Ender’s Game is based on Orson Scott Card’s bestselling young-adult novel. The book was published in 1985 and it’s unusual that it’s taken so long to reach the screen. With every successful book aimed at teenagers being turned into movies, we’ve had some very questionable adaptations hoisted on us, like I Am Number Four and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. But the choice to adapt a book that had its success 10 years before it target audience was born was a strange one and may explain why Gavin Hood’s film performed weakly at the box office. Of course that may also be because Card is an outspoken homophobe and there were calls to boycott the film.
I haven’t read the book (and don’t plan to) so I don’t know how faithful the adaptation is but it seems an odd tale to spring from the mind of a bigot as its hero Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is a thoughtful and tolerant figure who struggles with the morality of war and rebels against military indoctrination. He’s one of a number of gifted teenagers recruited by Harrison Ford’s Colonel Graff to join the fight against the alien Formics. These bug-like critters invaded earth fifty years ago, killing millions before they were repelled by brilliant commander Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley, sporting what I think is supposed to be a New Zealand accent). Although they haven’t been heard from since, the International Fleet want to take the fight to the Formics to prevent any further attacks and plan to train the next generation to control the fleet.
The fact that the teenage recruits are discovered by monitoring their skill at video games does make this a very relevant story in the 21st century, as well as reminiscent of forgotten classic The Last Starfighter, which rather suspiciously was released the year before Card’s novel. It’s a fairly fast paced adventure even if the fact that most of the action takes place in simulators means the stakes are always kind of low. It centres round Butterfield’s performance and he makes the character interesting enough to anchor the story as he rebels against the fascistic leanings of the International Fleet.
Unfortunately, in terms of visuals and design the film is all a bit flat. With the exception of the training scenes that take place in an anti-gravity chamber, the set-pieces just don’t feel very impressive; especially compared to recent sci-fi spectaculars like Avatar and Gravity. And the designs of the sets, ships and costumes feel particularly uninspired. Science fiction is always a chance for filmmakers to let loose and truly be creative but following on from his lacklustre Wolverine: Origins Hood makes no bold moves here and it just ends up looking like a Star Trek knock off. Although the fact that the spaceships are crewed by children also makes it feel like Bugsy Malone in space.
So it’s all just a bit lifeless and forgettable and the fact that its poor box office takings mean we likely won’t be getting a sequel doesn’t feel like too much of a loss. Although it’s entertaining and undemanding enough that it might be a good choice for introducing younger viewers to the joys of sci-fi.
Overall Verdict: This is a rather bland and dry bit of sci-fi that probably won’t appeal much to its target audience of teenagers but may find fans among younger viewers who haven’t seen the other, better films that it emulates.
Special Features:
Audio commentary with director Gavin Hood
Audio commentary with producers Gigi Pritzker and Bob Orci
Deleted/extended scenes
Reviewer: Adam Pidgeon