From f0b09737eac45b5fe1d0b2b7dd2ff8baf68df012 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Campbell Alden Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2022 21:41:12 +0900 Subject: [PATCH] PUBLISH: Holes review --- content/reviews/holes.md | 48 +++++++++ docs/genres/adventure/index.html | 27 +++++ docs/genres/adventure/index.xml | 11 +- docs/genres/comedy/index.html | 27 +++++ docs/genres/comedy/index.xml | 11 +- docs/genres/drama/index.html | 27 +++++ docs/genres/drama/index.xml | 11 +- docs/genres/index.html | 179 +++++++++++++++++++++++-------- docs/genres/index.xml | 26 ++--- docs/index.html | 33 ++++++ docs/index.xml | 11 +- docs/reviews/holes/index.html | 128 ++++++++++++++++++++++ docs/reviews/index.xml | 11 +- docs/sitemap.xml | 27 ++--- 14 files changed, 501 insertions(+), 76 deletions(-) create mode 100644 content/reviews/holes.md create mode 100644 docs/reviews/holes/index.html diff --git a/content/reviews/holes.md b/content/reviews/holes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..860b6e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/reviews/holes.md @@ -0,0 +1,48 @@ +--- +title: Holes +date: 2022-09-02T17:54:55+09:00 +favorite: true +rating: 3 +imdb: 7.0 +image: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTg0MTU5ODkwM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMzgxNzY3._V1_SX800.webp +summary: A boy is sent to a juvenile work camp as punishment after being mistakenly arrested. +quick_look: With a compelling story and a fun blending of historical western style and modern penal servitude, this has become an iconic example of a young adult film from the early 2000s. I saw this movie uncountably many times as a child, but I'm afraid it would be only nostalgia that could elevate this movie beyond a middling review from me. +genres: +- Adventure +- Comedy +- Drama +--- + +## Recommendation + +I could go either way on this film when it comes to a recommendation. I think its plot and characters are well suited for child viewers which is probably why I remembered it so fondly. As an adult I'm not sure I would recommend watching it. Many of the characters are fairly one dimensional and aren't always given enough time to interact with one another to earn the emotional payoffs that are set up. + +I would recommend this as a rewatch if you have fond memories from watching it when you were younger. I would also recommend this to watch with younger relatives as I think works on a surface level and does introduce some interesting topics that aren't present in a lot of other children's media (at least when I was growing up I didn't watch anything else that took place in jail). + +## Thoughts + +Spoilers ahead ... + +### Unsatisfying Resolutions + +The falling action and conclusion of the film all felt rushed to me which I found this disappointing because the film does a good job of setting up a lot of interesting problems for the characters to deal with. I heard somewhere that in storytelling that it's okay for bad things to happen for no reason, but people won't accept good things happening for no reason. The ending of _Holes_ is back-to-back scenes of good things happening for no reason. + +Most of the difficulties that the character encountered throughout the film up to that point are magically resolved when the family curse is finally lifted. All of the misfortune that befalls Stanley is chalked up to the family curse and he accepts no responsibility for what happens to him. Likewise, after the curse is lifted his problems resolve themselves largely through luck. As a result Stanley's character comes off as fairly passive. + +Stanley's family's wealth and situation are fixed immediately when his father invents something to cancel out odor which they can sell. Importantly, he invented it by accident and cannot claim to have achieved it through skill. This results in the family being able to hire a lawyer who in turn is immediately able to get Stanley released. Stanley and Zero just happened to have eaten the onions which protect them from the yellow spotted lizards. It's all just good luck and very little is earned by the characters. + +### Rewatching Movies as an Adult + +This movie was much more connected than I realized when I watched it as a child. For example, I didn't realize that Signourney Weaver's character was related to the scummy rich guy who shot Sam. I also didn't realize that the man who threatens to shoot Kate Barlow and the grandfather character are also all that same person. I didn't realize that Zero was only being nice to Stanley because he felt bad for hitting him with the shoes. I never realized they called Stanley "Caveman" because he found the fossils. + +There were so many not-insignificant plot points that were entirely lost on me as a kid. It makes me wonder how many movies there are from my childhood where I've missed important pieces of the plot. Many I probably won't rewatch because I suspect that my opinion of them base on my memory is more favorable than it would be now. + +### Weird Scene at the End + +There's one scene that I remember being confused by as a child that I was still confused by now, albeit for different reasons. Near the end of the film, Stanley's lawyer has returned with the police to get Stanley out of the camp. One of the officers notices Mr. Sir and arrests him for being in violation of his parole. Zigzag makes a gender normative remark about Mr. Sir's real name [which you can watch if you're curious](https://youtu.be/xP54BzyK8TI?t=22). + +Obviously the joke is gender normative and arguably transphobic, but what I think makes the scene go from just distasteful to fully strange is Mr. Sir remarks, "It ain't" which confuses me more. Additionally the rest of the kids all react to that remark with an "Ohhh" and someone even says, "Ok, Ok" which frames what he said as a comeback. + +I'm not sure if it's meant to be taken literally, but if so, does his character identify as a woman? If they are presenting Mr. Sir as someone who identifies as a woman then the entire framing takes a more transphobic slant in my opinion. I don't think that _is_ their intention, but it struck me as being a weird scene and I remember think the same thing when I was younger. At that time I was more confused why he agreed with the remark that was clearly intended to be derogatory, but didn't consider it deeper than that. + +Anyway, I think it's just a poorly written scene, based on a low effort gender normative joke, but I'm trying to decide what is happening in the back half of that scene with Mr. Sir's response and the crowd's "oh"-ing. diff --git a/docs/genres/adventure/index.html b/docs/genres/adventure/index.html index 2917f93..9564eb8 100644 --- a/docs/genres/adventure/index.html +++ b/docs/genres/adventure/index.html @@ -50,6 +50,33 @@
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Holes

