Review: 'Assassin's Creed' is an Action-Packed Mess

Jacob Bock ’18 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
Assassin’s Creed opens with a text scroll explaining that a group called the Templars are seeking an ancient artifact called “the Apple of Eden”, able to control free will and end human violence. A covert organization, the Assassins, exist to stop them. Unfortunately, once invested, the film cuts away from the historical Assassins/Templar conflict to follow one dimensional protagonist Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender), a death row inmate who’s only emotion seems to be anger. After execution by lethal injection, he awakes in a science facility ran by Abstergo- a Templar run mega corporation. Under the watchful eye of Templar scientist Sophia Rikkin (Marion Cotillard) and her father, Alan Rikkin (Jeremy Irons), Cal seeks the Apple of Eden through a machine called the Animus, reliving the genetic memories of his assassin ancestor Aguilar.
Upon entering the Animus, audiences are dropped into amazing sets of a gritty, dirty medieval Spain. The ornate gothic architecture is a nice contrast to the sleek, ultramodern feel of the Abstergo facility. The historical scenes are chock full of intense parkour, chariot chases, and sword fights. Seriously, each Animus sequence is a nonstop adrenaline rush. The action even tops the highflying flair of the video games at points. Unfortunately, the continual violence prevents any real exposition from the Assassins. They have a combined total of six lines in the film, leaving their characters and motivations murky at best. The film forces audiences to root for the Assassins because they’re told they’re the good guys. However, the Assassins seem just as bad, if not worse. The Templars want world piece, albeit by misguided means, while the Assassins seem to have no goal other than to violently antagonize. Unlike the games, where they clearly fight for freedom and justice from the shadows, the Assassins in this film feel like nihilist ninjas.

Despite a majority of dialogue, the Abstergo employees don’t have any more personality. The screenplay struggles to give even the largest characters appropriate exposition. The motivations of all involved are unclear, especially the dynamic between Sophia and Alan Rikkin. No one is likable or even relatable. Callum is a screaming ball of anger surrounded by robots. The scenes in modern day are painful. As a side effect of the Animus, Callum has hallucinations of Aguilar, as if he’s calling to him from the past. It’s hard not to feel the call yourself, as the scenes drone on audiences will be begging to be transported back to the dynamic chaos of the past.
When evaluating a movie, one must take into account the elements of story and production. As a story this movie is an absolute failure, but as a production this movie aces with flying colors. The cinematography, lighting design, stunt choreography, set design, and costuming cannot be beat. It’s a shame it can’t make up for the rest of the film’s faults.
Overall Grade: C 
Watch The Trailer: [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4haJD6W136c[/embedyt]