Assassin's Creed disappoints

Movie Title:  Assassin's Creed

Grade:  D

Rating: PG-13, 116 minutes

In a Nutshell: I’ve never played this popular video game, but I was excited to see it, because my 4 sons have played it and the movie partly takes place in Spain, where I lived for 2 years.  

This action film features actors I really like: Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender, Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, and Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons.  With such a pedigreed cast, you would think this would be an incredible movie.  Alas, it falls short, like most video game movies.

Uplifting theme: 

• Interesting question: Are people born with a predisposition to violence?  What do YOU think?
• “People no longer care about their civil liberties; they care about their standard of life.” – Ellen Kaye (Charlotte Rampling)    Sadly, I think that’s true.
• Free will, choices, good vs. evil.

Things I liked:

• The look of the movie feels like the video game.
• There is a lot of impressive Parkour action, although some of it looks fake.  The stunt work was really great.
• It's imaginative and could have been really good.
• 
  
• Things I didn’t like:

• Cal Lynch only goes into the past three times, which is lame because that’s what people are going to the theater to see, not the boring present.
• There were some scenes with a lot of annoying drum beats.
• There were a lot of dust storms that got in the way of the audience being able to see the Spanish landscape and what was happening, especially in the beginning.
• There is a lot of mumbling, making it hard to understand what everyone says.
• How exactly is that elusive Apple of Eden supposed to control free will?  And the way to cure violence and anger in the world is by killing a bunch of people?  What the…?
• The plot is pretty nonsensical and confusing with frustrating story choices.
• The movie ends with a dangling thread to set up a sequel that most people probably won’t watch.
• The editing is super frustrating, because it keeps cutting to different angles really quickly and you don’t get to enjoy the action as much.

Interesting lines:

• “Why the aggression?” – Sofia

“I’m an aggressive person.” – Cal Lynch

• “You turn to violence.  I turn to science.” – Sofia
• “Love makes us weak.” – Maria (Arieane Labed)  Do you agree with that statement?
• “Tell my father I’ll see him in hell.” – Cal
• “What do you want from me?” – Cal

“Your past.” – Sofia

• “We work in the dark to serve the light.  We are assassins.” – Cal Lynch
• “We’ve been looking for solutions. You’ve eliminated the problem.” – Rikkin

Funny lines:

• “Violence is a disease, like Cancer.” – Sofia

“Violence is what kept me alive.” – Cal

“Well, technically, you’re dead.” – Sofia

• “You’re going to lead them right to it.” – Nathan (Callum Turner)

“No, I’m going to eat it.” – Cal

• “I’m here to be cured of violence.  Who’s going to cure you?” - Cal

Tips for parents: 

• You see people being burned at the stake during the Spanish Inquisition, although the shapes aren't outlined very clearly.
• Lots and lots of fighting, stabbing, and other violence.
• There are subtitles that move pretty fast. 
• The video is rated for Mature audiences, intended for ages 17 and up.  That alone might help you decide if you want your kids to watch this.
• 1 F-bomb

@trinaboice 

The Light Between the Oceans will rip your heart out

Movie Title:   The Light Between Oceans

Grade:  B

Rating:   PG-13, 132 minutes

In a Nutshell:  DreamWorks Pictures brings the popular book of the same name by M.L. Stedman to the big screen.   With three strong leads and a story that will rip your heart out, this movie is not for the faint-hearted. 

Guys, this is a Chick Flick, but not for the reasons you might think.  If you watch this with a girl, her heart-strings will be tugging at her tear ducts and she won’t be able to shake the melancholy for a while.  I just want you to be prepared.

Light has long been a symbol for truth, so it’s interesting and appropriate that the story is centered around a lighthouse.

Uplifting theme: 

• “You only have to forgive once.  To resent, you have to do it all day, every day, all the time.  You have to keep remembering the bad things.  It’s too much work.” -  Frank Roennfeldt (Leon Ford)
• “People are responsible for their own actions and when they cross certain lines there needs to be consequences.” – Sergeant Vernon Knuckey (Anthony Hayes)
• People have long been irrational when it comes to their children.
• Sacrifice, family, parenting, love, loyalty, forgiveness, truth, choices, consequences.

Things I liked:

• Beautiful cinematography.
• I think Alicia Vikander is wonderful in everything she does.
• Michael Fassbender does a great job too and you really feel his tortured soul.  I did think he seemed too old for Alicia’s character though.  I can't wait to see him in Assassin's Creed!  Did you know he and Alicia Vikander are dating in real life?
• I’ve always thought it was interesting to see what people do for a living.
• Rachel Weisz is lovely and provides some depth to the story.
• I loved that there are no evil, malicious characters, just real people who are flawed and doing their best to live life and be happy.
• It addresses the very real emotional pain soldiers experience after war has ended.

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s pretty slow-moving.
• There is a constant sound of crashing waves and wind.
• The ending is very choppy.
• Most of the movie is covered in shades of sadness and grief for various things.
• The subject of miscarriages is a particular sensitive subject for me.  I had several and it broke my heart each time.  A mother never forgets the pain, even after many years.  If you’re still suffering from a loss, you should probably skip this movie.
• There is really no humor or levity in the film to beak up the constant string of sad moments.

Interesting lines:

• “So, what do you wish for?”-  Isabel Graysmark

“Life.  That’ll do me, I reckon.” -  Tom Sherbourne

• “You make me feel…” – Tom
• “Sins catch up with you in the end.” – Tom

Tips for parents: 

• Children and teens will be bored and not be able to relate to the sensitive emotional coaster that is parenthood.
• Awkward sex scene where you see some flesh and hear some noises.  There is also another scene where you see a lot of Alicia Vikander’s mid-section.

@trinaboice