Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1521 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-03-22
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 113 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Holes is a scrupulously faithful adaptation of Louis Sachar's book Holes and should delight the book's fans. After being wrongly found guilty of stealing a pair of sneakers, Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) gets sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile correctional facility in the bed of a long-gone dry Texas lake. There--under the watchful eye of overseer Mr Sir (a zesty Jon Voight), sneakily mean therapist Dr Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson), and the cool and cruel Warden (Sigourney Weaver)--Stanley and dozens of other delinquents are forced to dig an endless series of holes that the warden hopes will lead her to a precious secret left behind by a long-dead female outlaw (Patricia Arquette). Sachar's book is beloved for its vivid characters and suspenseful plot; by sticking close to its source, Holes has become a dynamic, exciting and surprisingly touching movie. --Bret Fetzer

DVD Description
Prepare to be dazzled by the spectacular adaptation of Louis Sachar’s acclaimed teen adventure Holes, featuring an all star cast including Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight and Patricia Arquette. Wrongfully convicted of a petty crime, cursed youngster Stanley Yelnuts (played by acclaimed newcomer Shia LaBeouf) is banished to Camp Green Lake – a detention centre for boys. Mysteriously assigned to digging holes in the desert Stanley begins to unravel the sinister reasons behind the Warden’s (Oscar nominated Sigourney Weaver) actions. When he finally escapes he and friend Zero (Khleo Thomas) determine to expose the evil goings-on at the camp and crack Stanley’s family curse forever. A uniquely acclaimed family film, Holes is a smart and hilarious story bought to life by a pedigree cast and skilled direction by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive).

Special Features

• The Boys of D-Tent featurette
  
• Digging the First Hole featurette
  
• Deleted scenes
  
• Gag reel
  
• Cast commentaries
  
• Director commentary
  
• D-Tent Boys Music Video Dig It

DVD Technical Information:

• Running Time: 112 minutes

Customer Reviews

'Excuse me?'
I haven't read the book and rented this movie based on the excellent reviews in the national papers when the film was on cinema release. I was a bit wary that it might be a cheesy, Disney kids film but I was very pleasantly surprised.

'Holes' starts off as the story of a boy called Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) who, in the tradition of his family's run of bad luck, is falsely accused of stealing some shoes and is sent to camp in lieu of prison. The camp is a desolate place on the site of a lake which dried up (now just desert) and the camp philosophy is that the boys sent there spend each day digging holes in the sand to 'build character'. The camp staff (Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight and Tim Blake Nelson) are harsh and the camp atmosphere tough. However, it soon becomes apparent that the camp warden (a feminine but mean Sigourney Weaver) has another intention for the hole digging. Slowly, Stanley uncovers the mystery of the camp while trying to gain respect from his fellow inmates and the story of Stanley's family and the now dry lake is gradually revealed.

The story is quite complicated and much is revealed in flashbacks. You need to keep up with all the connections which are exposed to really appreciate the ending. However, the acting all round is excellent, with the unknown cast of boys really making an impact, particularly LaBeouf and Khleo Thomas who plays Zero. The adult actors provide excellent backup and the supporting stories are nicely told. This story has love, redemption and mystery - stick with it and you will be rewarded!

Fantastic film for all the family
This adaptation of Louis Sachars book is one of the best efforts that Disney have done in a long time.A great movie following the fortunes of the unlucky Stanley Yelnats who is convicted of stealing a pair of sneakers and is sent to Camp Greenlake which is run by Mr Sirand the Warden(brilliantly played by Jon Voight and Sigourney Weaver) ,the kids at the camp are taken into the desert and have to dig a hole each day ,this brings in the 2nd part of the movie which flashes back 100 years and brings in Stanleys great-great grandfather and intertwines his family with that of the wardens and one of the other kids in the camp Zero who is picked on by the others but forms a friendship with Stanley.
The performances in this movie are great there isnt a duff one in the whole movie and the story zips backwards and forwards in time and will be entertaining enough for the whole family a definite recommendation.

A great adaptation of the book
This is a brilliant family movie which you will enjoy whether or not you have read the book by Louis Sachar. Stanley Yelnats (spell the surname backwards!) and his family have perpetual bad luck as the result of a curse that was put on his ancestors when they lived in East Europe, before they came to the States. As a result of a typical piece of misfortune, Stanley ends up at the Camp Greenlake correctional facility. But there is no lake - just a desert, in which the boys have to dig holes day after day. Gradually the mystery of the hole-digging is revealed and Stanley is the hero of the day. The camp staff are wonderfully horrible (Sigorney Weaver and Jon Voigt) and the whole thing is so well made it's a joy to watch. Although many parts are extremely funny there are many moving bits too (but not cheesy). It is much quirkier than other Disney movies, and suitable for ages 8 and up.