Spy Kids

It is rather strange that Robert Rodriguez directs the “Spy Kids” series, especially when you look at his filmography, consisting of films like “El Mariachi” (1992), “Desperado” (1995), “From Dusk Till Dawn,” (1996), and “Machete” (2010). These are bloody, violent films when compared to the “Spy Kids” series. Indeed, the “Spy Kids” series was a departure for Rodriguez, who primarily focused on creating violent, action movies for most of his film career. Of course, “Spy Kids” (2001) is an action movie featuring two protagonists as kids. As Rodriguez explains in the bonus feature included in the disc the concept of directing a kids’ movie with action elements always fascinated him since his childhood days. He wanted to capture his experience of growing up in a big family. He kept drawings of his imagination about a fantasy world of young spies that was eventually instrumental in bringing the series to life. The series was generally greeted with warm reviews, and the series fetched about $470 million at the box office on a budget of $165 million.

In “Spy Kids” we meet two youngsters, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daniel Sabara), who live with their parents, Ingrid (Carla Gujino) and Gregorio Cortez (Antonio Banderas). They are a happy family, but Carmen and Juni don’t know their parents’ secret. The kids watch a children TV show called “Floop’s Fooglies,” hosted by a man named Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming). When several fellow spies go missing, Ingrid and Gregorio take matters into their own hands by planning a rescue mission. Soon, they are captured by Floop’s men, known as thumb-thumb, that are robots made from fingers and thumbs. Floop works for a businessman who wants an army of robots. But robots can’t talk yet, and their power is derived from a source called the Third Brain. Gregorio was one of the scientists who helped to develop the Third Brain. Floop thinks that the Third Brain is in the family house, and he sends an army of thumb-thumbs to capture their kids. The kids escape the attack, and now they are on a mission to rescue their parents. Along the way, Gregorio’s estranged brother Machete (Danny Trejo) helps the kids with cool gadgets. The final battle takes place in Floop’s castle, a battle that changes the lives of Floop and the kids.

“Spy Kids” has a cool formula, which was never done in films before. The central theme of spies revolving around kids is surely unique. Rodriguez says in an interview that he was surprised why no one came up with this idea before. Probably this was the reason he was able to procure funding for the series, although the series was still produced on a tight budget. Rodriguez made sure that every penny counted by including themes that would appeal to adults as well as young children. The eventual message of the picture is inspiring for a young audience. The idea of family and togetherness is conveyed through the four characters, and it will surely connect with all audiences. Plus, there are plenty of well-done action sequences that provide for a thrilling ride.

Writer-director Rodriguez takes his time in developing the plot. Since the story revolves around a family, the script shows the current state of affairs in Cortez’s family. The sibling rivalry is realistically presented, as we see the eldest sibling, Carmen, doubting Juni’s capabilities; Carmen thinks she is the boss of the two. The characters of the two siblings are different in terms of their general approach to things. Carmen gets total control of the situation, while Juni tries to understand the situation first, before acting. But Juni learns and adapts quickly, and that ultimately becomes his greatest strength. Carmen’s knowledge of sea creatures comes in handy in a deepwater scene that helps Carmen and Juni easily to navigate around deadly sea creatures.

The characters come out learning from the experience; both are smarter and stronger, and the whole experience affirms the importance of a family in their lives. As the plot thickens, both of them learn to respect each other and work around the strengths of each character. The best moment comes when Carmen tells Juni that his heart is pure, and that one doesn’t have to be strong to beat Evil. At that very moment, we know the characters have progressed immensely in their maturity, as they realize their strengths and weaknesses. They are no longer the kids. They manage things well in precarious situations, highlighting their qualities to juggle many things, and their ability to think quickly on the feet. More so, their dexterity in operating various gadgets adds lighthearted moments to the film. Of course, just like their parents, Juni and Carmen have secrets, too.

Keeping a tight budget in mind, the filmmakers came up with innovative special-effect techniques. The deepwater shots were made using green screens, and digital elements were added later in the editing room. To keep costs down, only Rodriguez and a few members of his crew would travel to remote regions in Chile to shoot the picturesque landscape around the island. These elements give us an impression of a big-budget movie. To add to our excitement, the fast-paced action sequences are fascinating, holding our attention, as Carmen and Juni battle their way out of imminent danger. The editing is smooth, and Rodriguez brings in cool gadgets and instruments that you will normally see in a James Bond movie.

“Spy Kids” takes a normal approach to laying out the story; it’s predictable, but it is a lot fun. The villain could have been better, though. Nonetheless, considering the targeted audience, “Spy Kids” doesn’t have to be overly complex or convoluted. The picture moves at a good pace, building appropriate tension in action segments. Ultimately, “Spy Kids” succeeds because we are able to connect to its characters set in a fantasy spy world.

Video:

Lionsgate presents “Spy Kids” in an aspect ratio of 1:78.1, encoded using an AVC codec. For a ten-year-old film, “Spy Kids” looks really good in 1080p. The print is in pristine condition, with no traces of dust, specks, lines, or any other abnormalities on the print. The detail is pleasing to the eye, and sharpness is generally good, although in some scenes the sharpness varies. Moreover, the detail is evident on the island and in the safe house, where minute detailing pops out.  Grain is retained for the sake of realism.  The colors are remarkably solid, thereby making film’s palette vibrant at times. The close-ups reveal good detail, and the flesh tones are lifelike. Indeed, “Spy Kids” on Blu-ray looks marvelous with remarkable depth and clarity one would expect in 1080p.

Audio:

The lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is immensely lively. The action sequences pack in a lot of punches. The rear channels get a complete workout, and it provides for a full theater-like experience. The bass is activated mainly in the action scenes and is well balanced throughout. The low frequency sounds from the gadgets are captured in the soundtrack. Similarly, the dialogue stays crisp and clear for the entire film. In the end, the lossless track provides an immersive aural experience.

Extras:

First, we get a two-part retrospective documentary (1080p, 46 min), in which we see the actors, the producer, and the director discussing the film’s success at the box office. Director Robert Rodriguez talks about his growing up in a big family consisting of ten siblings. We learn the inspiration for the film came from his early childhood days. He provides his thoughts on the young actors in the film, and in the process, appreciating their efforts. Rodriguez discusses how the cool gadgets were brought to screen from his early drawings. This two-part featurette covers every aspect of filmmaking.

Up next, in the “10-minute School” documentary, director Rodriguez talks about how the production crew created an impression of a big-budget movie. He then gives us an insight on how the digital elements were added to the film. Next, in the “10-Minute Cooking School,” we see Rodriguez and the two actors from the film making a cheese sandwich and smoothies. Following this, the “Stunt Piece” featurette shows several stunts, along with the stunt coordinator. Finally, we get a featurette on special effects, “Special Effect Piece,” in which the special effect coordinators discuss how the special effects were done in the film. We also learn Rodriguez’s strong emphasis on creating digital characters with strong emotions.

Finally, there is a set of theatrical trailers, along with a sneak look at the upcoming “Spy Kids 4.” Lionsgate also includes a digital copy of the film on a separate DVD.

Parting Thoughts:

As Carmen says in the final segment, “Finding a family is difficult, and that’s the mission worth fighting for.” She is right. Carmen and Juni’s mission is packed with action, comedy, and believable characters. What’s more, the film’s visuals inject vibrancy by building a well-imagined world of spies.  For Carmen and Juni, this adventure trip is a dream come true. The Blu-ray edition features a splendid-looking 1080p transfer, a good, lossless soundtrack, and a handful of insightful extras.