Holes

[Sarangel]

Here's a Link to a USA Today article about "Holes" which opens this weekend. The general feeling is that this might actually be a good film.

Sarangel

 

[Figmentrocks]

It has the Fonz, it's gotta be good!

 

[Peter Pirate]

My 13 year old is dying to see this...Says the book was good and likes Shai (the kid from Lizzie McGuire). It has a lot going for it with this demographic.

 

[SoonerKate]

The book was wonderful. I used it with quite a few of the kids I tutor, and each of them adored it.

Teachers, from what I've seen, either love it or absolutely hate it. I think the book has a lot of redeeming qualities and is a great vehicle for sparking discussion with groups of kids.

Hopefully the movie is as good -- Louis Sachar (the author of the book) also wrote the screenplay, so it can't be that bad!

 

[meowthew2]

Shai (the kid from Lizzie McGuire)

Shia's from Even Stevens, actually. He's not good enough of an actor to be on Lizzie.

 

[YoHo]

He's not good enough of an actor to be on Lizzie.

Ouch, now that doesn't say much.




//I have a friend that auditioned for Lizzie McGuire. it came down to Her and Hillary Duff. Hillary got the part because she was a blond and My firend is a redhead. My firend HATES!!! Hillary Duff and thinks she's a terrible actress.

 

[Peter Pirate]

I stand corrected...But I like both shows & my kids watch them repeatedly.

As for Hilary, she's certainly on a hot streak talent or not...And as for being a blonde, I'll bet she isn't!

The main point regarding this thread though is that this looks to be another 'Disney type' Disney movie in the right market like Princess Diaries, The Rookie, etc..

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Originally posted by Sarangel
Here's a Link to a USA Today article about "Holes" which opens this weekend. The general feeling is that this might actually be a good film.
Sarangel

I get a weekly newsletter (every Friday morning) about movie reviews. It's very helpful. Anyway, a good review on Holes:

"HOLES" (2003) (Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight) (PG)
Drama: After being wrongly sentenced to a hard-labor camp where he and other boys are forced to dig a five-foot hole each day, a teenager (LaBeouf) tries to figure out what they're digging for as well as whether he and his family are still living under a generations-old curse. Based on the popular novel of the same name, the film certainly can't be accused of lacking in diversity, what with the coming of age story, prison chain gang element, and elements of Westerns, wacky comedies, sci-fi, occultism and more thrown in for good measure. Other than various back and forth temporal jumps that give the film something of a haphazard and herky-jerky feel at times, this is some fun and engaging stuff. One of the more bizarre but rather entertaining mainstream flicks to hit the big screen in some time - particularly for one aimed at kids, what with the dark and somewhat Dickens-esque material - the film might not be a spectacular success, but
it's good and different enough to earn a passing grade. The PG rating comes from a handful of mild expletives; violence (various deaths -- two by non-graphic shootings and another two by allowing a poisonous reptile to bite -- other threatening with guns -- and the sight of dead bodies in coffins -- various instances of fighting or striking others, and a schoolhouse being torched); and thematic elements (forced-labor camps, racial issues in the Old West, suicide, abandonment and curses).
(National Release)
http://www.screenit.com/movies/2003/holes.html

 

[Galahad]

Talent or not, my 13 year old son Lives for Hilary Duff. Fine with me.....it's a pretty harmless way to manifest such things just now. Last think I need is for him to fall for the real girl next door.

 

[scauzilloc]

Being a teacher (Media Specialist) and having read this book to 3 different classes I have to say that Disney did an excellent job with this movie. They didn't change it around much and they really put a lot of effort in this film. All the students at my school can't stop talking about it. I am sure after this weekend every kid in school will see it. Its mostly for kids between the ages of 8 - 15. All I have to say is, "GREAT JOB DISNEY!!"

 

[airlarry!]

I have not read the book (although my teacher-wife uses it in her freshman lit classes) but I found the movie surprisingly good. It was an interesting story, on many levels, and was not a Disney teen movie juiced up for nationwide release.

It has a classic kind of theme, nice little twists, and an interesting story. Not too scary, not too cheesy.

My whole family really liked this one.

 

[crusader]

I agree with airlarry. This movie was well cast and well done.

 

[blackshirt]

My thinking on Disney's future stock prospects are dim. I would short it other than for the popularity that these two shows constantly exibit among a lot of teenagers, my daughter being one(11 going on 13). I have been subjected to, and often enjoyed both these shows. Even Stevens is a really goofy gag show that does manage to introduce an occassional moral issue into the show. (Honesty, Integrity,Whatever) Lizzie Mcguire is very different in this regard, however, in that the humor level is more "hip" or contempoary. I wish they would sell stock on these pictures. If they did I would buy huge amounts of Lizzie Mcguire. That is the movie that will match and surpass The Princess Diaries. Anyway, I just don't see how the Disney Company can make the profits they seem to lust for without the parks having a significant turnaround. How can these movies impact them? SOMEBODY PLEASE tell me why the stock continues to trade at such a high PE.
Thanks
TJP

 

[tarabl]

My daughter saw the movie on Friday nite. SHE LOVED IT. She is one who does not like to read at all, and it's like pulling teeth to get her to read. Last year, 5th grade, she was required to read HOLES for a book report. Loved it and couldn't put it down. She wants to go see the movie several more times. She told me the movie was just about right on with the book, which is rare.

 

[d-r]

Opening weekend #2 behind Anger managment witth 17 million - not bad for a 20 million dollar movie (with another 20 million in marketing, yes)


edit: fwiw, princess diaries opened with about 23 million. The movie scene is about to take off with x2, hulk, matrix, finding nemo. my real curiosity isn't about how holes and lizzy will do (although I think it is odd that they are released so close together, these are the little kinds of films that I am confident in) but more how potc will do.

DR

 

[airlarry!]

The trailer for Pirates of the Armageddon: Curse of the Pearl Harbor Budget was playing in the theater before 'Holes'.

The trailer has some great special effects, but does not give much of the story away, except for a lame joke or two by Johnny Depp.

I saw some scenes that seemed familiar from the attraction. Hate to admit it, but I will go and see this move. I just hope it is the kind of movie that I will be able to let my kids see...otherwise where is the so-called 'synergy'?

 

[YoHo]

The full length trailer available on the internet has me sucked in. I WILL be seeing it. It looks Awsome.

 

[laceemouse]

We are going to see "Holes" on saturday for my DD 12th B-day, taking several of her friends with us. They have all read the book and loved it. We look forward to it and the trailers. She and my second DD 10 HATE Lizzie. They think she is too girly and into fashion, ect. My girls aren't jocks but just prefer animals, nature ect. Fine with me! I hope both movies do well. It is so seldom that something comes out that the whole family can enjoy. We are very conservative and feel that most t.v., movies, and music are not suitable for pre-teens. A lot of it is trash. My kids mostly watch Animal Planet and play Neopets on the computer. I would like to see the Disney Channel do more stuff about the parks like behind the scenes stuff. Maybe that would drum up more business.

 

[DisOrBust]

We saw it last night and I loved it! My DDs 6 and 8 liked it but I needed to explain some of the "flashbacks". The DH said it was OK. .

 

[Peter Pirate]

We saw 'Holes' this last week with the entire Tennis Team & a couple of grade school tag-alongs (ages 9-18) and all 12 of us thought is was from good to excellent...Not a negative word in the bunch.