Starring: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, and Ben Kingsley
Directed by: Gavin Hood
Screenplay by: Gavin Hood
Based on the novel by Orson Scott Card
Long before this story begins, aliens known as the Formics have come to invade and colonize Earth. Humanity just barely survives and wins the war. But now, there is a fear that the Formics will return, and it is up to the International Fleet to make sure that the humans are ready for a second war.
Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is only a child, but the hope of winning the next war rests entirely with him. He is offered a chance to defend the human race from the Formics, and leaves his family behind in order to take it. He is taken to Battle School off planet where he learns to fight, and then to Command School where he learns to lead. What he experiences at Battle School and Command School will turn him into something he's not sure he's willing to be, a killer. Will he be willing to go through being a killer in order to save humanity from the Formics? What will be left of Ender when it's all over? Is the International Fleet willing to sacrifice his wellbeing for the good of the human race?
For the most part, the film sticks pretty close to the book. There are a few differences however. One such difference is the name for the aliens; in the book they are simply known as buggers, perhaps because the operate very similar to bugs (it's all explained in both the book and the film). In the film, the aliens are referred to only as the Formics. The pacing of the story is inconsistent in the film. In some instances, scenes are drawn out longer than they need to be (like some of the battles between armies in Battle School), and some are shorter than they should be, making them a little difficult to understand, especially if you've read the book.
My biggest problem with the story is the timeline compared to the book. In the book, Ender ages a number of years between the time he is recruited to Battle School and when he is recruited to Command School. In the film, Ender seems to age only a few months. So, what's my problem with it? This is supposed to be a coming of age story, and often times, these stories are told better when there is a noticeable age change in the main character. This coming of age story is far more effective in the book than the film demonstrates, and as a result, it is more difficult for the audience to connect with Ender in the film.
The special effects are quite good, especially during the battle scenes at Battle School. Right before one enters the battle room, gravity is holding them down on the station, but the battle room is a zero gravity environment and it's quite amazing to see the characters transition between the gravitated environment and the non-gravitated environment. The animation of the battle room is also quite good. It almost looks as if they shot those scenes in space and hardly looks animated. The line between what is and isn't animated or green screened is quite blurred in this film, and that is certainly a big positive of the film.
As for the acting, there is no performance by any actor that truly stands out. Harrison Ford does not deliver one of his stronger performances. Asa Butterfield delivers a solid performance, but also, not his best.
Ender's Game is one of the best novels I've read in a long time and I know a lot of people who also speak quite highly of it. It's one of those books that either needs to be made into a movie that is going to be nothing short of one of the best science fiction movies you've ever seen, or it shouldn't be made into a movie at all. The film could have been a lot better and currently, does not do a whole lot of justice to the book. It's a good movie for those who have not read the book, but for those who have, keep the picture of the story that you already have. The movie might create a different and a slightly worse picture of the story in your head.
I give Ender's Game a C+.
Directed by: Gavin Hood
Screenplay by: Gavin Hood
Based on the novel by Orson Scott Card
Long before this story begins, aliens known as the Formics have come to invade and colonize Earth. Humanity just barely survives and wins the war. But now, there is a fear that the Formics will return, and it is up to the International Fleet to make sure that the humans are ready for a second war.
Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is only a child, but the hope of winning the next war rests entirely with him. He is offered a chance to defend the human race from the Formics, and leaves his family behind in order to take it. He is taken to Battle School off planet where he learns to fight, and then to Command School where he learns to lead. What he experiences at Battle School and Command School will turn him into something he's not sure he's willing to be, a killer. Will he be willing to go through being a killer in order to save humanity from the Formics? What will be left of Ender when it's all over? Is the International Fleet willing to sacrifice his wellbeing for the good of the human race?
For the most part, the film sticks pretty close to the book. There are a few differences however. One such difference is the name for the aliens; in the book they are simply known as buggers, perhaps because the operate very similar to bugs (it's all explained in both the book and the film). In the film, the aliens are referred to only as the Formics. The pacing of the story is inconsistent in the film. In some instances, scenes are drawn out longer than they need to be (like some of the battles between armies in Battle School), and some are shorter than they should be, making them a little difficult to understand, especially if you've read the book.
My biggest problem with the story is the timeline compared to the book. In the book, Ender ages a number of years between the time he is recruited to Battle School and when he is recruited to Command School. In the film, Ender seems to age only a few months. So, what's my problem with it? This is supposed to be a coming of age story, and often times, these stories are told better when there is a noticeable age change in the main character. This coming of age story is far more effective in the book than the film demonstrates, and as a result, it is more difficult for the audience to connect with Ender in the film.
The special effects are quite good, especially during the battle scenes at Battle School. Right before one enters the battle room, gravity is holding them down on the station, but the battle room is a zero gravity environment and it's quite amazing to see the characters transition between the gravitated environment and the non-gravitated environment. The animation of the battle room is also quite good. It almost looks as if they shot those scenes in space and hardly looks animated. The line between what is and isn't animated or green screened is quite blurred in this film, and that is certainly a big positive of the film.
As for the acting, there is no performance by any actor that truly stands out. Harrison Ford does not deliver one of his stronger performances. Asa Butterfield delivers a solid performance, but also, not his best.
Ender's Game is one of the best novels I've read in a long time and I know a lot of people who also speak quite highly of it. It's one of those books that either needs to be made into a movie that is going to be nothing short of one of the best science fiction movies you've ever seen, or it shouldn't be made into a movie at all. The film could have been a lot better and currently, does not do a whole lot of justice to the book. It's a good movie for those who have not read the book, but for those who have, keep the picture of the story that you already have. The movie might create a different and a slightly worse picture of the story in your head.
I give Ender's Game a C+.
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