Ender's Game

I don't know the source material, so I might have been surprised... And there was definitely something to be surprised by. The film is unexpectedly serious, conversational and simply acted, with neither special effects nor action playing a major role, and I was very pleased with that. Just like the protagonist, who is not the classic whiny poor guy nobody trusts, but a confident young man who goes after what he wants - or rather, what others want him to go after. Harrison Ford got a lot of space, which is also fine, Ben Kingsley was more of an ornament, but an important one. I didn't expect the ending, and its idea - and therefore the idea of the whole film - is commendable. It's a pity that the music is bland and unimaginative and there are a few illogical things - why none of the adults came up with the final strategy, for example (the book might explain it). Despite the fact that I liked Ender's Game quite a bit, I could do without a second part. For as we know Hollywood, it might not be so sympathetically "un-movie-like" anymore. Three and a half. (09/13/2015)

Even as someone who hasn’t read the book, I feel the filmmakers had to leave a lot out and use many plot shortcuts, because the themes and ideas that they tap (and also leave untapped) are really a lot for those 115 minutes. The good thing, though, is that what remained makes pretty good sense, while at the same time it’s not hard to imagine those things that didn’t make the cut. After the awful Wolverine, I wasn’t expecting much from Gavin Hood, but he turned out to be a pleasant surprise and delivered one of the purest sci-fi movies of the year. With its detachment and lack of user-friendliness, Ender’s Game is not likely to make many fans among the average cinemagoers, but those who prefer something like Starship Troopers or Lord of the Flies over another happy blockbuster about a young, brave hero who saves the world from an extraterrestrial invasion shouldn’t miss it. A welcome compensation for the dodgy Elysium. (11/02/2013)

I had been avoiding Ender's Game for years, knowing it was a pure young adult film. I finally gave it a chance, and I wasn't far off in my assumption. It is young adult, but it's also so intense at times that even I found some moments hard to watch. The strength of the story lies in how the young protagonists are treated as adults. The supposed game blurs with reality, all wrapped in the defense of Earth against an impending alien attack. I struggled to reconcile the youthful faces with their mature dialogue. But the finale completely floored me and ultimately made me add that fourth star. This film made me realize when boys become men, and it's not a pleasant realization. (01/30/2023)

Smart and intelligent sci-fi, thematically quite original and rather dark. Occasionally it reminded me of some non-action passages from Minority Report with its gloominess and detachment. But it is extremely unfriendly towards the audience. Some will admire this film, while the majority will see it once and give a nod of agreement. It is not pleasant sci-fi, it is a probe into the mind of a killer. Excellent psychology, rather iconic action. (11/02/2013)

It's been quite a while since I've seen a good, classic sci-fi that I really enjoyed. I did enjoy this, but the whole time I kept thinking how great the book must be. The ending wouldn't have been as bad there. However, they decided to make a film that is powerful, emotive, with interesting characters and strong moments, but also has weaknesses, where especially the zero-gravity training seems somewhat silly and the audience doesn't really understand what it's all about. Despite its relatively high budget, the film might come across as overly intimate. Nevertheless, something is always happening. (03/17/2014)