Ender's Game

This is a movie that should not be taken lightly because there is a lot of philosophical background behind it. The reason for that is that it is based on a novel of the same title by American writer, Orson Scott Card. It won both the Nebula and the Hugo awards in 1985 and 1986 respectively and those are the two most prestigious prizes awarded to only the best Science Fiction stories and though a story about the future Ender's Game is also a reflection of the time when it was written, the mid eighties.

It has finally been adapted to the big screen and the result is really consistent. This is a future where Earth has been invaded already by aliens that mindlessly killed millions of people. The invasion was averted but only barely and for fifty years those same aliens have not come back. In all that time mankind has been preparing for a new attack and the authorities have decided that to prevent a new attack Earth will attack first. In view of that they have re imagined their military forces and now enlist adolescents because their younger minds are better at handling the immense possibilities to handle during an attack that heavily relies on the use of computers. Ender (Asa Buttefield) is one cadet that shows great promise and the story tells us how he is indeed a true leader, a great strategist and also how he ascends in very little time to be in command of the fleet that will attack the aliens. However, there is a lot more about Ender since he understands that in order to destroy the enemy he must first understand the enemy itself and that implies a lot more of what he expected. In the end, Ender is everything his superiors expected him to be and yet Ender is unhappy for he has realized his ways are wrong and thus begins some sort of spiritual journey that literally will take him to the stars. 

The cast is brilliant. Asa is not new to acting and shares duties with veterans such as Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley and Viola Davis plus all the other young actors who took on their roles and did not let down. The story as mentioned before is intense, philosophical and yet it appeals to all ages. It is difficult to get bored because the director made a good job at pacing the action properly. And of course the special effects are well orchestrated with a superb use of the soundtrack. Had not Gravity been out this year I would have said this was the best 2013 Sci-fi film.

Four stars out of five.