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HOLES (PG)

Plot Summary: The boys at Camp Green Lake are forced to dig holes each day. What are they searching for?

Reason for the Rating: Violence, mild language, and some thematic elements.

Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) seems to be plagued by a curse handed down from his great-great-grandfather. Stanley's parents are poor, they live in a smelly home (made stinky by Stanley's father who's trying to find a remedy for reeking athletic shoes), and to make it worse, Stanley's been arrested for stealing a pair of shoes that literally dropped from the sky! He's sent to Camp Green Lake, a detention facility for boys way out in the middle of the Texas desert, where he's forced to join other boys in digging huge holes in the ground. One hole each day. 

The boys are told digging builds character, but it becomes clear that the staff of Camp Green Lake are searching for something. The Warden (Signourney Weaver) is a maniac about finding some long-lost treasure, and she bullies her staff, Mr. Sir (Jon Voight) and Mr. Pendanski (Tim Blake) into further bullying the boys.

The boys in the camp have a clear pecking order, and at the bottom of the heap is Zero (Khleo Thomas). When Stanley and Zero become friends, they must face danger, self-sacrifice, torment from others, and even death. 

Holes weaves two other stories from the past into the present-day story, and all three stories are resolved by the end of the movie. Based on the award-winning book by Louis Sachar, this movie is clever and suspenseful without being forced. Issues such as racism and the consequence of actions are dealt with in a manner that children can understand--but the movie doesn't condescend or preach. 

FamilyFans.com Recommends: Holes is a delight. It's a wonderful movie the whole family can enjoy. There's plenty of humor and suspense mixed into this compelling plot, and the themes of friendship are great for family discussion on the drive home. There are a few scenes involving snakes and poisonous lizards that might be too scary for little ones.

After the Show…If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:

---What role did revenge play in this movie? Which characters were motivated by revenge, and how did their actions effect the lives of others? How can you keep your own heart from desiring revenge?

---Why do you think Stanley was willing to become friends with Zero when everyone else thought Zero was a loser? How did their friendship change their lives? How did their friendship change the lives of others? What good changes have happened in your life because of your friends?

Amy Nappa

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