Spy Kids 2 - The Island Of Lost Dreams [2002] - Region 2 DVD

The story is negligible, with an evil spymaster plotting to use a device that neutralises all electrical gadgets everywhere, and the nice idea of paying homage to those Ray Harryhausen adventures with big hybrid monsters (a spider-legged monkey fights a cobra-headed lizard, sword-wielding skeletons feature in a lost temple scene) is slightly undermined by the use of flat-looking CGI rather than proper model work. But there's a nice bit from Steve Buscemi as a paranoid mad scientist and director-writer-editor Robert Rodriguez, who makes these films between more grown-up action pictures (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn), can stage a stunt better than most. --Kim Newman

On the DVD: Spy Kids 2 is a nicely presented disc with fun menus and informative extras. The most interesting is Rodriguez's "Ten Minute Film School" which offers an easy-to-follow explanation of the digital effects. The director's commentary is also upbeat and full of useful information. As you would expect of an action spectacular such as this, the sound and visual aspects are superb. --Nikki Disney