Movie Review: Ender’s Game

I am not a huge fan of science fiction movies, but my significant other was interested in seeing something different from the norm, so we went to see Ender’s Game. For the most part, it felt like we were in a giant video game. The graphics and special effects for the film, especially the ending battle scene, made me feel like I was playing a video game. It was quite engaging and the fact that everything was essentially a simulation and not based in reality brought out the fantasy aspect of the film. I feel like it might have been a better experience to see it in IMAX because it would have been more interactive.

It was also very heavily dialogue driven; at one point I found myself dozing off because there was so much talking going on. I enjoy movies that have a nice balance of both action and dialogue, and this one was lacking a bit in the former. I did find the concept pretty interesting as well; training the smartest children of the human race for battle to fight our enemies. These kids are the best of the best, and the main character, Ender, is brilliant not only with his intellect and the way that he strategizes, but also in the compassion that he has for other people and his desire to be liked, just like a normal kid. Even though he is a soldier bred for battle, he is still just a child taking on the weight of the world.

The end of the movie was a bit disappointing because it left too many questions unanswered, such as where will Ender go from here, what happened to his friends and family, etc. It was more of an opening for a second film than a real ending. It wasn’t the type of movie I typically watch, but sometimes it’s good to go outside your comfort zone.