Sorrosyss
01-02-2017, 11:48 PM
http://i.imgur.com/PXuWQFO.png
The Assassin's Creed movie brought us all some new lore to enjoy. A number of events occur during the movie, which will affect the playing field of the Modern Day going forwards. However, not all of the movie's lore makes absolute sense, and in some regards contradicts the existing franchise lore.
To this end, following on from watching the movie I elected to read the Novelization for any further insights. Based on the original screenplay, and likely forming part of potential deleted scenes, the Novelization does bring a number of new lines of dialogue between Sofia and Callum, and greatly expands on the characterization of the other captive assassins (Moussa, Nathan, Lin, and Emir).
Lets have a look then at some of the stand out moments from both sources and try to make sense of them. If you haven't watched the movie, then I'd strongly urge you to do so because there are major spoilers below.
The Apple of Eden
http://i.imgur.com/n0huDSh.png
War, religious persecution - and the closest Father Torquemada or any of our order came to finding the Apple.
- Ellen Kaye
For the majority of existing AC fans, the Apple of Eden within the movie has caused a great deal of confusion - more specifically as to why the Templars are acting like its the only one in existence. By all accounts, there were at least 12 Apples created by the First Civilization, and honestly likely far more that we do not even know of.
Alan Rikkin's reaction is especially strange, considering he was well aware of the situation with Desmond Miles. He and Vidic spoke at length on the Animus project, and there is no way he didn't review the security cameras when Desmond stormed through an Abstergo building wielding an Apple in plain sight. Why then does he refer to it as the Apple?
One possibility is that news of the Apples was suppressed. This would explain as to why the Elders knew nothing of them, and if it was indeed kept to the inner circle of Abstergo it would explain why Alan even feigns ignorance in front of Sofia as well. But even so, Al Mualim and Rodrigo Borgia both came into possession of an Apple, and even Abstergo itself had an Apple of its own to insert into their infamous Eye Satellite program - before they blew it up in Denver in 2011.
Another possibility is that they are literally referring to the Apple of Eden stolen by Eve herself. This in itself does not make much sense either, as we see two separate Apples within the Truth video of AC2. So it was not unique to the site at all. I suppose there might be some unique ability to the Eve version that we are not aware of, such as in the movie it appears to give off a green aura, but we remain pretty much in the dark as to its absolute abilities.
There is always the possibility that the movie writers just wanted to retell the Desmond story and decided to do away with the other Apples for a storytelling boon, but as stated this literally flies in the face of existing lore.
Another oddity is that the Apple in the movie appears red in colour in the Spanish timeframe, yet later in the modern day it appears to be both smaller and silver in appearance. There is no explanation given for this in the Novelization either. If there truly was one Apple - why are there several different versions mocked up as models within Sofia's office?
From a fan standpoint, the Apple situation is a bit of a mess honestly.
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that the situation with the Apple was a script mistake, most likely caused by different script versions.
Rikkin and its Pronunciation
http://i.imgur.com/qqhfBkY.png
As we hear from the ending of Syndicate, the surname has always been pronounced 'Rick-in'. (Listen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv4XjLK_Xog&feature=youtu.be&t=193)) How on earth we ended up with 'Rye-kin' is beyond me. But it bothers me. :p
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that this was a mistake, and canonically the pronunciation should be "Rick-in."
The Ring Finger
http://i.imgur.com/Xvq2W5q.png
Why were the Spanish Assassins still removing ring fingers? Its a strange oddity, when you factor in that Altair had already put in motion a way to stop the practice hundreds of years earlier. That plus other cells, such as the Italians, would scorch the finger instead of amputation. The Spanish even had grappling hooks in terms of technology, so I find it odd that they would not be aware of the current Assassin practices. I suppose they could have continued to remove fingers for purely nostalgic reasons or as an initiation test, but there was no need to do it for Aguilar's hidden blades for certain. After all, Callum used the exact same blades in the modern day with zero issue. Plus they only did one of Aguilar's hands. Oddness.
UPDATE: The official Assassin's Creed Facebook page pretty much confirmed (http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/1543991-Assassin-s-Creed-Movie-amp-Novelization-Lore-Analysis-Oddities-amp-Mystery-(Spoilers)?p=12157980&viewfull=1#post12157980) that it was for 'ritual' purposes.
The Elders
http://i.imgur.com/62y1NCD.png
Not to ourselves, but to the future - give glory.
- Ellen Kaye
We always knew that the Inner Sanctum was not the highest position within the order, but we finally have a name to them. It was previously suggested that the General of The Cross was the highest rank in the Order, and that may yet still be the case. But in terms of the movie, they are the Board of Directors, with Ellen Kaye as their Chairwoman. These are traditionalists, whom prefer to display the Templar order as they truly are, and do not hide behind the Abstergo face that the majority of the world sees.
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that the Elders do not outrank the General of The Cross - nor does Ellen hold the title.
