The International Military seek out a leader who can save the human race from an alien attack. Ender Wiggin, a brilliant young mind, is recruited and trained to lead his fellow soldiers into a battle that will determine the future of Earth.
Wars have felt shorter and better managed than this epic.
It admirably avoids many of the pitfalls of adapting this book, but seems to have lost some of the life and pace as well.
Loud sci-fi.
Like its hero, Ender’s Game relies on brains more than brute force. An absorbing portrait of Lord Of The Flies-style morality housed in imaginative sci-fi casing.
Space Chimps meets Triumph of the Will.
The picture is also light on action and suspense, presumably saving that for a sequel.
Unfortunately, narrative developments late on almost up-end the story, never quite inspiring the desired emotional impact. But at least, as blockbusters go, it’s a considered, rather than thoughtless, ride.
The battle scenes are spectacular but lifeless and hard to engage with. We're watching a cascade of computer-game imagery.
The movie's apocalyptic finale indicates that it's bitten off considerably more than it can chew in terms of ideas, but it looks good, and the story rattles along.
There's a grim undertow which culminates in a shockingly bleak false ending, followed by an unconvincingly salving coda.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
RSS feed of Cinema reviews