Holes (PG, 2003)

common sense media says

Great movie respects its audience's intelligence.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie, based on the bestseller by Louis Sachar, has an edge to it, but it's not as gritty as it could be. Portraying a teen boys' work-camp could give excuses to broach more lewd subject matter, but this movie portrays the rough and tumble without devolving into a gross-out fest. There are some moments of racial and gender tension played out in glimpses of the past (reference to a lynching, men trying to force their attentions on a woman), which might be too intense for younger viewers.  

Positive messages: Stanley and Zero are treated badly by adults at the camp who call them worthless and stupid. Stanley, however, takes on the task of teaching Zero how to read. He sticks out his neck for Zero and eventually saves his life.
Positive role models: The adults in charge of the boy's camp are mean-spirited and demeaning. But the adults in Stanley's life are kind-hearted and generous. Stanley has inherited these traits from his family, welcoming Zero into his home like a brother. 
Violence: Stanley is sent to a boys' work camp, where there is rough-housing and some fist fights. There are wild west flashbacks where a gun-toting female renegade kills men and then kisses their cheeks. Members of the old west community threaten to lynch an African-American man who loves a white woman -- he is shot as he tries to escape. Perilous moments on the face of a rock, as Stanley and Zero nearly fall to their deaths. A character commits suicide by allowing a poisonous lizard to bite her.
Sex: Non-sexual scenes of boys showering (in their underwear). Stanley talks in passing about a fantasy he has of seeing a woman in a bikini.
Language: "Damned," "hell," "schmuck," and "jackasses" are all uttered.
Consumerism: Mr. Sir hands a guard a Coke. Characters revel in newly found wealth.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Mr. Sir has quit smoking at the start of the movie, but is back to smoking by the end. In an old West flashback, a sheriff admits that he is drunk.

More on Holes

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about its themes of fate and choice. What actions in the movie seem to have been decided by fate (or a curse) and what were decided by the characters?
  • How much of our present is influenced by or determined by the past?
  • There are even more connections between the three stories than you see at first. How many can you find?
  • If you pay close attention, there is something significant about when the boys use their real names and when they use their tough nicknames. What does that tell you?
  • Why doesn't Stanley tell the truth in his letter to his mother? How is Stanley different at the end of the movie?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Adapted by Louis Sachar from his Newbery award-winning book, this is the story of Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf). Stanley is wrongfully accused of stealing a very valuable pair of sneakers and sentenced to a juvenile facility in the desert. Each boy there is required to dig a five-foot-deep hole every day. They are told it is to help them develop character, but could it be that the Warden (Sigourney Weaver) is looking for something that just might be buried in the endless stretch of sand that once was Green Lake?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Author Louis Sacher (who appears briefly as a man who is going bald) adapted his own story, and it retains all of the complexity and understated, offbeat charm of the book. The adult actors are excellent, especially Arquette and Dule Hill, but the kids are the center of the story, and they handle it beautifully. Khleo Thomas is wonderfully engaging as Zero. In sharp contrast to most movies directed at 10- to 15-year-olds (come to think of it, to most movies of any kind), HOLES respects the intelligence of its audience. It is even willing to challenge them, and that makes it a movie for everyone in the family to treasure.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Andrew Davis
Cast: Patricia Arquette, Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 111 minutes
Theatrical release: April 18, 2003
DVD release: September 23, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: violence, mild language and some thematic elements.

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8

Most useful reviews by all members

bendhammond
kid, 12 years old
 
Very creative movie.

Silent panda
kid, 12 years old
 
Good movie that mature 8 year olds could see.
We watched it in class today and its really good. I actually like it more than the book. Its not too violent, you see a charachter get shot when he is in his boat, and poisonus lizards bite a woman. But other than that, its fine. The langauge is really nothing, an old man yells 'thats to d-mn bad' but thats pretty much it. Its a good movie.

boomer77
teen, 14 years old
 

cammy48
kid, 11 years old
 
Awesome movie, but a little strong language for PG
Holes is a terrrific movie. There are a few BLOODLESS dead bodies seen, people held at gunpoint, and intense close calls. Also it has a few bad words in it (2 uses of d**m, 2 or 3 uses of h**l, and one 1 use of jack***). Also filling in the "holes" may be hard for the youngest of viewers too. But on the plus side Holes has a good message of destiny, teamwork, and friendship. I recomend holes to anyone 8 and up.

