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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Spy Kids


Genre: Family

Reviewed In Issue 54 (Nov 2001) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alan Cumming, Teri Hatcher, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Robert Patrick, Tony Shalhoub, Alexa Vega & Daryl Sabara

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3.5
DD Sound Rating: 4
DTS Sound Rating: NA
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 4
Internet Links
http://www.spykids.com
http://www.dimensionfilms.com
Special Features
Includes trailers.


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Dimension Home Video
(Catalog Number): 23539
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Rating Reason):

(Retail Price): $29.99
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 88
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2001
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 09/18/01
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Robert Rodriguez
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  DVD Picture Information

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  DVD Sound Information

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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
In Spy Kids, young Carmen (Vega) and Juni Cortez (Sabara) lead a normal suburban life, having no idea that their parents Gregorio (Banderas) and Ingrid (Gugino) are actually top secret agents who have retired from the OSS spy organization. When seven OSS spies go missing, Gregorio and Ingrid are asked to investigate, but soon they vanish as well. The fate of the Cortezes, and perhaps the world, rests on the courage of young Carmen and Juni, whose spy training comes primarily from video games. Carmen and Juni suspect that the techno-wizard, Fegan Floop (Cumming), may hide the secret of their parents

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD picture exhibits warm hues with lots of gold, oranges, and reds, but fleshtones generally appear balanced, and blacks are quite deep. Images are sharp and nicely detailed, with good contrast and shadow delineation. Pixelization is detected, but the gretest distraction is noticed from the moment the DVD starts. As the camera pans across the water and up to the house on the hill, edge enhancement is noticed around the hill, the house, the windowsill, and as the story moves along, the viewer is rarely relieved of its distraction. However, the good aspects of the transfer should satisfy. (Suzanne Hodges)

Soundtrack:
The Dolby