Ender’s Game Review

RYAN: This is the new movie based on a popular science fiction book series which I have not read, but Nathan, you have, so I welcome your added viewpoint to this review. I like the cast – Harrison Ford, Viola Davis and Ben Kingsley, but I didn’t expect to lurve this film.  And I do love it.  There are so many strengths – primarily the main character’s story arc.

NATHAN: All of the characters are really complex and interesting.

RYAN: Ender has one of the most unique stories for any protagonist I’ve ever seen.  He’s a recognized hero and legend in the making but bullied and treated like an underdog; such an original premise.  I can only think of Harry Potter as similar but this story couldn’t be more different.

NATHAN: Well, as always, you’re right.

RYAN: Feel free to agree (laughs).

NATHAN: (laughs) It was great.  Not only is Ender treated like an underdog.  He looks like an antihero, based on his frame, it’s unlikely, but we know from the onset that this is the main character.  The anticipation of seeing how this kid deals with everything is terrific.

RYAN: It’s hard in a sci fi movie involving outer space, aliens, spacecraft, war… it’s a challenge to not be derivative and this movie didn’t, at any point, remind me of any other sci fi cinema.  t has it’s own vibe for sure.

NATHAN: Absolutely.  A lot of sci fi is action based and melodramatic; good guy, bad guys – this story is really about Ender versus his own potential.  You don’t really meet the enemies until late in the film.

RYAN: I am super-impressed with Asa Butterfield, as Ender.  I interviewed him a couple years ago about Hugo, and while he was certainly nice, he wasn’t, like, a favorite actor.  He was just a kid and he still is just a kid but he commands so much maturity now, with an old soul in this role.  He has all the power of a man like Duane The Rock Johnson in a tiny, waifish, boy’s body.

NATHAN: All 60 pounds of him.  It makes me think of Claudia, Kirsten Dunst, in Interview with the Vampire.

RYAN: I love that you said that!

NATHAN: Young actor playing a very mature, adult character.  Also like Atreyu and the Empress in The NeverEnding Story – little kids in mature characters.

RYAN: He was so strong.  Abigail Breslin and Hailee Steinfeld also give good performances.

NATHAN: They were great.  They both became very developed characters on their own.

RYAN: Ender faces some bullying and they way he deals is inspiring.  And the subplots were as good as the main one.

NATHAN: You know, speaking as someone who grew up in a Military family, I think the movie really got the feeling down right, socially and in work.  It’s well captured.

RYAN: Harrison Ford and Viola Davis!

NATHAN: I’d have to go through a thesaurus to find all the words to describe them.  They live up to expectations.

RYAN: Viola just brought so much heart to this movie. She plays the psychologist and grounds the story.  And Harrison is just always a sure bet.  I’m so tempted to do spoilers here but I don’t do spoilers.  Still I want people to see this so we can all talk about it.  Their characters are involved in a turning point where the movie goes from sci fi cool to tear-jerker.  You read the book – how does it compare?

NATHAN: You know in most cases of book adaptations, the book is better, but in this case, I’d say it’s neck and neck.  But the movie stays relatively faithful.  There’s a lot more character development in the book and much is cut out for time, but it’s close.  I may have liked this better than the book.

RYAN: I love the design. The score was beautiful and profound.  It adds a lot of depth to scenes.  And the arena, the halls, the costumes, everything looked cool.  This is a movie I wish had been in 3D!

NATHAN: Oh absolutely.  There are some scenes in zero gravity and while it’s not as well done as the movie Gravity, it’s still good.  The special effects are cutting edge.

RYAN: Ben Kingsley comes in at the end in a pivotal role.

NATHAN: Ben doesn’t need a lot of fanfare.

RYAN: I was worried halfway through about where he was but then he shows up at last, with some very cool Henna on his face.

NATHAN: (laughs)

RYAN: I loved it.  It’s great sci fi – cool and profound about war and the clashes of culture and miscommunication, forgiveness, all in an emotional package.

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