I was initially drawn to this movie because I very much enjoy Shia LaBeouf's style of acting. I had absolutely no experience with the YA novel of the same name, so I had no idea what to expect in terms of plot/characters. What I found was just a fun movie that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
For a basic plot summary, "Holes" tells the story of Stanley (LaBeouf), who is wrongly-accused of stealing an expensive pair of shoes and as such shipped off to a boys work camp. Led by Mr. Sir (Jon Voight) and The Warden (Sigourney Weaver), the camp makes each boy dig a large hole in the desert each day in order to "build character". Through the use of flashbacks, however, viewers begin to piece together information suggestion that Mr. Sir and The Warden may have an ulterior motive for the holes.
To me, the main draw of this movie (and what ultimately gives it its charm) is the flashbacks that are used to flesh out the backstory of the Stanley Yelnats family and the area where the work camp has been constructed. At first, viewers will wonder what the heck all the flashbacks mean and might even get a bit confused as to how they relate to each other. As the narrative continues, though, the plot lines begin to weave together to form a satisfying conclusion that "we probably should have seem coming" much earlier than we actually do.
Of course, children who watch the film will be more attuned to the events of the work camp itself, the crazy antics of Mr. Sir, and the jocular camaraderie present throughout. Even for adults, though, there is enough mystery surrounding the proceedings that things never seem juvenile enough to zone out.
Overall, "Holes" is a fun little movie that can be enjoyed by a wide range of audiences. I'm sure that pre-knowledge of its novel counterpart lends even a deeper understanding to the movie's plot and central characters.
For a basic plot summary, "Holes" tells the story of Stanley (LaBeouf), who is wrongly-accused of stealing an expensive pair of shoes and as such shipped off to a boys work camp. Led by Mr. Sir (Jon Voight) and The Warden (Sigourney Weaver), the camp makes each boy dig a large hole in the desert each day in order to "build character". Through the use of flashbacks, however, viewers begin to piece together information suggestion that Mr. Sir and The Warden may have an ulterior motive for the holes.
To me, the main draw of this movie (and what ultimately gives it its charm) is the flashbacks that are used to flesh out the backstory of the Stanley Yelnats family and the area where the work camp has been constructed. At first, viewers will wonder what the heck all the flashbacks mean and might even get a bit confused as to how they relate to each other. As the narrative continues, though, the plot lines begin to weave together to form a satisfying conclusion that "we probably should have seem coming" much earlier than we actually do.
Of course, children who watch the film will be more attuned to the events of the work camp itself, the crazy antics of Mr. Sir, and the jocular camaraderie present throughout. Even for adults, though, there is enough mystery surrounding the proceedings that things never seem juvenile enough to zone out.
Overall, "Holes" is a fun little movie that can be enjoyed by a wide range of audiences. I'm sure that pre-knowledge of its novel counterpart lends even a deeper understanding to the movie's plot and central characters.