The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Written by American author and columnist, Orson Scott Card, 1985 science-fiction novel, Ender’s Game, received as much criticism as it did praise on release, making director Gavin Hood’s task of transforming it to the big screen quite the precarious one – especially given the fact that an adaptation of the novel has been spoken about for the better part of twenty years. Expectations are high and the end result doesn’t disappoint.

As is the case with many other sci-fi features, Ender’s Game is set in the distant future where alien-like creatures called Formics have all but wiped out mankind. It’s been fifty years since their last attack , and thanks to the bravery and skill of courageous pilot, Maser Rackham (Kingsley), the people of Earth are able to sleep easy, even if temporarily.

Despite the Formics returning to their home planet, Earth is far from safe. Worrying about the possibility of fresh attacks, humans have created an outer space ‘battle school’ for kids, hoping that the rigorous training will birth their next leader.

Impressed by his skills and instincts, Colonel Graff (Ford) strongly takes gifted outcast, Ender Wiggin (Butterfield), under his wing. Despite struggling with separation from his family and his beloved sister Valentine (Breslin), Ender is forced to mature into his role of the planet’s saviour faster than any young boy should.

Book adaptations are notoriously difficult to translate onto the silver screen for one simple reason; each reader has his or her own perception of the story. Hood, however, takes on the task with aplomb, producing a slick, imaginative and engaging sci-fi tale, offering a complex and absorbing character study of a young boy on the verge of manhood.  

With the arc of the story firmly on his shoulders, child star Butterfield demonstrates an incredible amount of maturity, versatility and overall warmth as main character, Ender. However, the supporting cast of Hollywood names, including Harrison and Kingsley, seem distant to the story and never really register with the viewer in any real way.

As an entertaining science-fiction fable, Ender’s Game offers the whole package; the standard sci-fi elements are executed well and complimented with a sincere story. Card and his readers should pleased; however, hardcore sci-fi fans may find the whole thing a little watered down.