First off, I read Ender’s Game back in highschool and absolutely loved it. I’ve re-read it twice since then and each time I enjoyed it. The last time I read it back in ’12 it really struck me just how cruel the world was that Ender inhabited.
Second, Card’s politics and religious views don’t bother me at all. So I wasn’t part of the self-righteous crowd screaming for his blood when the movie was announced. I don’t agree with everything he advocates, but it doesn’t affect my enjoyment of or critical thinking about his books.
The movie is a great companion to the book. It shows just how cruel the world, the other candidates and even DeGraff are. All the action, all the genius and all the “hugeness” of the Formics are in the movie. However, the movie IS shallow and by itself doesn’t stand very well. The whole Valentine/Peter political thing was removed and while I understood it, it made the movie just an adventure/scifi movie.
I do plan on buying this on bluray sometime and I would recommend it. BUT. Only after making the person read the book 
And there it is. My thoughts on Ender’s Game The Movie.