wmaher-335-94891 Reviews

Ender's Game (2013)

The Ender Effect

[9/10 · 1 February 2014]

It's hard to understand the bitter disappointment of readers who stand guard for the book series by completely trashing this excellent movie. I've watched it 3 times without the book to refer to and can't find anything wanting; not the excellent cast, direction, production design, or compelling story. It stands alongside Pacific Rim and Oblivion as one of the trio of overshadowed summer sci-fi films whose unexpected pleasures will make them favorites to the people who give them a chance on DVD. From the fan outcry I take it Ender's Game fails to deliver whatever fans found in the books and has been watered down on its way to the screen. We all know than adapting a book to a movie is a matter of translating one form to another in the same way that raw wheat needs to be processed if it is to become a cake. Different forms have different requirements and, taken on its own terms, Ender's Game is an excellent film which will have special meaning to young people who can identify with Ender's struggles, hardships, the isolation of school, the expectations of others, bullying, gaming and his own violent temper. Interestingly, other books which were changed in order to be filmed include Blade Runner, 2001:, The Hunger Games, all Harry Potter books, all Shakespeare's works, The Lord Of The Rings books, the James Bond series, Dune, 2000 Leagues Under The Sea, Pinocchio, The Wizard Of Oz, The DaVinci Code and thousands more - many of them became classics just as I predict Ender's Game The Movie will. Go figure.

I, Martin Short, Goes Home (2012 TV Movie)

Martin Short Goes Home, Sends Himself Up, I Must Say...

[7/10 · 3 April 2012]

I, fearing a bushel of Canadian corn, was surprised at how sharp the script by Martin and Michael (brother? son?) Short was and at how many great gags popped by, one after another. It was like a really tight late-model SCTV show; no sacred cows, bizarre impersonations and media parodies, a rambling "story" and no opportunity for surprise left unattended. The presence of old cronies Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, and Robin Duke could have been quaint but you'll see they all stepped their game for the occasion. If you don't know Martin's career or some Canadiana (can I really spell George Stromboulopoulis?) it will dim your amusement factor a little and there are the odd 6-point misfires to sit through (Fred Willard can't be great in everything) but the abundance of snappy 8+point moments makes Going Home worth the trip. Averages out to a 7++ in my book.