Back in the mid-80’s Orson Scott Card wrote a book about a six-year-old boy named Andrew Ender Wiggin, an extraneous child in a population-controlled future Earth who would go on to be drafted into an elite militaristic program, trained to be a part of Earth’s last hope to prevent a second invasion of an alien force known as the Formics. Ender’s Game, largely focused on the social and psychological struggles of this young genius trying to find his place in a new world, went on to win two of science fiction’s most prestigious awards: the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award. Card then did the unthinkable, he won them both again with the indirect sequel, Speaker for the Dead.
I first read Ender’s Game in December of 2007, followed by a January 2008 reading of Speaker for the Dead. At the close of Ender’s Game I was an emotional wreck, and Speaker for the Dead surprised me by eliciting an even stronger response. My times with each book remain among my most cherished reading experiences.
Orson Scott Card once said that he considered Ender’s Game unfilmable. He later changed his mind and is reportedly impressed with the newly released film adaptation. I agree with him, both then and now. Ender’s Game, the film, is certainly not a perfect adaptation. If it suffers in any way it is because of the fact that it is impossible to condense the nuances of the novel down to a two-hour film. However, the acting throughout is laudable, the special effects are impressive but do not detract from the story, and the filmmaker’s managed to fit in a great deal of the novel in the time that they were allowed.
8/10 stars. Well worth seeing on the big screen.
If you are one the many who have already read Ender’s Game, then you know the story and are well aware of the overall impact of the story. If you have not, then do not fear as I will not spoil it here. My wife and I went to see the film with her cousin who was not familiar with the book and it was interesting to get his viewpoint, being uninitiated to the story, and compare it to ours. I thought the crew who made this adaptation did a really nice job of working in many aspects of the book. In doing so in only two hours, however, it means that some of the depth of the story is understandably lost. Scenes that took chapters in the book of necessity have to pass by very quickly. In addition, if you are familiar with the novel, then you know how it ends and the emotional impact is one that you’ve already experienced. That makes adapting Ender’s Game an uphill battle at best.
I feel they did a really nice job with the adaption and the biggest reason why is the cast. From the major characters down to the most minor character, the acting was very well done. The worrisome thing about a cast of children, even young pre-adolescent and adolescent children, is that the fact that they are “acting” will be quite obvious. Here the cast of largely unknowns seemed very authentic. Mary’s cousin pointed out a scene in which two youth act as bodyguards for a particular character; they say no lines at all but their body language and facial expressions convey so much in a very brief scene. It was the little moments like this that strengthened the film.
When I first heard they were going to do a film adaptation of the book I groaned. Reading a story with a child protagonist is one thing, the fear of an onscreen version is that they actor/actress won’t be able to convey the breadth of the character revealed in the book. Asa Butterfield did an outstanding job. From the opening scene he was Ender Wiggin for me and he remained so throughout the film. It was great to see Harrison Ford in a role where you feel conflicted about his motivations and his methods and he conveyed that character well.
Things have to be sacrificed in the film, but for my money that makes it a good motivator for folks to go read the book. The characters of Ender’s siblings, Peter and Valentine, are understandably given little to do and their deeper storyline is lost in the film. The development of friendships, and enemies, that Ender undergoes while in battle school happen very quickly and even more than the science fictional elements of the film there is a need to have some suspension of disbelief there and assume that what has been happening is taking longer than what we are privy to onscreen. During the entire film I felt grateful that I had all the backstory from having read the novel and yet our uninitiated movie companion felt that he was able to follow along well, get the overall gist of what was occurring, and he now wants to read the book. What more could an author want from a film adaptation of his work?
Ender’s Game, the book, and to a lesser degree the film, deals with some complex issues. The book presents a world in which young children (even younger than portrayed in the film) are utilized as weapons of war with very little overt commentary about the moral and ethical issues of doing so. As such it is a story that can be read on many levels. There is action and excitement, political gamesmanship, manipulation and deceit, examinations of friendship, loyalty, empathy, anger-control and so much more. The book, and no doubt the film, are not without their controversies, and that is leaving aside Card’s well-publicized feelings about homosexuality. Some complain because they feel Card doesn’t seem to be offering up an opinion about the moral and ethical issues raised by the story. If that is true, and I don’t entirely believe it is, I see that as a strength simply because the book does cause you to examine the story and the implications it raises.
In the end I am very glad I went to see it on opening weekend. It was visually engaging but was much more so on a character level. I’m pleased that a book I enjoy so much has an enjoyable film version as well. Great timing for me personally as I was already in the mood for science fiction and this scratched that itch nicely.
Great review. I have not read the book, but you have convinced me I should do that.
