February 12, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • Page 21 ‘Ender’s Game’ is morality tale based on Card novel by Dennis Seuling “Ender’s Game” (Summit) is a science- fiction morality tale based on the novel by Orson Scott Card. Ender Wiggin (Asa But- terfield, “Hugo”) is a loner. His classmates beat him up and his older brother bullies him. However, Ender is a brilliant strategist and dedicated student who has learned how to overcome his most potent opponents. Ender’s school is special, too. It is an outer- space training ground for cadets aspiring to careers as military commanders, who will be trained in tactics for eliminating the For- mics, an alien army of giant ant-like crea- tures bent on the destruction of Earth. Filled with eye-exhausting special effects and razzle-dazzle visuals, the film addresses the folly of war and the high cost of victory. Harrison Ford and Viola Davis co-star as evaluators of Ender’s psychologi- cal fitness and ability to lead. This is done through video game-type simulators that require split second decisions and skill. Ford’s Colonel Graff is Ender’s gruff, strict, no-nonsense mentor. Science fiction films generally focus on adults, with youngsters as mere after- thoughts if they are featured at all. Putting a teenager in the major role is a novel idea. Still, this thematically and stylistically impressive work never becomes more than a B-movie dressed up in A-movie production values. Butterfield does his best to shoulder the responsibility of hero for this intended epic, but the weight is far too great. Bonuses on the two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack include two featurettes, audio commentary, and deleted/extended scenes. “All Is Lost” (Lionsgate) appeared on a number of Best Films of 2013 lists, primar- ily because of Robert Redford’s outstanding performance. During a solo voyage in the Indian Ocean, an unnamed man (Redford) wakes to find his 39-foot yacht taking on water after a collision with a shipping con- tainer left floating on the high seas. With his navigation equipment and radio disabled, he sails unknowingly into the path of a violent storm. Using his skill, mariner’s intuition, and physical strength that belies his age, the man patches up the hull and barely sur- vives. Left with only a sextant and nautical maps, he relies on ocean currents to carry him into a shipping lane in hopes of hailing a passing vessel. Meanwhile, he must con- tend with a brutal sun, circling sharks, and dwindling supplies. Director J.C. Chandor chronicles the moment-by-moment activi- ties of the man as he does whatever it takes to survive. Some scenes are repetitive, but Redford manages to hold the viewer by facial expression and physicality. This is by no means a dialogue-heavy picture. There is a bit of initial off-screen narration by Redford, but mostly he has to rely on non- verbal skills. (continued on Crossword page) Ender (Asa Butterfield) gets advice from Col. Graff (Harrison Ford) in ‘Ender’s Game.’