Ender's Game
This is not a game.
Based on the classic novel by Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game is the story of the Earth's most gifted children training to defend their homeplanet in the space wars of the future.
- Year: 2013
- Country: United States of America
- Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
- Studio: Digital Domain, Chartoff Productions, Taleswapper, K/O Paper Products, OddLot Entertainment
- Keyword: based on novel or book, fight, starship, intolerance, war strategy, chosen one, earth, child prodigy, futuristic, space, alien invasion, universe, military school, adventurer, morality tale, based on young adult novel, boy group, starships, complicated, disheartening, frustrated
- Director: Gavin Hood
- Cast: Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Ben Kingsley, Abigail Breslin
Some kind of space Harry Potter in a dull story about doing a genocide US style as if it would be a video game. Boring and with the stupid "we are not so bad" ending to make everybody happy. Still wondering what Harrision Ford and Ben Kingsley are doing in this movie ...
I doubt "Ender Wiggin" (Asa Butterfield) would be anyone's idea of a soldier but "Col. Graff" (Harrison Ford) reckons his reaction to some bullies might suggest he has more mettle than his weedy physique indicates. His bootcamp experiences are much the same with loads of muscle-bound bullies making his life difficult but "Graff" isn't interested in making his life any easier, despite the occasional protests of his sidekick "Anderson" (Voila Davis). Indeed he actually ups the ante considerably when the young man is introduced to the eccentric "Mazer" (Sir Ben Kingsley). A veteran of the ongoing deadlocked war with the "Formics" that everyone hopes can train the the young "Ender" to break. Butterfield does quite well here as the youngster but both Ford and Kingsley underwhelm with the latter, tattoo-covered, character more hammy than intimidating as the story gradually stops being about the people and more of a video game with great visual effects, but a rather weak conclusion to the story that is inconsistently paced for two hours. I like the genre and it tries to be a bit different in it's approach to sci-fi story with a bit of a conscience. Worth a watch.