Ender’s Game is becoming a movie and I’m not happy about this. I’m happy, but I’m really not.

Harrison Ford as Col. Graff

Years ago, I was given a copy of Ender’s Game as a birthday gift (my tenth birthday, I believe). Fewer years ago, I got it signed by Orson Scott Card. Most of the years since, I’ve read that book. It’s a great story but I don’t think it can be done justice in a film.

Here’s my problem with it. The actor who will play Ender is going to be 15 when the movie is released in November. That’s really not following the book. Ender is 6 when he’s taken to the battle school. This is right after he kills a boy. While he’s at school, he kills again. By the time he does the important stuff near the end of the book, he still isn’t 15. To me, that’s important.

Part of what makes this book so intriguing is that these are kids doing horrific things. Make them older, and it’s a little more plausible.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to see the film but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be happy about it.