Ender's Game: Meh

I was going to write a full review of Ender's Game, but I don't feel much about it. It's a film with potential and good source material, but it just comes across as rather bland. The peaks and valleys one would expect to experience in terms of drama and emotional events are closer to a straight line in this one. The biggest fault with Ender's Game is that it lacks the patience to develop it's story and characters. In one dramatic moment an officer tells Ender he will never salute him; Ender insists that he will. It's only few minutes later that the officer is saluting him, and what ought to be a very dramatic and moving moment feels contrived.

And that's the way it is with the entire film. Every dramatic moment that ought to have an emotional impact on the audience is contrived and dull. Much of the plot is formulaic, and the climax generally follows the events of the book, but even the shocking revelation that comes at the end feels forced and carries no weight.

This is a story that requires more time to develop; it's just in too much of a hurry to get to the punchline.

In sum, Ender's Game is just disappointing and bland.