Shutting Down The Abstergo 'Project'
http://i.imgur.com/1x1eFjf.png
Speaking of Abstergo. My jaw dropped when I heard that The Elders were voting to close down the Abstergo 'Project'. I'm not sure this is a reference to the Phoenix Project, but more a reference to the Animus Project given that the Chairwoman speaks of chasing dreams with no results. Even so, the Animus project has yielded numerous Pieces of Eden, as well as an entire entertainment arm that literally brings in the company billions of dollars a year. In my view, I think Ellen views Alan as a threat to her own position within the Elders, and as such was planning on taking forthright action to prevent his ascension. Thats how I decided to read it anyway.
An End to Violence
http://i.imgur.com/oOp7HNG.png
The Rikkin's stated aim. I couldn't help but have flashbacks to the movie Clockwork Orange, where the government attempts to control aggression by the use of mind bending drugs. Here we apparently have the 'Seeds of Man's First Disobedience' within the Apple, which apparently means that the genetic code to free will is encased within the Apple of Eden.
I find it somewhat ironic then, that they require Callum to enter the Animus purely of his own free will. Surely thats a bit of a dichotomy right there...
Why the Animus?
http://i.imgur.com/FpTSrAu.png
Speaking of the Animus. The Rikkin's state that they need Callum to find the Apple. Except they don't.
We learn from the Novelization that Sofia has actually participated in the creation of most of the Animus chairs for the past few decades, and is fully aware of the video games that were created from the technology. In short, Helix.
Helix allows an entire bloodline to be explored without the need for a living subject, purely from a DNA or blood sample. We have known this within the lore since Black Flag in 2013, and it was made even more abundantly clear with the release of Unity when Abstergo made the unit an actual marketed games console in 2014.
Beyond wanting the nostalgia from the original game perhaps, there was literally no reason for an Animus to be used. At all. The Heresy novel tried to make the case that a more hands on approach in the Animus can yield extra secrets, but when an entire DNA timeline can be mapped out within Helix with no involvement required, it smacks more of the novel simply trying to justify the appearance of the Animus within the movie.
UPDATE: The novel Tomb of The Khan is the first lore to be released post movie, and specifically states that the new versions of the Animus are "much faster, more stable, and reliable than using Helix." So there you go.
Why do we hear everything in Spanish?
http://i.imgur.com/9fbUxyY.png
When this was initially announced for the historical sections, it bothered me. Since the very original game, the Animus has been able to translate foreign languages into English. Why this sudden retcon? Did the latest software simply decide to drop the translation program? Most odd.
The nearest explanation I can find is that the filmmakers wanted to retain the native Spanish to give a feel of authenticity to the scenes. However, it sadly flies in the face of traditional Animus lore.
Ezio Auditore de la la la
http://i.imgur.com/U7D84Td.png
I am a friend of the Creed.
- Christopher Columbus
I thought this was a nice touch. In my view this is clearly a reference to Ezio and the Assassins Creed II Discovery game for Nintendo DS and IoS that released in 2009. Within the storyline of that game, Ezio was actually in the Granada region of Spain at the same time as Aguilar and co in 1491, and even came close to assassinating Torquemada himself.
It is perhaps a sad thought that no true cameo of the great Assassin was made in the movie, given this obvious overlap in game and movie timelines.
The Black Knight
http://i.imgur.com/gQ6DHKQ.png
Ojeda, the enforcer of Torquemada's Inquisition. He wears black throughout, and is even referred to as The Black Knight. Within the Novelization, his backstory is greatly embellished with the revelation that he actually killed Aguilar's entire family - which ultimately pushed him into joining the Brotherhood.
He is a strong and capable fighter, and I wonder if this individual was actually one of the original Black Cross's within the Templar Order. The novelization also makes a point of stating that he has different coloured eyes, which immediately made me sit up and think 'SAGE'. But alas, there is little other evidence of this and I certainly don't recall the actor having different eyes within the actual film. (Feel free to correct me.)
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that Ojeda is not a Sage.
AguilarXMaria
http://i.imgur.com/r7XSqKg.png
We got the smallest of glimpses in the movie at the romance between Aguilar and Maria. The Novelization takes it a step further, revealing that she actually fell in love with him prior to him joining the order. I always wondered why she evidently has no surname, and I have the suggestion that she may actually be Aguilar's actual wife all along.
She passes the necklace from her own parents to Aguilar, shortly before her death. This is ultimately the one and the same necklace that Callum is given within the film, having been passed down through the ages.
The 'Other' Modern Assassins
http://i.imgur.com/uY9RWl2.png
Within the Novelization, the four other modern day Assassins that are held within the Madrid facility are given far more characterization. We even learn as to whom they are related to, and we even get a regression scene for each of the historical assassins as well. If there are deleted scenes within the DVD/Blu Ray, I can guarantee it will feature these characters, particularly Moussa who has a fun scene with one of the guards.
