Review of Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) by Gerry P — 07 Oct 2012

For a while I was a Robert Rodriguez fan because of his unusual ability to make films cheap and quick. It wasn't until a decade later, I realized that this is not a good thing.

The Spy Kids movies feel cheap and rushed. I liked the first two despite their many flaws. This film is just average.

The biggest problem with this film is that there is no "Spy" stuff in it what so ever. It's like a Bond film with no gadgets or espionage.

Shot mostly in front of a green screen and most of it is CGI, this becomes irksome. The CG in Rodriguez films is either convincing or just bad. The first two movies had some awful FX, but this one shows off the most. You'll be begging to see real sets. Sure Sin City looks amazing, but that's because you had Frank Miller's source material to make up for it and it was in black and white which works really well.

The Toymaker is a dreadful villain. He has no motivation. He's just bad for no reason. A problem that all the movies has. "I'm the villain, nuff said.".

Stallone overacts like crazy. "This isn't a game. IT'S LIFE!" And the Razzie goes to...... I'm not kidding, he won the Razzie for this film. He plays 5 roles and he sucks at all of them. Also, how many times does he say the word "game" throughout the film. That'll make a nice drinking game. Aargh, now I said it!

Where's Antonio Banderas? He gets top billing but he only appears at the end. So do the rest of the big names. All shot in front of green screen cos they couldn't make it to the set altogether.

I thought the whole "everyone is your family" was useless. Also, when everybody all rushing in to help at the end, how did the get there so fast. Answer: The movie says so. And don't get me started on the "3D".

The movie can be fun at times when you ignore all logic. I like the way the first level of the game is a platformer (or tries to be), the second level is a beat 'em up, the third is a racer, the fourth is a......... well, it's also a fighter and the fifth is a.................. what is the fifth one, strategy?

It is bright and colourful, the way a family film should be.

It's a fun film for kids to watch and Ricardo Montalban is watchable. His character gets in the game and gets the chance to walk. I like scene where he's taking to Juni that although he's paralyzed from the waist down "On the inside, I feel like this." Even people who hate the film liked this scene.

I also like the whole "forgiveness is better than revenge" theme. At least this movie done something right.

Overall, it's okay. It's a lot better than the fourth film which I haven't seen, but I hear it's horrible.