Summary
Despite an incredibly successful career and some of this century’s most acclaimed projects under his belt, Michael Fassbender has one movie that didn’t quite live up to expectations - and since then, it’s only gotten worse.Assassin’s Creedaimed to bring the rich world of the successful video game franchise onto the big screen, but what followed was actually one of the actor’s worst projects to date, gathering just 18% on Rotten Tomatoes and contributing to the ongoing drought of good video game movies. TheAssassin’s Creedmovie failed for many reasons, and since its release, it’s just aged poorly.
Assassin’s Creedfollows a man named Callum who uses advanced technology to learn that he’s the descendent of a dangerous society of assassins. Using the machine, he travels back in time to learn about the people he’s descended from and hone his skills to help vanquish a common enemy. The film was critically panned for itsweak story and lackluster action sequences, but the real problem was how dramatically itchanged the story of theAssassin’s Creedgames.
Assassin’s Creed Movie True Story: Real Life History & Inspirations Explained
Assassin’s Creed portrays a variety of time periods and conflicts, however the 2016 film, and the assassins themselves, are based on real history.
Assassin’s Creed (2016) Looks Even Worse After Recent Video Game Adaptations
The Flaws Have Only Gotten More Obvious Since 2016
The 18% on Rotten Tomatoes was an accurate measure of how people felt about the film when it was first released, but in the years since, various external factors have made it seem even worse. The most glaring of these factors is the many other video game movies that have been released, which avoid all the problems that hamperedAssassin’s Creed. In 2016, there hadn’t beenmany good video game adaptations- so it was easier to cutAssassin’s Creedsome slack. But since then, many video game adaptations have actually surpassed expectations.
Sonic the Hedgehog, Gran Turismo,andThe Super Mario Bros. Movieare some of the most recent examples of great video game movies, not just because of the level of filmmaking talent on display, but because of how loyal and accurate they stick to the source material.Video game adaptations are always going to be somewhat goofy and unrealistic, but it’s the ones that embrace those quirks that audiences end up resonating with.
What Went Wrong With Michael Fassbender’s Assassin’s Creed Movie
The Film Didn’t Quite Live Up To Expectations
By that same logic, it’sAssassin’s Creed’s dedication to being grounded and realistic that ultimately made it fail. The film tried so hard to establish a plausible story with sci-fi elements and accurate depictions of history that it completely forgot why audiences wanted to see this story in the first place.The games are huge in scope, with interesting character dynamics and action that’s closely bound to the historical periodin which they’re set. Conversely, the movie provided a story that truly could’ve taken place anywhere, getting caught up with an uninteresting character and ignoring the genre’s possibilities.
The result is a convoluted mess of genres and styles that don’t fit together.
The main problem withAssassin’s Creedis that it’s mostly boring, which is something that the games always managed to avoid. This likely comes as a result of the writers wanting to provide audiences with something more grounded and realistic - but that’s not possible with such an outlandish story. The result is a convoluted mess of genres and styles that don’t fit together. What makes other video game adaptations so impressive in comparison, likeThe Super Mario Bros. Moviefor example, is their willingness to dive headfirst into the silliness of the fictional world.
What A Good Assassin’s Creed Adaptation Should Look Like
Any Further Adaptations Should Stick Closer To The Games
Although it looks increasingly likely thatAssassin’s Creed 2will never happen, there are still lessons to be learned from the failed movie. If another adaptation is made, itneeds to be more of a historical epic than a sci-fi drama. When the possibility of traveling to any period in history is present, it doesn’t make sense for the writers to waste so much time in the present day with needless sci-fi exposition.Assassin’s Creedshould be about exploring new cultures and encountering new enemies, just like the games.
Players can get lost in theAssassin’s Creedgames for hours upon hours, and that’s because the worlds are so vast and detailed. It’s less about taking down an uninspired villain and more about exploring the world around them, developing the character through their own unique experiences. This phenomenon is admittedly difficult to adapt on-screen, but it’s something that’s crucial to the essence of the franchise.Uncharted, for all of its flaws, did a good job of this. The world felt lived-in and rich, whereasAssassin’s Creedfelt like a facade for another generic good-vs-evil story.
Assassin’s Creed
Cast
Assassin’s Creed is a 2016 action-adventure film directed by Justin Kurzel. Starring Michael Fassbender as Callum Lynch, the film follows Lynch as he relives the memories of his ancestor, Aguilar, through revolutionary technology. Set within a secret society of Assassins protecting free will against a powerful Templar organization seeking control, the narrative weaves through historical and contemporary settings, illuminating ancient conflicts. The film also stars Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Irons.
