Ender's Game

[Riverwind (imported)]

Hmmm... Curious Guy, I might suggest you stop reading the news if you wish to enjoy certain (many) author's works. A great many authors of excellent, even morally uplifting or positive or worthy novels have disgusting personal histories.

I think it's perhaps, to use too heavy a word, dangerous to turn one's back on works of art and deny ourselves the education and personal improvement that comes from them just because we find out the creator had opinions that we disagree with.

You might find that other novels or theorems or sculptures that you presently respect and honor were in fact made by somebody who holds a precept with which you disagree; would finding that out make you reject a lifelong love for something?

I'd rather hold creations up to the light of their own value, rather than that of the creator. It's nice to look up to the author, yes, but not necessary.

After all, we all still credit and honor Henry Ford for what he did to American manufacturing even though he was a full-blown Nazi, and we (well, I) still love the classic Disney cartoons even though ol' Walt was a Jew-hating racist.

And I still like Clint Eastwood movies even if he talks to empty chairs.

You make a valid point, never judge the book by its cover.

River

[Dave (imported)]

I might not have watched ENDER'S GAME until it hit free TV in a few years.

I will watch it before that for two reasons:

1) it's science fiction

2) River has that recommendation in post #1

I read the book long ago and don't remember a damn thing about it. That's the impression it left on me -- a complete and total blank.

I think Orson Scott Card is a jerk and a fool and worse (we'll leave it at that) but if I didn't read books because I thought poorly about the author's private life then I might never read another book. There aren't that many saints writing fiction. I've read some saintly and blessed fiction and non-fiction. It's never Sci-Fi. If you like a book then you like a book. Good for you.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Dave, go back and read Ender's Game again, its a fast good read as well as a good flick.

As for the author, who cares what he is about? really?

I don't like Steven King books, but as a person he seems to be better then most.

River

[Dave (imported)]

Sorry, I read SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD and thought it OK but it was the middle of those five books and when I picked up another in the group, the first pages bored me into not buying them.

That happens with me and multiple books in a series of with the same character.

It's not you, it's me.

Same thing happened with DUNE. Spectacular story but the subsequent novels were like pounding my head off walls.

Added: do you have the EA on Hawaiian time? I just realized it. Neat! Cool! Groovy! Excellent!

[kristoff]

Sorry, I read SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD and thought it OK but it was the middle of those five books and when I picked up another in the group, the first pages bored me into not buying them.

That happens with me and multiple books in a series of with the same character.

It's not you, it's me.

Same thing happened with DUNE. Spectacular story but the subsequent novels were like pounding my head off walls.

Added: do you have the EA on Hawaiian time? I just realized it. Neat! Cool! Groovy! Excellent!

When one registers they have the option to set the time zone for anywhere in world. Once saved however the only way it can be changed is by an administrator

[Slammr (imported)]

I have read Ender's game several times, and I've read all, I think, of the following Ender books. At one time, I really liked Card's writing, but anymore, everything I've read by him is crap. He made his name and doesn't seem to give a crap anymore about his art. It's all about money.

Card is Mormon, and his political views are tainted by that belief. An author can hold whatever political view he wants, and I'll still read him, if his art is good, unless he lets those political views bleed over into his art. Tom Clancy did that in one of his books, an obvious attack on the current President (even though he had a different name) and on liberals in general. After that, I swore never to read another of his books.

Now, the asshole is dead, and he won't be writing any.

[Dave (imported)]

COMCAST OnDemand has a new gimmick…

It's called "Buy" a movie for all your devices and watch it whenever you want even months or apparently years from now (just like buying a BlueRay or DVD)

and guess what… ENDER'S GAME is on sale to "Buy" like that ($20.99 for HD and $18.99 for SD)

but it is not up for rental yet.

I'll wait.

[Slammr (imported)]

COMCAST OnDemand has a new gimmick…

It's called "Buy" a movie for all your devices and watch it whenever you want even months or apparently years from now (just like buying a BlueRay or DVD)

and guess what… ENDER'S GAME is on sale to "Buy" like that ($20.99 for HD and $18.99 for SD)

but it is not up for rental yet.

I'll wait.

You can also buy it on Amazon. It's a little cheaper there. Instead of buying DVDs, I purchase movies on Amazon and watch them on any device at any time. I did buy Ender's Game through Amazon.

[Dave (imported)]

Well I watched ENDER'S GAME tonight.

I suggest you find the largest TV possible because the special effects are impressive. Don't watch it on a tiny computer screen. It will look like shit. Find the biggest HD TV you can get and watch it in HD and Blu-Ray.

It is quite a good movie and it foreshadows at all the plot twists and turns if you watch close enough.

This is a well written adaptation with an excellent cast.

The final battle is breathtaking and the aftermath is even more stunning.

Stuff I can do my usual piss and moan at the movies.

a) I don't like children in battles and at war. Talk about messed up childhoods

b) Ben Kingsley was seriously miscast in this movie IMHO. And seriously, this is the second movie I can say that about.

c) certain characters are real bastards and kinda hateful -- IMHO (to explain is to spoil the movie)

d) This is sort of an antiwar film (and that isn't a criticism because I'm antiwar)

e) Asa Butterfield can use some meat on his bones. He's a scrawny kid. Good actor and well supported in the role.

and I have to go to sleep