Ender's Game started out as a short(ish) story, and then was written as a novel, and then made into a movie. I've read both, but haven't seen the movie yet.
It has some very interesting themes, dealing with issues of war, psychology, guilt, fear... Definitely things believers should be thinking about and wrestling with. And this story makes you wrestle with them, believe me.
There's a major reveal at the climax, which is thatEnder hadn't been playing a game but had actually been commanding the real army and had just destroyed an entire planet and race unknowingly. At age 12. Yeah, heavy stuff.
I really love the detail in how they explain Ender's fighting tactics- it is extremely visual and very engaging!
Any thoughts from people who have read them, seen the movie, or have just heard about them?

The short story and the novel are both fantastic, I agree.

There is some disturbing content (Ender ends up killing two children of similar age-- though in both cases it's self-defense.)

As far as the movie goes, it was spot-on up 'til about the middle. Then it took a huge veering left-hand turn away from the established universe/plot of the books (and seeing how this became a series, it's a turn that renders the rest of the series impossible to dramatize) and made me very VERY angry. Very. xP

In essence, they ruined the impact of the ending (which they also modified), and shattered suspension of disbelief (it didn't make any sense how Ender could be this tactical genius and yet, with the information he was given, not understand that he was commanding the war for real. He was never given that specific information in the book.).

Long story short: watch the movie for the nice piece of filmmaking it is, but read the books for the greater emotional impact and better-realized universe.

I am interested to see the movie at some point... I like making those kinds of comparisons and thinking through the "why" behind the differences. I also wonder if some of the changes in the movie go back towards the short story...

I thought the book was very good. Pretty dark sometimes.

I liked the movie a lot also. In some ways better than the book.

I've heard a lot about it; I'm not sure it's really my kind of book, but it's on my list to read some day. I've heard a lot of bad reviews about the film, so I haven't bothered watching it up to now.

I listened to a Drama audio reading of it, and I liked it. Watched the movie as well.

There was this part where Ender was explaining to his army why and how he teaches. Mom loved it.