There's a popular theory that some books should never be adapted into films. Making the transition from the page to the big screen often doesn't end right. Well, let's go ahead and outlaw video game adaptations right now. The latest, Assassin's Creed, only kills the time you wish you had back and the money that previously existed in your wallet. While not downright stupid, the film is too silly and wastes a lot of fine Hollywood talent.
Michael Fassbender is a great talent, but even he can't hold up the lead role of Cal Lynch/Aguilar, the dual role of a criminal who experiences the battles of his old ancestor warrior through revolutionary technology. He is being sent back in time by Sofia(Marion Cotillard, who is sleepwalking here) at the orders of Rikkin(Jeremy Irons, please get a new agent), in a quest to retrieve a sacred apple of Eden. The apple can stop a force call the Templars from controlling free will. Stop me when your eyes start to roll. It doesn't make sense and probably came off better when a pair of teens were simply waiting for their games to load.
Are there some cool special effects? Sure, but after the first few scenes of wicked visuals, there's nothing mind blowing.
Does the cooler than cool Michael Kenneth Williams show up and get done with his kung fu dispensing bad self? Yes he does, as one of the ancient but still living modern warriors trying to help Cal finish his mission and stay alive. Williams will always be Omar from The Wire and Chalky White from Boardwalk Empire, an HBO legend, but he is a fine asset in most films. Here, he offers the cool, but it's not used right.
Brendan Gleeson even shows up on set to take part in this thing, as did Charlotte Rampling. I am not sure what they had in mind when the dotted line was signed, but next time these actors need to leave this nonsense of Liam Hemsworth, Jai Courtney, and a bunch of other average movie talent. As Vince Vaughn's Trent from Swingers would say, "you're better than this."
The video game faithful may find some worth in their 10 dollars being handed over, but there isn't much here for movie buffs. The action is serviceable, but doesn't hold up the dead weight plot and subpar dialogue. Fassbender isn't an action star, and should stay in better material. Director Justin Kurzel and Fassbender did a dark rendition of Macbeth back in 2015 that was ambitious if uneven and misguided. This adventure is just a dead end.
Save Assassin's Creed for the lazy night where you are temporarily paralyzed on the couch and it's 10 o'clock at night and you need something to drift away to. This movie will do the trick. The ancient warrior language, "been there seen that" fight scenes, and wasteful casting will sync easily.
Spend your hard earned cash on Manchester by the Sea or Rogue One. They give back double what this film provides.
