Despite the not-so-good reviews I read about this movie, and the controversy over the book's author being homophobic, I actually enjoyed watching this. This may be due to my low expectations from the start, but I think it was mostly because of Asa Butterfield (Ender). I first saw Asa in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and his performance in Hugo was memorable (I think it's those striking blue eyes) but Ender was a much more grown-up role for him and I think he did really well. Because of the heart Asa brought to the role of Ender, this movie did not suck as the review in EW had eluded to. The music was a big part of that too, I'm debating looking for the soundtrack. Hailee Steinfeld was okay... it wasn't anything like her performance in True Grit. And Harrison Ford brought a menace to the overbearing colonel Graff, but it wasn't his best role either. 
This is your typical alien invasion movie: lots of alien vs. human dogfights in the air, insect looking creatures that can't communicate with us and are here for our planet, Americans kicking ass, etc. But this does make you think about the morality of war and how children should not be soldiers. The only thing that really annoyed me is where they ended the dumb thing - setting up a big quest for the next installment. But this better not be like other movies that leave off in the middle of the freaking story and anticipate sequels that never happen. This didn't do as well in theaters as they thought it would (being a big YA fandom like The Hunger Games) so we may never find out what happens next... unless I read the books that is. I would definitely check this one out, it's good fun with a big climax at the end.
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