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A boy is sent to a juvenile work camp as punishment after being mistakenly...
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Kingsman: The Secret Service diff --git a/docs/genres/adventure/index.xml b/docs/genres/adventure/index.xml index 1a41332..f59e7eb 100644 --- a/docs/genres/adventure/index.xml +++ b/docs/genres/adventure/index.xml @@ -6,7 +6,16 @@ Recent content in Adventure on CaAlden: Films Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us - Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + Holes + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + A boy is sent to a juvenile work camp as punishment after being mistakenly arrested. + + Kingsman: The Secret Service https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/kingsman/ diff --git a/docs/genres/comedy/index.html b/docs/genres/comedy/index.html index 8aa6a73..7dd32bf 100644 --- a/docs/genres/comedy/index.html +++ b/docs/genres/comedy/index.html @@ -50,6 +50,33 @@
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Holes

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A boy is sent to a juvenile work camp as punishment after being mistakenly...
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Kingsman: The Secret Service diff --git a/docs/genres/comedy/index.xml b/docs/genres/comedy/index.xml index f183247..d694eab 100644 --- a/docs/genres/comedy/index.xml +++ b/docs/genres/comedy/index.xml @@ -6,7 +6,16 @@ Recent content in Comedy on CaAlden: Films Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us - Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + Holes + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + A boy is sent to a juvenile work camp as punishment after being mistakenly arrested. + + Kingsman: The Secret Service https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/kingsman/ diff --git a/docs/genres/drama/index.html b/docs/genres/drama/index.html index 760c597..c75839c 100644 --- a/docs/genres/drama/index.html +++ b/docs/genres/drama/index.html @@ -50,6 +50,33 @@
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Holes

