Good movie, intelligent

Rating: 8/10 (15 March 2014)

I just watched the movie, which I think is quite good, maybe not brilliant, but good.
I read reviews here afterwards, mostly people say it is nothing compare to the book and it is rushed.
I went on and read the book, just finished the first one, which the movie is based on.
I could understand now that was a fair assessment. The movie does not have the soul of the book.
A lot of things are unexplained like why Ender is called third, but more importantly the book is about leadership. Ender has no friend, in a way he is not allowed to and he shouldn't.
A leader is respected, people look a leader for guidance, to follow him but people are not his equal and not his friends.
Ender is destined and required to be a leader, so he is isolated by his teacher, at the end it becomes him. When he is with others he is always the commander, the legendary warrior, even his old friendship is gone, respect him but not close or intimate with him. Friendship is not only gone, also he is not supposed to get it back, being friends with his subordinates would weaken his authority, a good leader is not supposed to do that.
He rarely shows his human side in front of others, so he is completely alone, which saddens him.
That is the price of leadership. I think that is why this book is suggested reading of many military organizations.
The movie is good but in the movie Ender could not show what leadership is about, other than being a smart and mature kid. He could not convincingly become the leader in short period of time (seems less than a month), which in book takes years.
I think the movie ends up unconvincing for adults and too serious for children.
Also at the end of movie, the reason for rescuing an infant queen, is different from the book. I would say also unconvincing. I don't think when people leaving the theater they would say "He is a good boy and did the right thing". I think most of them would think he is either stupid or naive.
It is still a good movie, just not great.