Ender's Game (2013)
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A gifted child is sent to an advanced military academy in space to prepare for a future alien invasion.
The story
In the future, humanity prepares to launch an attack on the homeworld of the Formics, an alien race that previously attacked Earth and killed millions. To prepare for a counterattack, the International Fleet trains gifted children to become commanders of a new fleet. Cadet Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, showing exceptional aptitude in simulated space combat, is recruited into Battle School. There, he is placed among other cadets but is treated as extraordinary by his instructors. Ender must navigate the challenges of the training, including intense zero-gravity combat games and the complexities of leading a squad of misfit students in an increasingly high-stakes environment.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the Formic invasion of Earth, the International Fleet trains gifted children to lead a counterattack. Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is recruited into Battle School due to his superior skills in simulated space combat. While training in a zero-gravity 'Battle Room,' Ender faces challenges from his peers and superiors, eventually leading his own squad of misfit students. During a critical training phase, he participates in a 'mind game' and eventually faces a high-stakes simulation. In the final test, Ender is tasked with defending the homeworld against a massive fleet. He orders his fleet to sacrifice themselves to ensure a successful strike. After the simulation ends, the commanders reveal that the mission was live, and Ender has successfully destroyed the Formic homeworld. However, he is devastated to learn he was tricked into committing genocide against a race that had not yet re-attacked Earth. Later, he is visited by the Formic Queen, who spares his life after he shows remorse. Now an Admiral, Ender travels into deep space to establish a new colony for the remaining Formic species.
- First release year
- 2013
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Gavin Hood
- Writers
- Gavin Hood · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Asa Butterfield · Andrew "Ender" Wiggin; Harrison Ford; Ben Kingsley; Viola Davis; Hailee Steinfeld; Abigail Breslin
- Genres
- Science Fiction; military science fiction
- Themes
- war; sacrifice; identity; the ethics of warfare
- Tone and mood
- serious; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- space opera; military; alien invasion; training
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1985 novel by Orson Scott Card
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box-office.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 63% · scale: percentage · review count: 225; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film's score was originally intended to be composed by James Horner.; The film was the first to offer 3D printed replicas of in-film 3D assets.; The script was a fusion of the novels 'Ender's Game' and 'Ender's Shadow'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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