This is why I watch the movie before reading the book

[harleymae]

I read Ender's Game as a kid and really liked it. I didn't think it could work as a movie because 1) they couldn't cast enough children who wouldn't come across as just being ridiculous and 2) they would be skittish about children being killed

Comments

[tamiflu]

Should I go see it in theatres or should I wait?

[harleymae]

I'm not sure whether having read the book biases me one way or the other when it comes to the movie. I would say that the visuals are what I liked best. The Formics, the team game on the battle station, and then later the battle simulations. Even the mind game that Ender played was quite well done. At the same time, I don't think the movie added anything that you wouldn't have gotten in the book. So... worth watching but not a must see in theatres.

[tamiflu]

Thanks! I wasn't sure if the movie might look so good I should see it in theatres or not.

[bkm5191]

his is one that I feel I will just steal for free.

I suspect S is going to make me buy it when he gets older, but frankly the Percy Jackson movies seem better, at least one of them has Sean Bean I think.

Not that it matter because I am about to have to watch Monsters University 435459485 times in a row.

I'm sorry they didn't kill any children for you, there are sequels right? :)

[harleymae]

I watched The Lightning Thief on basic cable and that was good fun! I'm a sucker for Greek mythology, though.

If they do the proper sequel Speaker for the Dead, there will be no children because everyone will be grown up or dead and anyone who liked Ender's Game as a movie will hate it. :P Something like Ender's Shadow which focuses on Bean would make for a better movie, but I don't know that a sequel without the main character would be appealing to audiences either. They'll probably do the "interquel" (is that a real word???) which I haven't read that takes place between Ender's Game and the sequel.

[tersa]

the trailer made it seem like the kids knew all along that they were directing the human battle fleet. In the movie, the kids think they're playing a simulation (like in the book).

Ahhhhhhhh! I was wondering about that. :P Because what made the book so awesome for me, way back when I read it in college, was the fact they didn't know, and, yeah, I saw the trailers where it implied they knew what was going on and I was thinking "You've just ruined the best part of the book!"

And given that they spoiled it in the trailers, they still ruined the best part of the book, because anyone who hadn't read the book wouldn't get that surprise twist at the end. :P

God damn stupid trailer makers.

I keep being torn about seeing this film. I want them to make good sci-fi, but the controversy over OSC keeps making me shy away.

I think I'll continue to go with "Netflix" as my option.

[harleymae]

Lira and I saw the trailer before the One Direction movie (LOLOL) and we were both like, they've spoiled the entire movie!!! So bad.

I wonder how people who hadn't read the book (but had seen the trailer) reacted to the twist. Maybe if you didn't think about it too much you would be surprised.

I've been thinking about the controversy thing and my conclusion is that I'm sure every day I'm consuming all sorts of services and products that are created by homophobes, racists, sexists, etc. The only thing different here is that people are being made aware of it, and I don't think that's a valid enough distinction to affect my decision-making on whether to see the movie or not. I was really more concerned with the thing where they seem to have ruined a major part of the book's enjoyment. :P

The movie, while not having done anything too terribly wrong, also hasn't added anything significant IMO, so it's not something I would say you have to go watch right now.

[tersa]

The movie, while not having done anything too terribly wrong, also hasn't added anything significant IMO, so it's not something I would say you have to go watch right now.

Oh, good. That confirms my suspicion. :D