Extra Cinema: Ender’s Game (12A)

Director: Gavin Hood

THIS generation of handheld and touchscreen champions are called into action after a hostile alien race called the Formics invades our home and is repelled at the last minute by International Fleet Commander Mazer Rackham (Sir Ben Kingsley), who sacrifices his life to bring down the extra-terrestrial 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 their talents can be honed.

Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is one hopeful, determined to succeed where his older brother Peter (Jimmy Pinchak) and sister Valentine (Abigail Breslin) failed, and impress highly-esteemed Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford).

“He’s the one,” Graff tells second-in-command, Major Gwen Anderson (Viola Davis), impressed by Ender’s progress.

“That’s what you said about his brother,” retorts Anderson warily.

At Battle School, Ender distinguishes himself and he is transferred to the Salamanders squad managed by a bully called Bonzo (Moises Arias), who won’t allow anyone to outshine him in front of the colonel.

Thankfully, Ender’s kindness and selflessness wins many friends including Petra (Hailee Steinfeld), Bean (Aramis Knight) and Bernard (Conor Carroll).

Rating: 8/10