You really should Tracy…and there just so happens to be an upcoming event you are participating in where you could do just that, lol! 🙂
One of my favorite books of all time. Although I don’t agree….even disdain, many of Cards personal views and where he chooses to invest his money…the man can write. I’m glad the film stayed true to the book. It’s an incredibly detailed story and I’m sure those little scenes, like the one Mary’s cousin pointed out contributed to the film greatly 😀 Wonderful review…as always Carl 🙂
It is one of mine too, Kelly. I’ve certainly chosen to not read or watch various things because of a visceral reaction I’ve had towards a creator or participant, but I try not to do that on a regular basis simply because I believe we are all human, have our troubled areas, and if I based all my entertainment choices on the person creating them I might not read or watch anything ever. But on the flip side I don’t fault those who feel strongly that they are supporting something or someone they cannot support.
The film was nicely done, you should see it.
Carl, did they touch on the videogame/dream sequence at ALL in the movie?
It was that portion, and Peter and Valentine’s character(s) that spoke to me most heavily in the book, so I’d be very sad if that was skipped over in the movie. The book has a lot of action, and a lot of quiet drama. I worry that the movie will focus only on the action without the depth of the drama. 🙁
Yes they did, quite a bit, and I was VERY impressed by the fact that this pivotal story thread was present in the film.
Peter and Valentine are treated very peripherally, which was sad but only makes sense given this is only one film and not broken up into a couple of them, which could easily have been done.
There is a lot of action and things do happen way too quickly by nature of the length, but Asa Butterfield and Viola Davis especially captured the emotion very well.
1. As usual, nice review.
2. I was planning on seeing it, big screen, and your review strengthens that desire.
3. I don’t give a hoot about Card’s moral or philosophical leanings when evaluating the book. I try hard to separate that from the work and it’s adaptations, and I first read the book way before Card became so vocal (before there was an internet thingie, for that matter).
Thanks Richard. One of the bad things about all this internet freedom is that you end up learning a lot about people that you sometimes wish would be kept private.
we had talked about seeing it this weekend, but then Natalya’s friend is just as geeked as we are and so the girls want to go together which means planning and…yeah, maybe this week? Sean and I may have to go ahead and check it out.
glad it did not disappoint, and am especially relieved where the child-acting is concerned.
I had forgotten that Asa Butterfield played the lead in the film adaptation of Hugo. He was great in that too.
Look forward to your review as it will no doubt be more thorough than mine.
I read Ender’s Game and Speaker for The Dead years ago, and have been meaning to re-read them at some point. Now the movie is out! I enjoyed your review, Carl, and it’s on my radar as a movie I want to see. Whether I get to see it in the theatres or at home, depends – I don’t get out much to all the films I want to see, my children are still fairly young.
I’m curious how this film will be received with the publicized anti-gay sentiment he has. I don’t know that an author’s political or sexual views have anything to do with his writing. I’ve enjoyed many of the books he has written, including these two, which are very good. Time will tell how the movie does! I hope everyone is as generous with the movie (and what had to be left out) as you are, because it does sound well-put together if your wife’s cousin who hasn’t read the book can follow it. Good review, Carl.
It is hard to get out to see movies that aren’t kid-friendly when you have young children.
The film has been getting a lot of backlash and many are boycotting it because of Card’s statements. I don’t blame anyone for doing so although I think it largely depends on what one’s motivation for doing so is. If it is to punish Card then the realization has to be accepted that it is many other people who would be getting punished, including the theater owners and their employees who depend on having customers for their business to survive.
It opened to fair, but not huge numbers this past weekend and it will drop off the radar to a large degree next week when Thor comes out.
I went to see Ender’s Game yesterday, and also really enjoyed it! Some changes and cuts were made, of course, but the breadth of the book is so huge that that’s inevitable. I thought the cuts (mostly) were handled well to still maintain the thematic impact, even if plot elements were trimmed or compressed.
I agree on the power of the actors, especially the large cast of young actors who all were so effective. It also says something impressive that body language, or the expression on someone’s face (Ender especially) was so impactful, despite being in a movie with so many flashy effects as well. It’s easy for big effects movies to lose that character nuance in all the CGI distraction, and this handled that very well–especially since the effects were impressive too!
My one big reservation was in the very last minute of the movie, when they made a change from the book that I did feel was *very important* and totally alters the course of the future for Ender and Valentine…and I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers, but I trust you know what I mean! It *could* be worked around, I expect, if they decided to try to film Speaker for the Dead…except that seems far more unfilmable than Ender’s Game anyway!
I agree with your statements about cuts and the novel and what could realistically be done in a film.
