Movie Review: "Ender's Game" Is Decent Sci-Fi Entertainment, But Does Not Offer Much More.

Ender's Game

Director: Gavin Hood
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, Ben Kingsley, and Harrison
         Ford.
Rated PG-13 some violence, sci-fi action, and thematic material.

Firstly, I am not very familiar with Orson Scott Card's novel so I am unable to comment on this film as a book adaptation. However, I have often expressed my views on book adaptions, but I feel compelled to do so again: films and books are two very different mediums and it is unfair and moot to compare the two. A film can be a poor book adaptation, but still work as a good film. If you are too attached to the source material then I can promise you that you will be disappointed in the film adaptation 100% of the time. That being said, Ender's Game, the film, is a big sci-fi spectacle filled with stellar special effects and some solid acting from its young stars and supporting veterans.

Sometime in the future, young Andrew "Ender" Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is recruited by Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) to train with other young recruits as potential fleet commanders to help defend Earth from another invasion from an alien species known as Formics. Colonel Graff pushes Ender harder than any other recruit because Graff believes that with his strategic mind, Ender could be the one to save humanity from the alien race.

Director Gavin Hood redeems himself as a filmmaker with Ender's Game after the less than impressive X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Here, the effects are much better, the acting stronger, and the story is more unique (though that is mostly thanks to author Orson Scott Card). Asa Butterfield does some fine work as young Ender. He is more than competent at portraying the conflicting emotions within him: compassion and rage. Harrison Ford brings his commanding screen presence to the role of Colonel Graff and Ben Kingsley is reliably strong as well, though I felt his talents were underused. I must also commend composer Steve Jablonsky for his emotional and rousing score. The film touches on the effect war has on these young warriors, but fell short of really bringing out that moral dilemma. This is something that they book may have done more fully, but I cannot say. Further exploring the themes of war, genocide, and the after effects these horrible situations have on the young heroes would greatly enhance this film. Perhaps these thematic elements can be explored with more depth in the potential sequel(s).

Nevertheless, Ender's Game offers audiences some good popcorn entertainment and warrants a viewing on the big screen.

RATING: B-