For younger viewers, movies are—the real world.

With that responsibility, movies—while being entertaining—should also strive to cause critical thinking—and moral examination—in those young viewers.

The film Ender’s Game does just that.

Ender’s Game is set in a future where children are selected for high-tech warfare because—as the film posits—they are better able to learn, react, and adapt—than adults are.

As in any good film, Ender’s Game exists on many levels.

On a personal level—it follows young Ender Wiggin, identified as a prodigy strategist, upwards through levels of increasingly tougher interplanetary warfare academies.

On a sociological level—it introduces Ender as a seemingly unwanted third—suggesting a government two-child policy.

On a psychological level—it examines Ender’s unique point of view—know the enemy, to defeat the enemy.

What makes Ender’s Game truly special is that it concludes with a moral question—if wars are only waged by peoples in need—then are pre-emptive wars—moral?

A friend watched Ender’s Game with his ten-year-old son—and reported that the film triggered discussion by his son about kids fighting wars—and why wars are fought—at all.

Nothing more can be asked of a film.

Be entertaining—and cause discussion—of how our world can be a better place—especially by children—who will soon be running it.