With my wife in school nights and studying most of the day, I am the Designated Parent for taking the kids to the movies. Last night, I took my children to see Spy Kids 2. Now, I liked the original movie; it was cute, and not too sappy for a kids’ movie. But the sequel was mind-numbingly stupid. It was too boring to watch, and too noisy to sleep through.
I tend to lower my expectations when I watch a kid-flick. I don’t expect a great plot or clever writing. But SK2 couldn’t live up to my lowest possible expectations. A bunch of kids who must have had botox injections, given their lack of facial expressions. A group of adults with even less acting talent. As I watched Antonio Banderas, I could tell he was thinking the very same things I was through the movie: Get me out of here!!
I don’t know what’s sadder: the fact that my kids loved the movie, or the fact that they are dying to see some of the films that were advertized before the feature (like Shaolin Soccer, a movie that from the trailer looks as entertaining as a train wreck), and I might have to go to those movies, too.
Oh no–I have to go see it with my kids. I hadn’t minded so much because the first one wasn’t so bad, as you said, and, afterall, Antonio Bandaras is in it! But now you’ve got me dreading it.
Aren’t there any kids movies that adults can enjoy, too?! So help me god, I’d rather endure a duct tape bikini wax than sit through another Pokemon movie!
No…the monsters were more of a distraction than an enhancement, and the battle between two of them was dull.
And the kids picking over some treasure and finding the golden artifact that Indiana Jones grabbed in the very beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark didn’t help much, either.
I’ve liked several kids’movies. As I said, I enjoyed the original Spy Kids, as well as The Princess Diaries, Big Fat Liar, and even tolerated Clockstoppers. But SK2 was awful.
You can always say no. I am NOT taking my kids to see The Country Bears, no how, no way. (Besides, we have LOTR on DVD so that will be our entertainment this weekend!)
Well sure you can. I told him there was no way I was taking him to see Master of Disguise. But I already said I’d take him to see SK2 because, like Steverino, I thought the original was pretty good. Oh well, I’m still going to take him.
Poorly dubbed old Chinese monk/karate dude: Lu Kang, the army has raided our sacred field. They took the sacred Brine ball and threw it out of out bounds. They didn’t even kick it, the infedels.
Lu Kang: No, Sensei! I will avenge us. This is my vow. By Brandi Christein [sic] bra strap, we will have vengance.
I haven’t seen it yet, but I loved the first one, and I’m looking forward to the sequel. For an alternative perspective on it, check out the reviews at Rotten Tomatoes, where it’s getting a 70% critical approval rating.
Are you KIDDING? Shaolin Soccer is simply AMAZING.
My friend brought the movie over a month ago, and said, “You’ve got to see this.”
After we watched it, and I picked my jaw up off the floor, I ordered my own copy. I told everyone at work, and everyone who saw it agreed, and bought copies as well.
Seriously, if you get the chance, watch this movie.
I watched SS 3 times in the theater. Send Miramax a message (that being “eat me”) and buy the import DVD instead of watching the cut and dubbed version…
Short version- a former world-famous soccer star (Golden Leg), now lame and working for the man who broke his leg, discovers a martial artist who, thanks to his training, can do AMAZING things with a soccer ball. The martial artist also has several brothers, each with their own specialty (one can kick soccer balls basically into orbit, another has an indestructible and insanely accurate head, yet another is, thanks to his training, an incredible goalie). They eventually form a soccer team to defeat the bad guy who destroyed Golden Leg’s future.
The special effects are completely over-the-top. Simply beautiful.
Are you sure Shaolin Soccer is going to be cut, SV? Not all of us are able to play foreign DVD regions, and I’ve been looking forward to this one. I’ll be able to see it no matter what, but I was wanting to see it in a theater.
The DVD is region-free, and the Miramax release has been confirmed as cut (some sound tolerable, some sound very detrimental) and dubbed. Some say the dubbed version is “funnier” if you can’t speak Cantonese, but I don’t approve of dumbing-down in any form.
I *wish * we had seen “Spykids2”. Instead, I had to sit through “Master of Disguise”. My only consolation is that “Country Bears” has gotta be worse. Not by much, though. “MOD” makes you feel really sorry for Dana Carvey. He wants to be the next Austin Powers so badly, but all he seems to be able to do is mug for the camera.
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