so, just saw this movie last night, and OH MY FREAKING BUDDHA!!!
I have yet to see a novel movie that captured the feel of the original material quite as well. I dislike certain liberties they took, but unlike others, I can actually understand them.
so, to put it to the table: have you seen this movie? what did you think? what did you like? what did you dislike?
Disclaimer : I have no strong connection to the book, unlike many people of my generation. I only read it once, and within the last year at that. I thought it was fantastic. I also thought the movie was really excellent and did a great job of capturing the film. Great movie.
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I was actually pretty disappointed by the film. For those of you who hadn't read the book, did the film make sense to you? Because the one friend in my group who hadn't read the novel hated Ender in the film, even though he liked the movie.
I think my hopes may have been too high for the film.
Part of my problem was that a lot of the character development occurs throughout the mock battles, and when they only filmed two of the battles (and not even a montage in between), the movie made it seem like Ender only fought in two battles at Battle School.
I also think they foreshadowed the twist a little too much with Graff looking at a countdown clock to fleet arrival.
The twist also felt less impactful, because they went out of their way to establish the fighters as drones on the human side, so the human cost in lives wasn't as significant. Some of my favorite memories of the book involved one of the pilots detonating the Little Doctor inside his plane, so that the plane's mass will keep the weapon from deteriorating before it hits the planet.
It was still pretty entertaining, but I don't know if I'll be buying for home use. I'm hoping there is an extended addition with more character development.
Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield did a great job, though.
Largely, you never feel like the kid earns his respect. That's the portion we miss out on, and so, there were times where I did hate Ender; where I thought Ender didn't deserve what he had or was getting, but on the whole it was a solid movie.
This is exactly where my friend had problems with the movie. Certain moments in the book were there specifically to make Ender feel isolated or have to learn to step up. Those moments in the movie made the respect he gets seem handed to him for no apparent reason.
I've read Ender's game more times than I can remember and I've read the full quadrilogy and a few of the spin-off books. Ender's Game is an outstanding novel (even if the writer is a jerk). The movie, on the other hand, is about the best they could do without making it three+ hours long.
Everything is there plot wise, but it's so completely rushed that people who haven't read the book may get lost. The worst thing, though, is the emotion is completely lacking because everything is rushed through. You never get the sense that Ender is the great leader he's supposed to be. You never understand the sense of exhaustion that his training brings him and the devastating toll it takes on him physically and emotionally. The characters repeatedly say how great he is but we never really get to see it. The battles in battle school are ciminally ignored. His training consists of two scenes and a couple of montages. He doesn't earn his scene in the lake (readers know what I'm talking about) and it was extremely frustrating.
I wish they'd have just bitten the bullet and made this movie 2 1/2 to 3 hours long. It could have been so great. The story is compelling enough to keep non-fans engaged even at a longer run time. I like to think there's an amazing director's cut of this film out there somewhere.
To add to that now, I don't know how fans of the book could be satisfied by this adaptation. It was like Watchmen in that it captures most of the story and doesn't stray too far from the source material, but it doesn't capture the spirit at all. The film is just so light on character development and so preoccupied with hitting all the plot beats that it is, so-so at best. I can't imagine anyone who hasn't read the books would watch this and actually follow everything and there's nothing really engaging about the characters because they aren't allowed time to breathe.
Overall, I'm glad they made this film and it's probably the best they could do in under 2 hours, but it's not the adaptation I had imagined in all the years since I first read the novel.
EDIT: Also, it's probably going to be a financial bomb. Even though I'm critical on the film, that makes me sad. It really is a terrific novel (and even though I hate the idea of Card making more money), I wish more people would be introduced to these stories through the film.
EDIT: Also, it's probably going to be a financial bomb. Even though I'm critical on the film, that makes me sad. It really is a terrific novel (and even though I hate the idea of Card making more money), I wish more people would be introduced to these stories through the film.
This seems to be the year of the flop. It's the least I've ever been to theaters over a summer in years, and when I did go most of the movies were disappointing.
Even though Ender's Game was one of my favorite books as a child, I refuse to see this film simply because I can't give Orson Scott Card any of my money. I have no admit that it looks good from the trailers, though, and I'm a bit disappointed to hear so many "meh" reviews. One thing I'm really curious about: how did they handle the infamous shower scene? It's one of the emotional peaks of the story, but it seems ... kind of ... unfilmable? I mean, it's two naked boys wrestling each other to death
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Even though Ender's Game was one of my favorite books as a child, I refuse to see this film simply because I can't give Orson Scott Card any of my money. I have no admit that it looks good from the trailers, though, and I'm a bit disappointed to hear so many "meh" reviews. One thing I'm really curious about: how did they handle the infamous shower scene? It's one of the emotional peaks of the story, but it seems ... kind of ... unfilmable? I mean, it's two naked boys wrestling each other to death
He's already made all his money from the film and on top of that the film hasn't earned enough for him to get back end cuts even if he was signed on to receive any. Your ticket purchase wouldn't translate to a single penny going Card's way.
