Spy Kids All The Time In The World: THE HTF 3D ADDICT REVIEW (2 Viewers)

[Ronald Epstein]

What can I say?  I love 3D!  From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content.  I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite.  That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT.  I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky.  However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation.  These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves.  I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum.  My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released.   As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.

SPY KIDS
ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

Studio: Anchor Bay

Product Release: November 22, 2011

Ratio: 1.78:1

Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Running Time: 88 Minutes

Rating: PG

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 4

3D Separation: 4

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 4

Marissa Wilson (Jessica Alba) is anything but your typical Mom.  

I mean, how many Moms do you know that lead the life of an

OSS agent?  As the film opens, we find Marissa, in her final stage

of pregnancy, on one last daring mission to save the world from

the hands of a evil villain named Tick Tock (Jeremy Piven).  After

a stunt-filled chase through the streets of San Francisco, the bad

guy is apprehended and Mom is on her way to the hospital to give birth.

One year later, we find Marissa retired and tending home with her

husband (Joel Mchale) and baby girl.  Her two step kids, Rebecca 

and Cecil (Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook),  seem to be very 

suspicious that perhaps their Mom is keeping secrets from them.  

Their notions are soon realized when their house comes under attack

from henchmen associated with a new villain named "Timekeeper."

As Rebecca and Cecil's escape brings them to a panic room in the

basement, they learn the truth about their mother's side career. 

As Timekeeper releases his Armageddon on the world, Rebecca

and Cecil are joined by the original Spy Kids (Alexa Vega and Daryl

Sabara) who together, with some amazing new gadgets, might just 

be able to save the world!

Spy Kids All The Time In The World is the fourth and weakest

installment of an exhausted series directed by Robert Rodriguez.

Instead of aiming itself high in providing quality family entertainment

it takes the low road by succumbing to poop, fart and vomit jokes.

And why not?  What could be funnier to kids than a flatulent infant whose

poop-filled diaper makes the perfect weapon to throw at an enemy?

Still, despite the fact that this new Spy Kids film caters to a juvenile

audience, it's filled with enough enticing 3D content to keep everyone

in the family entertained throughout.  It doesn't take long for the projected

gimmicky to begin, introducing itself prominently in the film's opening

moments where a clock with its exploding gears and spinning hands

thrusts itself towards the audience.   From hereonin, viewers should

expect to have all sorts of objects pointed, splattered or sprayed towards

them. One of the visual highlights includes a highly experimental

transportation ray which provides some of the best computer-generated

3D effect work in the movie.  The transfer looks excellent with enough

clarity and deep depth to provide an effective sense of dimensionality --

especially within the huge set pieces filled with grinding clock gears.  

I was very pleased to find absolutely no ghosting related issues.

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack provides a powerful active and

immersive sonic experience with the surrounds taking on the task

of accurately reproducing the film's discreet effects.  Inside a clock

tower you find yourself surrounded by the sound of ticking against

grinding clock gears. Overall, a very punchy track that should please

everyone.

Spy Kids All The Time In The World arrives as a 4-disc combo 

pack that includes 3D and 2D Blu-ray as well as DVD and digital

copy disc.  It's sort of odd that Anchor Bay is quietly promoting the

fact that this is a 3D package only indicating such as a "bonus" disc.

Special Features on the 2D Blu-ray and DVD include an interview

with Robert Rodriguez, deleted scenes, the featurette: Spy Kids 

Passing The Torch, Spy Gadgets and more!

CONCLUSION

I can't completely pan Spy Kids All The Time In The World.  After

all, it's perfectly suited for its intended juvenile audience and the 

amount of really neat 3D imagery is more than enough to make this

disc one that will be played many times over.  For adults without 

young ones to share this with, there is absolutely no value in adding

this disc to your 3D collection.

Images are for illustrative purpose only not representative of the picture quality of this disc. 

Equipment

LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display

Oppo BDP-93 3D Blu-ray Player

Denon 3311CI Receiver

Atlantic Technology H-PAS AT-1 fronts, 4400 center; 4200 rear speakers

SV Sound Subwoofer