Ender's Game - Review

Director: Gavin Hood Writer: Gavin Hood Studios: Summit Entertainment, Lionsgate, Chartoff Productions, Taleswapper, OddLot Entertainment, K/O Paper Products, Digital Domain Cast: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin Release Date (UK): October 25 2013 Certificate: 12A Runtime: 114 min

“Ender’s Game,” based on the ‘80s bestseller by Orson Scott Card, is a YA adaptation that’s ballsy enough to tackle dark, complex themes such as the moralities of war, the values of pacifism and the dehumanisation of simulated violence, all the while providing the expected sci-fi spectacle and dazzling special effects. Think of it as “Starship Troopers" for kids: written and directed by Gavin Hood (who previously directed “Tsotsi” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” but let’s focus on “Tsotsi”), it imagines a future world under threat of invasion from a bug-like alien race known as the Formics. Asa Butterfield, a talented British up-and-comer, plays Ender Wiggin, a preteen brainbox chosen for a military program in which the world’s smartest children are trained in preparation for war with the Formics.

Blasted into space, Ender is sent to Battle School, where he is tasked with taking part in a competitive, zero-gravity game with his fellow recruits (it’s basically Quidditch with laser guns) and running hi-tech simulations in which he must scheme to defeat the alien menace. All the while, he’s watched over by Harrison Ford’s grizzled Colonel Graff, who sees hope in Ender and has a few tricks up his sleeve to test his extraordinary tactical skills. Along the way, we’re treated with pleasing visual effects, a terrific leading performance from Butterfield and the remarkable sight of Sir Ben Kingsley with full-on face tats.

“Ender’s Game” is never as exciting or suspenseful as it could be, but it is interesting and surprisingly thoughtful, certainly more so than is expected of this sort of teen-oriented, special effects blockbuster. In a year in which we got “The Mortal Instruments” and “The Host,” this is refreshingly mature and intelligent, boasting big ideas and following most of them through. If Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment are looking to kickstart their next big franchise, this is a solid start, though as I’m unfamiliar with Card’s book series, I’m curious as to where the story will go from here.

Rating: 7/10