Opinions on two sides of ‘Holes’

Lacks Disney magic

John Haugh of Glendale is a music researcher.

The new Walt Disney movie “Holes” is based on the award-winning

book by Louis Sachar. The film tells the story of Stanley Yelnats

(Stanley spelled backward) who is plagued by bad luck stemming from

an ancient family curse.

Perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley is

unfairly sentenced to 18 months at Camp Green Lake for a crime he did

not commit. When he arrives at the camp for troubled boys, he finds

nothing is green and there isn’t a lake in sight; in fact there is

nothing but a seemingly endless desert.

He is forced to join the other boys digging holes, supposedly to

build character. Stanley eventually begins to question the real

motive behind the labor.

The movie isn’t bad, it just seems to lack the magic we have come

to expect from any Disney release. Its strong points are the

performances from the adult actors. Sigourney Weaver shines as the

menacing Warden, and Jon Voight is a riot as her right-hand man, Mr.

Sir. Voight plays the character as Charles Bronson with an Elvis

hairdo.

Weak points are the lack of character development with many of the

boys, and too many flashback scenes. Overall on my movie report card,

it gets a C.

Excels in cast and story

Tyler Nyczaj, 16, attends John Burroughs High School in Burbank.

“Holes” is about a kid named Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) who is

sentenced to 18 months at Camp Green Lake after being accused of

stealing a pair of shoes. At the camp, he is under the supervision of

Mr. Sir (Jon Voight), Dr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson), and The

Warden (Sigourney Weaver).

They make the kids dig holes so they will build character. But

what they are really looking for, Stanley soon figures out, is

treasure from the famous Kissin’ Kate Barlow (Patricia Arquette).

The movie was well done. It went from the past, Barlow’s time, to

the present, Stanley’s time.

Sometimes the story would slow down, but then it would build up

with excitement.

Jon Voight was very funny at Mr. Sir. His voice reminded me of the

voice of the Sheriff of Nottingham in the old “Robin Hood” cartoon

movie, which really added to his character. The scenes with the

lizards really were creepy for me. But, I give this funny movie an A

for a great cast and story.

“Holes” is rated PG, some material may not be suitable for

children.