For once, the movie does justice to the book. For once, the die hard fans of a great novel like “Ender’s Game” will not rant in anger about the film’s poor choices. For once, the filmmakers get it right.
“Ender’s Game” is a Hugo-winning, Nebula-winning, and New York Times bestselling novel written by Orson Scott Card. On November 1, it became a movie.
“Ender’s Game” is a science fiction novel that revolves around one boy’s journey to becoming an army commander in a futuristic society. This boy, Ender, is only a child when he is accepted into battle school, where he learns to fight the invading alien forces, the “Buggers.”
Ender is special because he has a balance of compassion and violence, making him the perfect commander. Colonel Graff, portrayed by Harrison Ford in the film, sets him apart from the rest of the child soldiers and pushes him to all of his limits.
The film stayed true to the book. It left out only minor details, like Ender being a nickname for Andrew, but they do not affect the storyline.
Asa Butterfield, who plays Ender, is absolutely perfect. He looks exactly how Ender is described and his acting is phenomenal.
@EndersGameMovie was fantastic! Great SFX and acting, and the plot stayed very true to the book! Recommended!
— Matt Sanderlin (@MattSanderlin) November 3, 2013
“Ender’s Game” is about deception, racism, and politics during a time of war. Graff is the character who embodies what is wrong with the politics of war. He talks about the luxury of morality and how he can’t afford to have it.
To the reader, based on the society, it doesn’t seem to be a big deal that the soldiers are children because they are just training. However, in the film, it does hit the viewer. In several moments of weakness and anger, Ender’s voice squeaks, just as a boy’s does. That is something you will not get from a book, and in those moments when it does, it really impacts you.
The enemy’s gate is down! See #EndersGame today in theaters!
— Orson Scott Card (@orsonscottcard) November 1, 2013
The acting in Ender’s Game is incredible. Butterfield portrayed the beloved Ender perfectly and Ford was harsh and unrelenting just like Graff from the novel.
This time, the filmmakers really did get it right.