Before I present my opinion on Ender’s Game, I must first provide a disclaimer: in writing this review, I am trying my very hardest to forget that the film is based on a truly wonderful book. After all, it would have been impossible for director Gavin Hood to create anything that truly did Orson Scott Card’s novel justice. Besides, as a standalone film, it’s actually quite good.
The movie stars Hugo‘s Asa Butterfield as “Ender Wiggin,” a boy sent to battle school to learn to fight the Formics, an alien species that attacked Earth years before. As he rises through the ranks and is subjected to harsh conditions and harsher tests, he finds himself chosen to lead his fellow young soldiers into a war for the future of mankind.
Hood is a master of tension and release, creating an enthralling atmosphere and drawing us in to the story with ease. The trouble, however, is his sense of pacing. Certain sections of the film feel peculiarly compressed, with the occasional incongruous shift in energy. As a whole, however, he’s built a tight, focused film that’s enormously affecting.
As Ender, Butterfield delivers a quiet star turn, expressing his character’s inner turmoil without overplaying it and devolving into angsty scenery-chewing. His fellow young actors are similarly effective – particularly Moises Arias as “Bonzo,” whose violent energy belies his youth. Of course, the more seasoned cast members perform admirably, with Harrison Ford as “Colonel Graff” and Viola Davis as “Major Anderson” grounding the film with their strength and emotional weight.
If you’re willing to forget its source material, Ender’s Game is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. Those who have difficulty with compartmentalization should steer clear.
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