Exploring the further adventures of Carmen and Juni Cortez, who have now joined the family spy business as Level 2 OSS agents. Their new mission is to save the world from a mad scientist living on a volcanic island populated by an imaginative menagerie of creatures. On this bizarre island, none of the Cortez's gadgets work and they must rely on their wits–and each other–to survive and save the day. Juni and Carmen are on a mission to search for a mysterious island where they encounter 2 of their competitors. There they meet a scientist who accidentally created the curious creatures with mixed features of normal animals. Both of them have to destroy a powerful object (which could disable all electrical signals and gadgets) that, till then, kept the island from being detected and thus prevent it from reaching wrong hands and ultimately save the world! To comment honestly, I must admit I think the original Spy Kids film was a bit better than this followup. It just seems to have more charm. But this followup is definitely an entertaining film, and one to own for those who have children that may want to watch it occasionally. <br/><br/>possible slight SPOILERS - This one deals with a strange contraption, a "Transmooger", which can disable electrical devices. Also the President and his young daughter. There is an organization called "Spy Kids", and your level - 3,2, or 1 - dictates whether you are experienced enough to go on missions without an adult. Carmen and Juni go to an island which is "lost" because a cloaking device makes it invisible. In this installment, their parents and grandparents end up hunting for them. Steve Buscemi is a welcome addition as a slightly off-kilter scientist who experiments with animals, and creates some strange ones, like the "bull-frog!"<br/><br/>The story ends up being secondary to the action and antics of the Spy Kids. There is a sword fight with skeletons on a high precipice. Dodging large sea monster while in bright orange floating devices. The neat contraptions and communications devices the kids wear and use. Robert Rodriguez who writes, directs, designs, and directs photography in his movies has a very vivid imagination.<br/><br/>The whole film has a "comic book turned into a film" look to it. Many of the gadgets and special effects do not look real, but that is secondary because it is a comic book type of film. The adult actors also fit into this comic book style. <br/><br/>The extras on this DVD are among the more interesting I have viewed. Rodriguez is noted for making full-length films on a very modest budget. One extra is a 10-minute " film school" where his commentary explains how a number of scenes were done and how they were able to do them cheaply. Plus, there are several other features on various aspects of making this film, all of them interesting. Unlike many commentaries, there are no self-serving comments, instead just interesting insights into his movie-making. Eight out of ten.<br/><br/>This movie is SO cute, and has a good number of funny moments. It's got cameos both recognizable (Bill Paxton) and obscure (Mike Judge). It's one of the first films shot completely digitally, and the special effects actually serve the story, rather than just being the sole reason the studio thinks you'll watch– as with high-budget, low brains movies like "Daredevil" or "The Core," … or "Spider-Man." There, I said it.<br/><br/>My one complaint is there's no character. Carmen gets a little, as she deals with her crush on Gary Giggles. The Dad (Banderas) gets a little, as he actively fears his in-laws. Most everyone else is just kinda there.<br/><br/>Still, some might say it's "just a kids movie." This is true. And both the writing, acting AND special effects, as well as overall creativity (the MOST important thing) are not only better than the first Spy Kids, they're better than the first Harry Potter, as well. There, I said it. The rare sequel that magnifies the scope of the original without diminishing the fun.
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