【Saturday Cinema】"Ender's Game" Praised by US Media as "The Best Sci-Fi Action Film of the Year"
Last updated 2026-09-26 — Acclaimed by American media as a sci-fi action film with "the most spectacular special effects in recent years and deeper humanistic themes than 'The Hunger Games'," "Ender's Game" was released nationwide this week. The film is set in a not-too-distant future world where...
Acclaimed by American media as a sci-fi action film with "the most spectacular special effects in recent years and deeper humanistic themes than 'The Hunger Games'," "Ender's Game" was released nationwide this week. The film is set in a not-too-distant future world where a hostile alien race known as the Formics intends to invade Earth. Were it not for the heroic Commander Mazer Rackham (played by Ben Kingsley) of the "International Fleet," humanity would have already been destroyed. To prepare for the Formics' second attack, Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) of the International Fleet begins recruiting and training elite children, hoping to cultivate a new savior after Mazer Rackham. Among them is Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy yet tactically gifted child who is selected and sent to the "Battle School" base in outer space. There, he undergoes a series of rigorous trainings to lead his fellow soldiers, with the future of Earth and humanity resting in their hands.
"Ender's Game" was released nationwide this week. (Image provided by CatchPlay)
The film’s director, Gavin Hood, initially worried about whether he could fully convey the world envisioned by the original author. He said, "Making a film requires three key elements: compelling characters, a good story, and stunning visuals. Especially for a film of this scale, the action sequences must be grand to authentically reflect the spirit of the source material." Speaking about starring in a movie adapted from a best-selling novel that has endured for 30 years, Harrison Ford, who plays Colonel Graff of the International Fleet, said, "This film has many thought-provoking themes and messages, but it doesn't preach. Ultimately, it encourages both adults and children to reflect on our responsibility to this planet and what war really means." Sir Ben Kingsley, who plays the legendary character, remarked, "'Ender's Game' is adapted from a classic novel that almost everyone has read. The director did an excellent job staying true to the essence of the book." Asa Butterfield, who plays the protagonist Ender Wiggin, said, "Ender is a reluctant hero. He is capable, intelligent, morally grounded, and able to discern right from wrong and lead others. It’s a theme that transcends generations, and I believe it will resonate with many audiences."
Ender's Game
Ender's Game
Release Date: 2013-12-20
Duration: 1 hour 54 minutes
Director: Gavin Hood; Cast: Asa Butterfield, Abigail Breslin, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Hailee Steinfeld
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English Vinglish
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Justin Goes on a Mission
Justin & the Knights of Valour
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Release Date: 2013-12-20
Duration: 2 hours 14 minutes
Director: Grishma Dev
Cast: Sri Devi, Madhuri Bhattacharya, Priya Anand, Adil Hussain
Shashi (played by Sri Devi) is a traditional Indian housewife—beautiful, charming, and a great cook. Though she seems to have a happy life, her poor English skills are a major flaw. Her daughter often mocks her, and even her husband, Satish (Adil Hussain), avoids discussing work matters with her, leaving Shashi feeling hurt and insecure.
One day, Shashi receives a call from her sister, Manu, who invites the family to New York for her daughter Meera’s wedding. While excited, Shashi worries that her limited English won’t be enough for life there. To help with the wedding preparations, Shashi goes ahead alone. On her first day, she embarrasses herself at a café by struggling to order food. Ashamed and upset, she resolves to improve her English and secretly enrolls in a four-week intensive spoken English course without telling her family.
Through hard work and courage, Shashi goes from being too afraid to speak to gradually conversing confidently in English. Her elegance even attracts the attention of a French classmate (Madhuri Bhattacharya), who starts flirting with her, sparking a subtle romance. Her trip to New York transforms Shashi from an insecure, traditional housewife into a confident, joyful modern woman. Her daughter and husband begin to see her in a new light. She not only overcomes her fear of English but also restores mutual respect within her family.
