Not terrible, but it doesn't quite work

Rating: Null/10 (11 May 2014)

First of all, I feel I should mention that ten or so years ago I did read the novel that this movie is based on, and I remember enjoying it. Sitting down to watch this cinematic adaptation, I did expect some elements would be cut down or eliminated entirely. Which is what happened, and the cuts made to the story really suffer. The emotional heart of the story - Ender's relationship with his sister Valentine, and the subplot about her going-ons while Ender is away - is almost entirely missing, so much so that viewers who haven't read the book will wonder why Valentine is in the movie in the first place, since she seems to serve no real purpose.
There are further cuts that make the movie suffer. The beginning is VERY rushed and will have many viewers wanting more explanation. And the movie never really gets into the head of its youthful hero (or any other character for that matter.) The cast does make a great effort, but there's not much they can do.
On a positive note, the special effects and sets are first rate - they do bring to life the backdrop of the novel. Also, I will admit that the movie is never boring - it does move along at a swift pace. But I would have sacrificed the swift speed for a story with more heart and explanation. I think that if the movie ran an additional hour (or had been split into two movies 90 to 120 minutes each), things would have been a lot better. The movie as it is kills time easily enough, but even if you haven't read the book, you'll see potential that was not fulfilled.