Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (also known as Spy Kids 3: Game Over) is a 2003 American spy action comedy film, the sequel to Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, and the third installment overall in the Spy Kids franchise. Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez and co-produced by Elizabeth Avellán, it was released in the United States on July 25, 2003 by Dimension Films. The film stars Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Ricardo Montalbán, Holland Taylor, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Judge and Cheech Marin.

Plot
Juni Cortez has retired from the OSS, working as a private detective. He is contacted by US President Devlin, former head of the OSS, who informs him that his sister Carmen has vanished whilst on a mission. Juni arrives at the OSS, reuniting with a reformed Donnagon Giggles and his wife Francesca, who explains that Carmen was captured by the Toymaker, a former OSS informant. He was imprisoned in cyberspace years earlier, but has created Game Over, a virtual reality-based video game, which he intends on using to escape back to reality when a gamer wins the unbeatable Level 5. Juni agrees to go into Game Over, find Carmen, and stop the Toymaker.

In the game, Juni learns he has nine lives, quickly losing one on the first level. He meets three beta testers, Francis, Arnold, and Rez, who give him passage to the Moon, which serves as Level 2. On the Moon, Juni is informed that he can summon an ally into the game to help. He chooses his paraplegic grandfather Valentin, who has personal history with the Toymaker. With a power up, Valentin gains a robotic body suit that allows him to walk. Juni participates in a robot battle arena, battling and defeating a girl named Demetra.

Juni meets the beta testers again, who believe he is “The Guy”, a legendary player who will beat Level 5. Rez is unconvinced, challenging Juni to participate in a high stakes race. He wins with help from Valentin, meeting Demetra again, who joins the group. The group proceed to Level 3, where Juni and Arnold have to battle in a death duel. Juni nearly loses, but Demetra steps in, sacrificing herself to let him continue.

On Level 4, Juni reunites with Carmen. She explains to him that the Toymaker was responsible for Valentin’s condition. The group reach a lava-filled gorge, believing they have to reach the end by surfing down the river. Donnagon and Francesca fear Valentin will seek revenge against the Toymaker, and they sabotage the game to kill the players. However, the lava proves to be harmless. The group reach the door to Level 5, meeting “The Guy”, who has one hundred lives. He leads them into Level 5, only to instantly lose all lives to a trap.

Inside, they encounter Demetra, who claims she managed to return through a glitch. Carmen identifies her as the Deceiver, a program designed to trick players. Demetra confirms this to a devastated Juni. The Toymaker appears in a mecha, revealing Level 5 is his prison, now freed thanks to the players entering. Valentin unlocks the door to the real world, with Demetra holding it open so everyone can escape. Juni, Carmen, and Valentin awaken in the OSS, assuming the Toymaker is still imprisoned. However, the Toymaker’s army of robots appear in a nearby city. Valentin reveals he deliberately freed the Toymaker.

Juni and Carmen race to the city, finding it overwhelmed by the robots. The two summon their extended family to help: Their parents Gregorio and Ingrid, their uncles Machete and Felix, their grandmother Helga, as well as friends including Fegan Floop, Alexander Minion, Dinky Winks and his son Dinky Jr., Romero, Gary Giggles and Gerti Giggles. Together, they destroy the robots, save the Toymaker’s personal unit. Valentin flies into the robot, confronting the Toymaker. To the Toymaker’s surprise, Valentin forgives him for his crimes. A moved Toymaker shuts down his robot, making peace with Valentin. Together, Juni, Carmen, and the rest of the Cortez clan celebrate the importance of family.

Cast

 * Antonio Banderas as Gregorio Cortez
 * Carla Gugino as Ingrid Cortez
 * Alexa Vega as Carmen Cortez
 * Daryl Sabara as Juni Cortez
 * Ricardo Montalbán as Grandfather
 * Holland Taylor as Grandmother
 * Sylvester Stallone as Sebastian "The Toymaker"
 * Mike Judge as Donnagon Giggles
 * Salma Hayek as Francesca Giggles
 * Matt O'Leary as Gary Giggles
 * Emily Osment as Gerti Giggles
 * Ryan Pinkston as Arnold
 * Robert Vito as Rez
 * Bobby Edner as Francis
 * Courtney Jines as Demetra
 * Cheech Marin as Felix Gumm
 * Danny Trejo as Machete
 * Alan Cumming as Fegan Floop
 * Tony Shalhoub as Alexander Minion
 * Steve Buscemi as Romero
 * Bill Paxton as Dinky Winks
 * George Clooney as Devlin
 * Elijah Wood as The GUY
 * Selena Gomez as Waterpark Girl
 * Glen Powell as Long-fingered Boy
 * James Paxton as Dinky Winks Jr.

Music
The film score was composed by Robert Rodriguez and is the first score for which he takes solo credit. Rodriguez also performs in the "Game Over" band, playing guitar, bass, keyboard and drums, including the title track, "Game Over", performed by Alexa Vega.[4]

All selections composed by Rodriguez and performed by Texas Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by George Oldziey and Rodriguez.
 * 1) "Game Over" (vocals by Alexa Vega)
 * 2) "Thumb Thumbs"
 * 3) "Pogoland"
 * 4) "Robot Arena"
 * 5) "Metal Battle"
 * 6) "Toymaker"
 * 7) "Mega Racer"
 * 8) "Programmerz"
 * 9) "Bonus Life"
 * 10) "Cyber Staff Battle"
 * 11) "Tinker Toys"
 * 12) "Lava Monster Rock"
 * 13) "The Real Guy"
 * 14) "Orbit"
 * 15) "Welcome to the Game"
 * 16) "Heart Drive" (performed by Bobby Edner and Alexa Vega)
 * 17) "Game Over (Level 5 Mix)" (performed by Alexa Vega)
 * 18) "Isle of Dreams (Cortez Mix)" (performed by Alexa Vega)
 * Tracks 17–18 produced by Dave Curtin for DeepMix.