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Release Date: 2013-12-20
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Director: Manuel Sierra
Cast: Freddie Highmore ("The Spiderwick Chronicles"), Saoirse Ronan ("Atonement"), Antonio Banderas ("Shrek"), Mark Strong ("Sherlock Holmes")
This is an adventure story about friendship, honor, and courage. Justin is a boy who dreams of becoming a knight in a kingdom where laws dominate and knights have been banished. His father is the Queen’s chief lawyer and wants Justin to follow in his footsteps as an outstanding attorney. Seeking guidance, Justin’s grandmother tells him stories of his grandfather—a noble knight who protected the king—until both were betrayed and killed by Sir Hara.
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New York, New York
Frances Ha
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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
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Release Date: 2013-12-20
Duration: 1 hour 26 minutes
Director: Noah Baumbach ("Frances Ha")
Cast: Greta Gerwig ("Romeo + Juliet")
The quirky girl Françoise lives in a Manhattan brownstone with her best friend Sophie. Approaching thirty, she still works odd jobs in a dance troupe but refuses to let go of her youthful spirit, living a carefree bohemian life in New York. When Sophie decides to move out to live with her boyfriend and gradually steps onto the path of marriage and family, Françoise faces a "separation storm" as she wrestles with reality. This film’s captivating black-and-white cinematography and brisk romantic comedy pacing not only pay homage to Woody Allen’s *Manhattan* but also carry a touch of the nimble charm of the French New Wave, lightly brushing the post-youth coming-of-age story of a millennial.
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Release Date: 2013-12-24
Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes
Director: Ben Stiller
Cast: Ben Stiller (*Night at the Museum*), Sean Penn (*Milk*), Kristen Wiig (*Bridesmaids*)
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Paris, je t'aime
Adieu Paris
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The Kiyosu Conference
The Kiyosu Conference
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Release Date: 2013-12-24
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes
Director: Not provided
Cast: Jessica Schwarz (*Perfume*), Heiner Lauterbach (*The Monster of Lake Loch Ness*), Gérard Jugnot (*The Chorus*), Jean-Yves Berteloot (*The Da Vinci Code*), Sandrine Bonnaire (*The Lightkeeper's Wife*)
An unexpected encounter is life’s most ingenious twist of fate.
Two parallel lines soaring through the sky now share the deepest intersection.
A successful German novelist, deeply in love with a Parisian architect, receives a phone call saying her boyfriend has been in a serious accident. She rushes to the airport only to realize she forgot her credit card and can’t pay for her flight to Paris. After begging to no avail, she storms the check-in counter in frustration. A German businessman named Frank, standing in line behind her, fears missing a crucial merger signing and offers to pay for her ticket. The two end up on the same flight to Paris.
Frank, a banker dealing in international mergers, and the novelist each go about their business upon arrival but soon find themselves in unexpectedly complicated situations. The writer arrives at the hospital only to find a French woman claiming to be her boyfriend’s wife beside his bedside—yet she allows her to approach and see him. Meanwhile, Frank’s merger deal with a Swiss investment group hits a snag, threatening to spark a banking crisis, and he leaves Paris in despair.
Once living perfect lives, both he and she lose everything at the peak of their existence. Fate brings them together again at a German airport, then lets them connect in Paris, sparking another whimsical and romantic cross-cultural love story as they rediscover the infinite possibilities of love and life.
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Release Date: 2013-12-27
Runtime: Not provided
Director: Koki Mitani (*The Uchōten Hotel*)
Cast: Koji Yakusho, Tadanobu Asano, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Yusuke Iseya, Miho Kanno, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Ayame Goriki, Toshiyuki Nishida, Eriko Imai, Yo Oizumi, Kyoko Fukada
A battle of wits spanning ancient and modern times is about to ignite.
A plot full of laughter and surprises—a comedy master Koki Mitani creates an unprecedented period entertainment epic.
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