#gavinhood

1 hour 54 minutes

Rated PG-13 (Some Violence, Sci-Fi Action and Thematic Material)

Directed by Gavin Hood

Starring Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Abigail Breslin, and Harrison Ford

2.5 out of 4 stars

IN THEATERS NOW.

The new YA norm seems to be putting teens in super dangerous situations, whether it be in The Hunger Games or joining the military force to battle evil aliens that tried to take over the planet. By the end, it feels like nothing even happens in Ender's Game. We're introduced to new characters and watch a bunch of military teens PRACTICE (not actually engage in, just practice) shooting the evil aliens, but that's the thing. They're ONLY practicing. I expected there to be a big showoff between the aliens and the teens but that doesn't exactly happen. The movie, based on the classic YA novel by Orson Scott Card (who is not allowed to promote the movie because of his opposing gay marriage beliefs), features a twist finale that is more questionable than thought-provoking. There's meant to be a philosophy in this story, but I can't detect it. What's equally disappointing is the fact that there's barely any action to keep us entertained.

However, Ender's Game is certainly better made than some of the other newcomer YA adaptations, thanks to its talented cast and spectacular $110 million special effects. It's made some money, but I doubt it will start a franchise. In fact, in its opening weekend the majority of Ender's Game audiences were adults who were fans of the books when they were younger, not teens (probably because there aren't any hot brooding heartthrobs here). The movie takes place in the future (obviously) a few years after an alien race known as Formics invaded Earth and were defeated by the military. Thousands of lives were lost, so to prepare for another possible invasion the government formed the International Fleet. They're in charge of the Battle School, a military academy that floats in space and trains young teens for combat. Unlike The Hunger Games, these teens aren't picked at random. They can join if they want to.

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is a young cadet who strongly doesn't believe in hurting people. When he fights back against a school bully he goes home and mopes around like he's the guiltiest person alive. Ender is also a tremendous game player and beats his fellow students at virtual games. Watching him from the International Fleet are Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) and Major Gwen Anderson (Viola Davis). They believe he has potential to be a great fighter and ask him to consider Battle School. With the advice of his sister/best friend, Valentine (Abigail Breslin), he hops aboard the ship. The Battle School consists of the Battle Room, a super neat room where cadets float and battle one another using harmless paralyzing guns. Aboard he forms a trust with fellow fighter Petra (Hailee Steinfeld) and is hated by Commander Bonzo Madrid (Moises Arias), the cocky head of one of the ship's armies, called the Salamander Army. Ender ends up being a terrific soldier, but how will his pacifist views allow him to defeat the Formics?

The coolest scenes are the ones set in the Battle Room. It's like laser tag except you get to do it in a bigger room overlooking space (plus you get to float!). There are also some really cool sequences of Ender playing what are called "mind games" which is like a video game except it uses the player's emotional state in making decisions. Ender's form is a mouse who has to accept one of two drinks (one of which is poisonous) from a giant. It's so strange! There's much imagination in Card's world, but I'm not sure I like this story. It's not just because I'm not a huge sci-fi fan. It's that the story doesn't seem to even go anywhere. It's just about a nonviolent kid training at a military academy while all the adults lazily sit around and marvel. I mean, seriously, do any of these adults fight? Why are they leaving the battle to the kids? Why is the movie all practice and no ACTUAL FIGHTING? More importantly, as a character study I still didn't connect with the movie. Ender is constantly saying that he doesn't want to kill the aliens. So then, why is he at the Battle School to begin with?! Also, why does he like these aliens so much? Didn't they invade Earth and kill thousands of people? How could he possibly care for them?