First Look at Ben Kingsley as Rackam in Ender's Game

Ben Kingsley is the legendary Rackam, in  Ender's Game 

“It’s alchemy,” Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley told EW about the process of bringing his epic character, Mazer Rackham, to life in Ender’s Game, the film based on Scott Orson Card's sci-fi classic, currently in post-production.
“In the script, which I think is beautifully written, what comes across is the authority and mystery. There’s quite a lot said about him in the story  before you see him — by the recruits and by his fellow officers — and that’s useful as far as preparations.”
Kingsley said that a Maori tribal expert hired on by the film explained that Maori facial tattoos were historical records.  Kingsley said “Every gesture in the tattoo carries family history, family struggles – it’s your past ...I was so enthralled. He’s in quite a contained, stylized uniform but then this wonderful face tells his warrior history.”

I'm wondering how long it took to tat that, and whether it was a nightmarish daily procedure taking hours or a temporary tattoo along the lines of Henna. The latter would be so much easier but I can't imagine Kingsley would want to walk around all tatted up like that on his off hours. It makes him so fierce looking he wouldn't have to worry about having a bodyguard, that's for sure. The notion of the tattoo as historical is interesting because as I see it (literally!) it looks more like a symmetrical finished product than I would have supposed; it's not that different than a family shield or crest; except it's on your face for life.  I confess I didn't read the book when I was a kid; I wasn't much of a sci-fi fan - which is kind of strange because the only story I remember writing as an adolescent was a sci-fi story I wrote for a class assignment. I was pretty impressed with it too as I recall:)

Ender's Game, is still months away; it opens November 1. The movie stars Asa Butterfield (the orphan in HUGO) as the boy genius, Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Hailey Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin and of course, Ben Kingsley.  That's a lot of heavy weight talent for the older parts - Ford, Davis and Kingsley - which makes me wonder if this screen adaptation of the book which appeals mainly to middle school readers (ages 10 to 15 ish) is being geared to 'cross over' into the older market as well?  If you've read the book, what do you think? Interested in seeing it?