Based on Ubisoft's popular video game franchise, this time-tripping sci-fi film rarely rises above incoherency. The saga begins with a series of ominous biblical texts claiming that a device known as the Apple from the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden contains “the key to free will itself.” In 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, Knights Templar search for this artifact with the aim of being able to enforce peace through “the power to control all freedom of thought.” Their opponents, the secret society of assassins, are all about free will, even if that includes violence. Flash forward to Texas, where prisoner Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) is facing execution by lethal injection for murder. Instead, he's transported to an Abstergo Industries laboratory in Madrid where— supervised by Dr. Sophia Rikkin (Marion Cotillard) and her creepy CEO father (Jeremy Irons)—he is hooked up to a virtual reality/time machine called the Animus. The Animus technology enables Cal to participate, via holograms, in the actions of his genetic ancestor, a hooded assassin named Aguilar de Nerha (also played by Fassbender), who is a counter-revolutionary fighting in 15th-century Spain with his companion Maria (Ariane Labed). Their shadowy mission—which is full of parkour-like jumps off medieval rooftops—is to make sure that the besieged Sultan Muhammad XII doesn't surrender the precious Apple. Directed by Justin Kurzel, Assassin's Creed is ultimately much more about swashbuckling visuals than coherent storytelling. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include five “Take the Pledge” behind-the-scenes featurettes (41 min.), and photo galleries. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are “Deleted Scenes Conversation with Justin Kurzel and Justin Tellefson” (23 min.), “Conversations with Justin Kurzel” (21 min.), deleted scenes (16 min.), and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing movie inspired by an excellent video game series.] (S. Granger)
Assassin's Creed
Fox, 116 min., PG-13, DVD: $29.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $39.99, Mar. 21 Volume 32, Issue 3
Assassin's Creed
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