Sound Effects Used

 * Hollywoodedge, Reverse Ricochet 3 St PE207701/Hollywoodedge, Explo Whoosh CRT040202 (Heard once during the Mega-Race scene.)
 * Sound Ideas, ELECTRICITY, SPARK - HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK, ELECTRICAL 02
 * Joel Valentine Laser Beam Sound (The Powerpuff Girls Sound Effect)
 * Joel Valentine Swish 2 Sound (The Powerpuff Girls Sound Effect)
 * SKYWALKER HYPERDRIVE FAILURE SOUND
 * SKYWALKER LIGHTSABER SOUND
 * SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - X-WING FIGHTER GUN
 * SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - TIE FIGHTER GUN
 * SKYWALKER, METAL - AT-AT LEG ROAR
 * DING, MAGIC POOF WITH DING (The Fairly OddParents Sound Effect)
 * TAZ SPIN

Follows
Spy Kids (2001)

Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)

Followed by
Spy Kids 4-D: All the Time in the World (2011)

Spin-off
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) (Video Game)

Spy Kids 3-D: Mega Race (2004) (Video Game) A DVD game based on the third Spy Kids film.

Referenced in
The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) numerous references, including: lines from this movie are used; Game World sequence; Mega Race sequence; Level Four sequence; Lava Mountain sequence; Level Five sequence

The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) (Video Game)

Hilary's Roman Adventure: The Making of The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2004) (Video) Timmy mentioned his idea of spy movies including this film.

The Good, the Bad & the Bloody: Inside KNB EFX (2004) (Video) mentionned once

Inside Troublemaker Studios (2004) (Video) clearly visible poster in background

Nostalgia Critic: Judge Dredd (2009) (TV Episode) "To the charge of making Rambo 2, Spy Kids 3, Rocky 4, the list goes on!"

Mad: Spy vs. Spy Kids/The Superhero Millionaire Matchmaker (2011) (TV Episode) Alexa PenaVega & Daryl Sabara were referred to as the original Spy Kids from the first three movies.

Keith Lemon: The Film (2012) Mentioned in the bus driver's announcement.

Nostalgia Critic: The Legend of Zorro (2015) (TV Episode) a crappy movie Antonio Banderas went on to do

Nostalgia Critic: Is White Washing Really Still a Thing? (2016) (TV Episode) to be reviewed next time

Double Date Night: Episode #1.2 (2016) (TV Episode) Mentioned during a game of charades.

Sylvester Stallone Movie Reviews: Top 10 Favorite & Least Favorite Stallone Films (2017) (TV Episode) Matt Roehler mentions this movie.

Nostalgia Critic Real Thoughts: Sharkboy and Lavagirl (2018) (TV Episode) Doug Walker notes how Rob Walker often confuses Sharkboy and Lavagirl with this movie

Saturday Night Live: SNL At Home: Kristen Wiig/Boyz II Men (2020) (TV Episode) Title mentioned and poster shown during "Danny Trejo" rap.

Featured in
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Episode #10.154 (2003) (TV Episode) A clip is shown during "Conan on the Aisle", and another is shown during Sylvester Stallone's interview.

At the Movies: American Wedding/Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life/Masked and Anonymous/Buffalo Soldiers/Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) (TV Episode) Reviewed.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) (Video Game) A clip of the Mega Race scene from this movie is shown during the racing level.

Troldspejlet: Episode #31.4 (2004) (TV Episode) VHS and DVD reviewed + footage used

Spy Kids 3-D: Mega Race (2004) (Video Game) Footage of the Mega Race scene is shown throughout the DVD game.

Bad Movie Beatdown: Spy Kids 3D- Game Over (2011) (TV Episode) movie is reviewed

WatchMojo: Top 10 Worst 3D Movies (2014) (TV Episode) Spy Kids 3: Game Over is #5.

Nostalgia Critic: The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl (2015) (TV Episode) One of the Spy Kids films that felt more childish and gimmicky than the first one.

WatchMojo: Top 10 Virtual Reality Movie Moments (2015) (TV Episode) More Than a Game gets an honorable mention.

WatchMojo: Top 10 Fictional Video Games in Movies (2015) (TV Episode) Game Over is #7.

Nostalgia Critic: Why Do Good Directors Go Bad? (2016) (TV Episode) clip shown

Nostalgia Critic: Spy Kids 3D: Game Over (2016) (TV Episode) movie is reviewed

Top 5 Best/Worst: Top 5 Best Sylvester Stallone Performances (2016) (TV Episode) clip is used

Top 5 Best/Worst: Top 5 Worst Stallone Performances (2016) (TV Episode)
 * 2

Spoofs
King Kong (1933)

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) sound effects from Star Wars are used.

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

Back to the Future (1985)

Aliens (1986)

Even Stevens (2000) (TV Series)

Charlie's Angels (2000)

The Powerpuff Girls: Chemical X-Traction (2001) (Video Game)

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) The speeder chase scene is spoofed during Mega-Race sequence, including the same vehicle sound effects.