End(er's) Game

College has unfortunately kept me from posting on here very often, as well as preventing me from seeing very many movies. Tonight I went to see Ender's Game at a special eight o'clock showing in Harrisonburg (the closest actual town to where I go to school) with a few friends from my cross country team. Remember that boy I told you about in my 42 review? No, not the one I wanted to ask me to prom, the other one. Well we dated over the summer and, being the giant nerd that he is, made me read this book (I didn't put up much of a fight). After reading it, it's easy to see why generation after generation of nerds are attracted to this book. It's a story of an incredibly smart boy who is isolated because of his genius. What geek wouldn't relate? The ratio of girls to guys in the theater blew my mind. My friends and I were the only girls there that weren't with their boyfriend. In general, I would guess that boys, more than girls, are reading the book and liking it. What bothered me is that there are very, VERY few female characters. The females that are included are strong, well written characters,but The book is low on description and high on fast-moving plot with just Ender's inner monologue to help the reader follow what's going on. I would still suggest it, but with the warning that some of it may seem ridiculous, but just keep reading.

I haven't reviewed too many movie adaptations, but I'll have you know that I can get rather picky. I think the tone came across very well from the book to the movie. The things that they cut out were the most far-fetched and ruthless parts that gave the book more depth, but would have pushed the audience away from the story. Unless the book was split into multiple movies, I see no way of possibly being able to include all the different things that happen to Ender in battle school, but the audience some of Ender's development into a true leader. I thought the casting was spot on. Making the children a little older than they were in the book didn't bother me at all since it always kind of struck me as odd that the army could train an eight year-old to lead an entire army.

The whole social commentary element carried over, which impressed me. The movie still brought up the questions of whether or not we are forcing our children to grow up too fast and is winning at any cost true victory. The issues were, for the most part, subtly addressed, which was a nice change of pace from other movies that have come out recently that are really in your face with their message. 

Ender's Game was a really good adaptation. It had moments when I got excited because I knew what was coming next and I flipped out because the set design was exactly the way I saw it in my head, which I loved (get it?). I would seriously suggest reading the book before seeing the movie. If your friends label it as a kids movie just because the main characters are children, please correct them, because it really isn't. 

Four out of five buggers