Ender’s Game: Fun. Yeah, Just Fun.

Director Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) has delivered another film that certainly has some good moments but will be utterly forgettable.  Too much crushed into one film forces the story to feel rushed and lacking in necessary depth, although thankfully there are enough thrills to keep observers interested.

Premise: Based on the acclaimed novel, Ender Wiggin grows to become a savior to Earth in a futuristic world where the fate of Earth depending on children. Result: A fun time that spreads itself way too thin, ultimately culminating in a shallow delivery that misses opportunities.

The film begins with the creepy hero Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) who skulks through his academy as half strategic genius, half-social outcast, ultimately bringing on the scorn of classmates.  His terrifying and effectively violent temper shocks classmates yet stimulates Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) and Major Gwen Anderson (Viola Davis) who observe and monitor him incessantly.

He seems to be worth the risk and so young Ender is promoted to Battle School up in space aboard a rotating station, accomplishing more than siblings – brother Peter (Jimmy ‘Jax’ Pinchak) or sister Valentine (Abigail Breslin).  There he is placed with rivals like Bean (Aramis Knight), Alai (Suraj Partha), and Bernard (Conor Carroll) spending his days learning maneuvers and a strategic game that becomes the crux for the majority of the film.