Ender's Game

Ender's Game

Starring Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Viola Davis

Directed by Gavin Hood

In 2086, earth is attacked by an alien species, but were defeated by a rogue commander.  Ever since that attack, earth has raised up young people to help defend it from what they fear will be a future attack.

Fifty years after the attack, Ender Wiggins (Asa Butterfield) is viewed by Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) as someone to watch out for, due to his tactical abilities and natural born leadership potential.  After mercilessly beating up a bully at the school, Ender is sent to Battle School because of his fighting abilities.

While there he is seen by Graff as the best of the best, which at first infuriates the other cadets, but as Ender proves his tactical prowess, he begins to earn their respect.

As Graff fears retaliation from the alien species, Ender desires to try to understand them and wonder why it's been over fifty years since they attacked, but graduation day comes and Ender has to lead a team of recruits against a simulation attacking the aliens' home world.  If he succeeds he'll become an Admiral, but if he fails, he fails out of Battle School.  But that is only the beginning.

Based on a book from author Orson Scott Card, "Ender's Game" is a book that's valued in many corporate companies, as well as the US military, as a book that shows how you are supposed to be a tactical leader - balancing brute strength and power with compassion and peaceful solutions.

The film does well in showcasing this diatribe, but there seems to be something missing as a whole.  The acting was tremendous, especially with the young lead Asa Butterfield (if you want to see another great film he stars in, I highly recommend  "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"), who holds a commanding performance that draws you into the story.  Ultimately, though, the film seems to just gloss over everything, losing out on the true depth of character that could've been brought out on Ender, as well as the supporting cast around him, all of whom seem to be one-note characters (the leader who's jealous, the overly zealous commander, the compassionate sister). 

However, the grandiose of the film overshadows any small differences I had with the film, and I was drawn in from the first scene to the last.

My Rating: A-