Review: Ender’s Game (12A)

The unlikely heroes of Gavin Hood’s slick sci-fi drama, who are feted to save mankind from alien invaders are socially awkward and emotionally volatile teenagers, who display brilliant tactical minds while playing hour upon hour of state-of-the-art video games.

They are called into action after a hostile alien race called the Formics invades Earth and is repelled by International Fleet Commander Mazer Rackham (Sir Ben Kingsley), who sacrifices his life to bring down the mothership.

The International Military prepares for the next attack by scouring the globe for the best young minds and bringing together raw recruits at Battle School where Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is determined to impress Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford).

Based on the books by Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game is a stirring tale of heroism aimed at young adults. Butterfield demonstrates an impressive emotional range, while Ford barks and grimaces as a warmonger, who will sacrifice everything, including his charges, to quash the alien threat for good.