 
This is an exellent movie that has great messages about friendships, poverty, responsibility, and great lessons on adult/child comunication issues. Unfortunatly it does deal with issues such as suicide, racism, shooting, language, and children being treated like garbage. This is really a movie that you need to know your kid. Some 8 year olds might be able to deal with the content in the movie others wont.

khalifb bradley
kid, 13 years old
 
8 and up wont hurt
its not that bad. bad words i barly heard there are one f word and thats about it there was a fist fight in a sence but it was like 30 seconds and there is da*ns

road
teen, 15 years old
 
evil warden
i love this movie. the warden is EVIL. when stanley's lawyer was angry at her for imprisoning stanley, i thought "go morengo"

Bloodeka
teen, 14 years old
 
Gr8 4 All Ages!!
i liked this movie.... it thought it had a nice (but not very exiting) story to it, and all ages should be aloud to watch it unless your a complete sook.

corneater
parent of 12 year old
 
DISTURBING CONTENT: SUGGESTIVE SCENE OF SHIA FLASHING IN HIS UNDER WARE!!!!!! (TRY NOT 2 BARF!!!!)
The acting in this movie is pretty good. The story line made fairly sense and it was actually a more modern disney movie that didn't make me feel like a needed to puke because I was sick of the unrealistic junk. However this movie didn't really have anything that special about it. U should watch Shia Lebeouf then and then watch him now,,,,,obviously he finally started puberty at the age of 20. May I add that their was a suggestive scene of him in his under ware. NOT GOOD SHIA!!!! NOT GOOD IN ANY SENSE!!!!! This movie is worth a watch but, not the buy. It was just ok. Nice almost try Disney.

 
This movie scares me!
i saw this one night with my younger brother (i kno i see a lot of movies with him) and it not only freaked him out but it rlly scared me to. i hate seeing all the dead body's in the coffins with the kiss marks on their foreheads *shivers*

Hemingway
teen, 16 years old
 
Best Movie
This is good movie if you want to learn how to stay out of trouble.

 
Very Faithful Adaption of a Great Book for Kids (and Adults)
It is surprising to me how passionate many 10 - 13 year old boys are for the book. There has been a great deal of anticipation since they became aware that the movie was being made. Now that it has arrived, they won't be disappointed. Louis Sacher wrote quite a cinematic book and also the screenplay and it is obvious he knows his characters and his audience. I was very impressed with how "clean" the movie is. I can imagine the justification to add stronger language because "that's the way boys talk to each other." Instead the "bad words" are very few and very mild. The cast is excellent. Very good work from all the principals. Great lessons about tolerence, poverty, friendship, and responsibility told in subtle, appealing ways.

johnsonptyof4@ ...
parent of and 5 , 7 , 11 year old
 
Good family movie
We all watched it as a family. The younger 2 kids however, weren't able to keep up as much as my 10 year old. I believe the content was ideal for older children in that it was thought-provoking. Showing the characters toggle between the past and the present events really make the viewers give thought to and hold their attention. The coffin scene was a bit questionable. Since we watched it during February, it allowed us to tie the building burning and interracial kiss to Black History Month. Overall, my entire family enjoyed it.

dancing girl
kid, 12 years old
 
I hated this movie!! In my opinion it was really boring and some of the things there could scare your children and will also set a bad influence. A few not the everyday nice kind of words. So I beg you, do not watch this movie!!

shanno15
teen, 16 years old
 
Good movie
good movie, good acting, funny at times, and good directing. This movie is better than the book because of some of the changes they make in the movie. They added humor in the movie which the book didnt have enough of. The actors are believeable, and I think the books author should be proud.

peanutbuttergurl6
teen, 17 years old
 
my teahcer made us watch it in 5th grade
my teacher read us the book and i didn't understand a thing. i thought the movie was going to be so boring but it turned out... i loved it! i love everything about this movie and hope it come on sometime

koolestkid101
kid, 11 years old
 
Um, get it!
Awesome movie!

EowynBear
teen, 15 years old
 
Really Good Movie!!
I really liked the movie and book. I think the little song in it is cool and the flashbacks. I think that if I had to go there, I would have been okay with it but that is mostly because I would not like having to go to jail on a college application.

 
Pretty Good Show If Your 10 Or Older
How Could You Idiots Forget The Scene With The Lady With A Low Cut HALF TOP! ok bak 2 da point attempted suicide,uh people held at gunpoint,Knives,Murder,And Some Salty Langauge For a PG

eihpos
teen, 14 years old
 
AWESOME!!!!!
this is an awesome movie ive seen it like 10 times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age