It is impressive that the acting was so good given that I imagine most of it was done with green screen around, meaning their imaginations had to be quite active while performing.
I’m not exactly sure which moment you are talking about (feel free to shoot me an email) though I suspect I *might* know. I agree with you that I feel like Speaker for the Dead, as it is written, is entirely unfilmable. I’m not sure the film will generate enough financial success to worry about a sequel but I also wonder if a sequel was ever really planned as you could not use this cast or follow much of the story in Speaker if one was made, and I would hate to see a sequel that went that far afield of the source material.
Oh, the bit at the end I meant was *literally* the last minute, when one character sends a letter to another character who really should have been with him at the time. Ahem. Could probably be resolved with some explanation if there was a second film, but it bugged me…
I’ve heard rumors about “series potential,” but that may just be from people who know only that there ARE multiple books, and have no idea about the details of those later books…
Ah, I got you. I had forgotten that.
Speaker for the Dead takes place thousands of years in the future. Ender is 30 years old (due to his time in and out of cryo sleep). I cannot imagine the studio going with a completely different actor and expecting folks to follow along. I also think Speaker, which is great, is very unfilmable due to subject matter, but that is just me. Well worth reading.
I loved the book when I read it, but to be honest don’t remember many of the details now. We’re planning on seeing the movie, probably next weekend, and I’m glad to hear I probably won’t be disappointed. Neither my daughter nor my husband has read it.
Will be interesting to see if you and they agree or disagree about its appeal and how relatable it is for those who haven’t read the book.
Perhaps my expectations were too high when I viewed the film but I felt like the heart of the book was missing from the movie. It seemed rushed to me. I wanted it to build with more artistry and sensitivity. I remember when I read the book, I was absolutely terrified for Ender in the shower scene. I felt his vulnerability. That part in the movie left me flat. His genius for strategy in the battle room was ingenious in the book. Here again, the movie felt so rushed and his gift for ingenuity was relegated to one surprise maneuver. I felt the acting was strong across the board and understood the need to pick and choose which parts and characters to highlight or cut. Often, I enjoy book adaptations better on a second viewing. Your review has convinced me to give Ender’s Game another look. I too loved Speaker for the Dead, maybe even more than Ender’s Game. Did you pick up on Mazer’s reference to the book when he explained the reason for his facial tattoo’s? Enough of my prattle. Thanks for the great review.
Yes, I did pick up that reference and I loved that they dropped it in.
I don’t disagree with you at all. It is not possible for them to capture all the depth of the book in two hours. There is just no way. And as such it was rushed in that the film maker made the choice, which I agree with, to get as much of the book in as he could. That of course meant no lingering on any one part. I still feel like the spirit is there, but not to any degree comparable with the book. I certainly hope the film drives more people to the book as I agree with the mass opinion that feels Ender’s Game is a good gateway science fiction book for those who haven’t tried or claim not to like the genre.
You prattle all you want, great comment!
Great review Carl. I went and saw Ender’s Game today and thoroughly enjoyed the film. Like you pointed out they left out much of the book, but it was still a fun film. I suppose they made Ender and the others much older in the film than in the book to make it more realistic. I always thought Card had made the characters too young anyway. In some ways the movie makers cut corners that made the movie more believable, plus they got rid of some of the weirdness.
I have always felt Ender’s Game was a reply to Starship Troopers (ditto for The Forever War by Joe Haldeman). The trouble is military SF has become such a cliche that it’s basically all the same background for humans versus aliens combat. Card goes further with Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide, but will those books get made into movies?
What’s not explored enough is the possible justification for interstellar wars. There is nothing on Earth justifying any alien species coming all the way to Earth to fight us. Thus making all these alien invasion films seem silly.
Glad you enjoyed it Jim, and thanks.
I agree that it was more realistic with older youth. I also think it makes the idea a bit more palatable for viewers.
I’m with you in the question of whether the next books can be made into movies. I don’t think so, at least not with any degree of faithfulness that they achieved with Ender. The target audience for Ender is certainly not going to be served by a faithful adaptation of Speaker for the Dead. Which on one hand is a pity as it could be an interesting film but in some ways I’m glad. All beloved books don’t need to be adapted to film. We have the book, that is where the true joy lies.
That is true, and it has been so long since I’ve read the book that I don’t know if a justification for the war is offered there or not.
Ender’s Game was a book I adored when it came out and I first read it, and still holds up well years later when re-reading it. Card’s unfortunate personal views aside, it’s a GREAT book! Glad you enjoyed the movie, I’m wanting to see it, but I’m afraid my money’s going to go to getting my Loki fix. 😀