Dull and unengaging. A lesson in bad filmmaking.

Rating: 3/10 (27 October 2013)

Ender goes to training. Then, Ender goes to training. Then, Ender goes to training again. Then the movie ends in a way that is entirely unsatisfying.
If you are going to tell everyone that the main character is some kind of genius or prodigy, it helps to show us signs of that genius. None are shown that are convincing.
If you are going to show a character going thru training, it helps to show us that the character is actually advancing in the training. But how can he? He's a genius and a prodigy. (Compare to The Matrix, where Neo may or may not be The One).
If you are going to put a character at the center of a movie, please make sure he has some degree of empathy and isn't a dramatic lightweight. Here, Ender is unsympathetic and I never cared one way or the other what happened to him or anyone else (since everyone else is equally non empathetic).
The great Ben Kingsley is wasted. Harrison Ford looks bored.
You know a movie is in trouble when critics hesitatingly credit it for being 'intelligent' and 'full of ideas' yet still largely give it negative reviews. This is because, as the case here, the movie fails as a movie--as a dramatic, engaging experience. Instead some vague ideas are tossed around and an ending tossed on that feels entirely undeserved. Perhaps they want an Ender's Game 2--if so, let's get some real writers, directors and actors, please.