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No Reservations diff --git a/docs/genres/drama/index.xml b/docs/genres/drama/index.xml index 70c10f1..56e4fa1 100644 --- a/docs/genres/drama/index.xml +++ b/docs/genres/drama/index.xml @@ -6,7 +6,16 @@ Recent content in Drama on CaAlden: Films Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us - Sun, 28 Aug 2022 22:31:36 +0900 + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + Holes + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + A boy is sent to a juvenile work camp as punishment after being mistakenly arrested. + + No Reservations https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/no-reservations/ diff --git a/docs/genres/index.html b/docs/genres/index.html index 35685ec..d408283 100644 --- a/docs/genres/index.html +++ b/docs/genres/index.html @@ -51,28 +51,33 @@
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diff --git a/docs/genres/index.xml b/docs/genres/index.xml index 6003b58..efb1a71 100644 --- a/docs/genres/index.xml +++ b/docs/genres/index.xml @@ -6,20 +6,11 @@ Recent content in Genres on CaAlden: Films Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us - Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 - - Action - https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/action/ - Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 - - https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/action/ - - - + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 Adventure https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/adventure/ - Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/adventure/ @@ -28,7 +19,7 @@ Comedy https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/comedy/ - Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/comedy/ @@ -37,12 +28,21 @@ Drama https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/drama/ - Sun, 28 Aug 2022 22:31:36 +0900 + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/drama/ + + Action + https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/action/ + Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/action/ + + + Romance https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/romance/ diff --git a/docs/index.html b/docs/index.html index 62afefe..43cec42 100644 --- a/docs/index.html +++ b/docs/index.html @@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ + + @@ -76,6 +78,8 @@ + +
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diff --git a/docs/index.xml b/docs/index.xml index e90ee26..32d447a 100644 --- a/docs/index.xml +++ b/docs/index.xml @@ -6,7 +6,16 @@ Recent content on CaAlden: Films Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us - Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + Holes + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + A boy is sent to a juvenile work camp as punishment after being mistakenly arrested. + + Kingsman: The Secret Service https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/kingsman/ diff --git a/docs/reviews/holes/index.html b/docs/reviews/holes/index.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a2f1aa4 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/reviews/holes/index.html @@ -0,0 +1,128 @@ + + + Holes + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
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CaAlden: Films

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Holes

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August 2, 2022

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+ Quick Look +

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+ Rating + 3/5 +
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+ Genre +
+ + Adventure + + Comedy + + Drama + +
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+ With a compelling story and a fun blending of historical western style and modern penal servitude, this has become an iconic example of a young adult film from the early 2000s. I saw this movie uncountably many times as a child, but I'm afraid it would be only nostalgia that could elevate this movie beyond a middling review from me. +

+
+ + + +
+

Recommendation

+

I could go either way on this film when it comes to a recommendation. I think its plot and characters are well suited for child viewers which is probably why I remembered it so fondly. As an adult I’m not sure I would recommend watching it. Many of the characters are fairly one dimensional and aren’t always given enough time to interact with one another to earn the emotional payoffs that are set up.

+

I would recommend this as a rewatch if you have fond memories from watching it when you were younger. I would also recommend this to watch with younger relatives as I think works on a surface level and does introduce some interesting topics that aren’t present in a lot of other children’s media (at least when I was growing up I didn’t watch anything else that took place in jail).

+

Thoughts

+

Spoilers ahead …

+

Unsatisfying Resolutions

+

The falling action and conclusion of the film all felt rushed to me which I found this disappointing because the film does a good job of setting up a lot of interesting problems for the characters to deal with. I heard somewhere that in storytelling that it’s okay for bad things to happen for no reason, but people won’t accept good things happening for no reason. The ending of Holes is back-to-back scenes of good things happening for no reason.

+

Most of the difficulties that the character encountered throughout the film up to that point are magically resolved when the family curse is finally lifted. All of the misfortune that befalls Stanley is chalked up to the family curse and he accepts no responsibility for what happens to him. Likewise, after the curse is lifted his problems resolve themselves largely through luck. As a result Stanley’s character comes off as fairly passive.

+

Stanley’s family’s wealth and situation are fixed immediately when his father invents something to cancel out odor which they can sell. Importantly, he invented it by accident and cannot claim to have achieved it through skill. This results in the family being able to hire a lawyer who in turn is immediately able to get Stanley released. Stanley and Zero just happened to have eaten the onions which protect them from the yellow spotted lizards. It’s all just good luck and very little is earned by the characters.

