **"The Making Of"** featurettes. * **Deleted Scenes** (on some editions). * **Music Videos** or concert footage (such as "Alexa Vega in Concert"). --- ### **Verdict** This Blu-ray collection is a **must-own for fans of the *Spy Kids* franchise** and a great value for family movie nights. | 👍 **Pros** | 👎 **Cons** | | **Excellent Audio:** Lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 tracks deliver an exciting, active sound field. | ***Spy Kids 3*'s CGI:** The enhanced Blu-ray resolution can expose the age and budget of some of the film's heavy visual effects. | | **Vibrant Picture:** The later films, in particular, look bright, colorful, and sharp in HD. | **Variable Film Quality:** *Spy Kids 3* is often considered the weakest entry in the trilogy. | | **Fun for the Family:** Great escapist entertainment with a focus on family values and imagination. | **3D Format:** The third film's original 3D is often absent or presented in the old anaglyph (red/cyan) format, which can be less satisfying than modern 3D. | **Final Recommendation:** **Worth the investment** for a family that enjoys Robert Rodriguez's unique blend of action and imagination. Review: Dvd - I love misery spy kids movies. They are awesome.