I think every fan of the book should watch it, though go in with low expectations. Plus, some of the more epic scenes were pretty awesome on the big screen.
Even though none of my ticket would go to him, if the movie is successful enough than sequels *will* be made - such is the nature of Hollywood. The more movies are optioned off his works, the more money Card makes.
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This seems to be the year of the flop. It's the least I've ever been to theaters over a summer in years, and when I did go most of the movies were disappointing.
I have to agree with this.
I like Thor 2, and it was fun, but it wasn't OMG AWESOME!
Other than that, this year has been rather meh for me as well.
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Even though none of my ticket would go to him, if the movie is successful enough than sequels *will* be made - such is the nature of Hollywood. The more movies are optioned off his works, the more money Card makes.
Dude, it has made 79 million off a 110 million dollar budget. It is a complete flop. There will be no sequels. Either go see it and judge it for yourself or quit making excuses. Card won't make any money off your ticket.
I have yet to see a novel movie that captured the feel of the original material quite as well. I dislike certain liberties they took, but unlike others, I can actually understand them.
so, to put it to the table: have you seen this movie? what did you think? what did you like? what did you dislike?
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I think my hopes may have been too high for the film.
I also think they foreshadowed the twist a little too much with Graff looking at a countdown clock to fleet arrival.
The twist also felt less impactful, because they went out of their way to establish the fighters as drones on the human side, so the human cost in lives wasn't as significant. Some of my favorite memories of the book involved one of the pilots detonating the Little Doctor inside his plane, so that the plane's mass will keep the weapon from deteriorating before it hits the planet.
It was still pretty entertaining, but I don't know if I'll be buying for home use. I'm hoping there is an extended addition with more character development.
Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield did a great job, though.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
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This is exactly where my friend had problems with the movie. Certain moments in the book were there specifically to make Ender feel isolated or have to learn to step up. Those moments in the movie made the respect he gets seem handed to him for no apparent reason.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
To add to that now, I don't know how fans of the book could be satisfied by this adaptation. It was like Watchmen in that it captures most of the story and doesn't stray too far from the source material, but it doesn't capture the spirit at all. The film is just so light on character development and so preoccupied with hitting all the plot beats that it is, so-so at best. I can't imagine anyone who hasn't read the books would watch this and actually follow everything and there's nothing really engaging about the characters because they aren't allowed time to breathe.
Overall, I'm glad they made this film and it's probably the best they could do in under 2 hours, but it's not the adaptation I had imagined in all the years since I first read the novel.
EDIT: Also, it's probably going to be a financial bomb. Even though I'm critical on the film, that makes me sad. It really is a terrific novel (and even though I hate the idea of Card making more money), I wish more people would be introduced to these stories through the film.
This seems to be the year of the flop. It's the least I've ever been to theaters over a summer in years, and when I did go most of the movies were disappointing.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
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Jodah, Archmage Eternal
Tovolar, Howlpack Alpha
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Yawgmoth, Father of Machines
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Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools
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Jeska, the Thrice-Touched
Elspeth Returned
Crucius the Mad
Taysir the Infinite
Urza's Head (Unglued!)
Your not actually giving him any money. See here.
He's already made all his money from the film and on top of that the film hasn't earned enough for him to get back end cuts even if he was signed on to receive any. Your ticket purchase wouldn't translate to a single penny going Card's way.
I think every fan of the book should watch it, though go in with low expectations. Plus, some of the more epic scenes were pretty awesome on the big screen.
Xantcha, Phyrexian Reject
Jodah, Archmage Eternal
Tovolar, Howlpack Alpha
Pivlic, Orzhov Informant
Crixizix, Master Engineer
Feather, Boros Peacekeeper
Marisi Coilbreaker
O-Kagachi
Gix, Phyrexian Praetor
Karn, Father of Machines
Yawgmoth, Father of Machines
Serra, Mother of All Angels
Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools
Leshrac the Nightwalker
Jeska, the Thrice-Touched
Elspeth Returned
Crucius the Mad
Taysir the Infinite
Urza's Head (Unglued!)
I have to agree with this.
I like Thor 2, and it was fun, but it wasn't OMG AWESOME!
Other than that, this year has been rather meh for me as well.
Thanks to Xenphire @ Inkfox for the amazing new sig
“Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by slight ligaments
are we bound to prosperity and ruin.”
― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Dude, it has made 79 million off a 110 million dollar budget. It is a complete flop. There will be no sequels. Either go see it and judge it for yourself or quit making excuses. Card won't make any money off your ticket.