The titular creed states that, unlike most people, Assassins know that nothing is true and everything is permitted. It’s hard to imagine true believers in such a creed turning around and saying that their own lives are worth nothing and all that matters is the protection of the Apple of Eden (which holds the key to free will), since neither of those statements can be true if nothing is true, and abuse of said apple surely falls under the “everything” in “everything is permitted.” And yet, there they are, the Assassins, sacrificing themselves and their loved ones, jumping off buildings with their wrist switchblades rampant, and taking on entire armies of authoritarian Templars. Go figure. No, don’t — figuring is very much beside the point here. And besides, you might miss how good-looking the movie is, from its dusty, sun-baked rendition of 15th-century Spain, to its surprisingly fun rooftop parkour chase, to its battling-ghosts-of-the-past special effects, to its buffed-out star Michael Fassbender. Miss that, and all you’re left with is an over-cast video game movie. Directed by Justin Kurzel. (2016) — Matthew Lickona
This movie is not currently in theaters.