+

Rewatching Movies as an Adult

+

This movie was much more connected than I realized when I watched it as a child. For example, I didn’t realize that Signourney Weaver’s character was related to the scummy rich guy who shot Sam. I also didn’t realize that the man who threatens to shoot Kate Barlow and the grandfather character are also all that same person. I didn’t realize that Zero was only being nice to Stanley because he felt bad for hitting him with the shoes. I never realized they called Stanley “Caveman” because he found the fossils.

+

There were so many not-insignificant plot points that were entirely lost on me as a kid. It makes me wonder how many movies there are from my childhood where I’ve missed important pieces of the plot. Many I probably won’t rewatch because I suspect that my opinion of them base on my memory is more favorable than it would be now.

+

Weird Scene at the End

+

There’s one scene that I remember being confused by as a child that I was still confused by now, albeit for different reasons. Near the end of the film, Stanley’s lawyer has returned with the police to get Stanley out of the camp. One of the officers notices Mr. Sir and arrests him for being in violation of his parole. Zigzag makes a gender normative remark about Mr. Sir’s real name which you can watch if you’re curious.

+

Obviously the joke is gender normative and arguably transphobic, but what I think makes the scene go from just distasteful to fully strange is Mr. Sir remarks, “It ain’t” which confuses me more. Additionally the rest of the kids all react to that remark with an “Ohhh” and someone even says, “Ok, Ok” which frames what he said as a comeback.

+

I’m not sure if it’s meant to be taken literally, but if so, does his character identify as a woman? If they are presenting Mr. Sir as someone who identifies as a woman then the entire framing takes a more transphobic slant in my opinion. I don’t think that is their intention, but it struck me as being a weird scene and I remember think the same thing when I was younger. At that time I was more confused why he agreed with the remark that was clearly intended to be derogatory, but didn’t consider it deeper than that.

+

Anyway, I think it’s just a poorly written scene, based on a low effort gender normative joke, but I’m trying to decide what is happening in the back half of that scene with Mr. Sir’s response and the crowd’s “oh”-ing.

+
+
+ +
+ +
+ + diff --git a/docs/reviews/index.xml b/docs/reviews/index.xml index 0bbc1be..0041157 100644 --- a/docs/reviews/index.xml +++ b/docs/reviews/index.xml @@ -6,7 +6,16 @@ Recent content in Reviews on CaAlden: Films Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us - Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:52:25 +0900 + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + Holes + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:54:55 +0900 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + A boy is sent to a juvenile work camp as punishment after being mistakenly arrested. + + Kingsman: The Secret Service https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/kingsman/ diff --git a/docs/sitemap.xml b/docs/sitemap.xml index f4fffb2..f778a8f 100644 --- a/docs/sitemap.xml +++ b/docs/sitemap.xml @@ -2,29 +2,32 @@ - https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/action/ - 2022-08-31T21:52:25+09:00 - https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/adventure/ - 2022-08-31T21:52:25+09:00 + 2022-09-02T17:54:55+09:00 https://caalden.github.io/film/ - 2022-08-31T21:52:25+09:00 + 2022-09-02T17:54:55+09:00 https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/comedy/ - 2022-08-31T21:52:25+09:00 + 2022-09-02T17:54:55+09:00 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/drama/ + 2022-09-02T17:54:55+09:00 https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/ + 2022-09-02T17:54:55+09:00 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/holes/ + 2022-09-02T17:54:55+09:00 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/ + 2022-09-02T17:54:55+09:00 + + https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/action/ 2022-08-31T21:52:25+09:00 https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/kingsman/ 2022-08-31T21:52:25+09:00 - - https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/ - 2022-08-31T21:52:25+09:00 - - https://caalden.github.io/film/genres/drama/ - 2022-08-28T22:31:36+09:00 https://caalden.github.io/film/reviews/no-reservations/ 2022-08-28T22:31:36+09:00