Moussa / Baptiste
http://i.imgur.com/B6Awuik.png
Nathan / Duncan Walpole
http://i.imgur.com/mNd30wV.png
Lin / Shao Jun
http://i.imgur.com/njxd3gv.png
Emir / Yusuf Tazim
http://i.imgur.com/O8pckbU.png
Also, at some point there were FIVE Assassins in the ending. Hmm! The fifth was the character of Lara, whose scenes were sadly cut, but she can still be briefly seen in the first trailer.
http://i.imgur.com/FpcNbn7.png
The Bleeding Effect / The Final Hallucination
http://i.imgur.com/VPe53Xa.png
Another contentious point from the movie is what was going on once the Animus shut down, with Callum still attached. It was a very strange scene that on the face of it is very difficult to explain.
Earlier in the movie, we see 'Splitting' - which is the process by which a subject encounters a neurological split and loses their sense of identity - essentially becoming the emotionless zombies we saw in the Infinity Room. Was Callum experiencing a split over several lifetimes at once? If so, how - the Animus was essentially shut down at this point.
We see him fighting with a hallucination of Aguilar earlier in the movie, which suggests that the Bleeding Effect may be able to do far more than we experienced within the games. As other people present in the room could also see the Assassins, we can discount them as a hallucination purely of Cal's. They were also 'not memory' according to an aide.
Ok then, were they ghosts perhaps? Well, maybe. What if they were representations coming through via The Grey? Juno stated that the likes of Desmond and Clay lived on in the digital afterlife. Its a stretch, but with Callum still connected to technology it could feasibly be possible. Within the Novelization, his father appears within this scene as well, whom at this point of the film has recently been killed - which adds a little credence to this theory.
Were these ancestors all related to just Callum's DNA? Some certainly were, but its been suggested that Arno, Connor and even Ezio could be seen in the background. I doubt this is something we can really confirm without freeze framing, but if Callum was related to those bloodlines, why has he not exhibited Eagle Vision at any point in the movie (or novel)?
There is another major flaw to his DNA theory too. Why does Sofia see her own ancestor? The 'hallucination' is clearly interacting with Sofia, as she looks directly at her. If it was all coming from Cal's brain, then where on earth did she come from? Its a strange mystery, but in my mind confirms that Sofia's mother was actually an Assassin. I think she realises this, and ultimately knows that Alan was likely behind her murder. In my mind, this is why she makes no attempt to stop Callum murdering her father in the closing scenes of the movie.
In the end, the whole sequence makes little sense in the grand scheme of the lore. For now though I'm going to stick with The Grey theory.
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that the sequence was a manifestation of Cal's subconcious combined with the Bleeding Effect, which allowed him to not only see his blood ancestors, but also individuals that interacted with them - such as Sofia's ancestor.
Overconfidence of the Templar Order
http://i.imgur.com/FAwopja.png
We've won. The modern world has outgrown notions like 'freedom'. They are content to follow.
- Ellen Kaye
We know from Syndicate that London has near always been a Templar stronghold, and the Modern Day is no different. We do see some extraordinary examples of overconfidence from the Templars here though. For a secretive order to be holding a grand party at the 'Templar Hall' with visible Templar logos all over it is one thing, but then to all be openly wearing hoods to the ceremony - its almost as if they were goading the Assassins to try and have a go. And ultimately they did, with their job made so much easier due to this. I found it a bit of a struggle lore wise to believe that this ancient order could be so naive, but there we have it.
Alan Rikkin, a member of the Inner Sanctum is now dead. A fundamental blow to Abstergo, and the end to a character that has been in the lore for a decade. With Sofia to take his position, she swears to track down the Apple for The Elders, but wants Cal for herself. The novel briefly suggests of a possible romantic angle between herself and Callum, but I think she is now in a strange position that she wants to track down whom was an Assassin in her bloodline. After knowing only a life within the Templar order, she suddenly wants to know more about the 'other side'. It could make her character arc very interesting in the purported sequel, as she may end up working for both sides in a fashion.
But what of the Assassin Brotherhood? Wow, they had a big win here. They've gained three new powerful and trained assassins, as well as another Apple of Eden (presumably to go along with the one that William Miles ran off with). What next for Callum, Moussa and Lin? Will they go off to join Miles and the rest of the known Modern Day Assassins? Will we possibly see them in the next game maybe? I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Conclusion
http://i.imgur.com/oxkDSS4.png
Looking back on some of the lore inconsistencies, I suppose one reason behind the differences is purely timing. After all, development of the movie apparently began in 2011. With the game series constantly progressing, perhaps there just wasn't enough focus on ensuring that new lore changes might impact upon the movie. That and of course that the movie be given its own room to try and do an impactful story for new fans.
Having said that, Ubisoft designs and writes their games years in advance of their releases too. I'd be curious to hear how some of the lore decisions were decided upon, but I suppose if the movie really is a self contained thing, if the movies do not continue it would not really affect the future of the game series that much. Well, save the death of Alan Rikkin.
Its a shame that the movie did not really touch on the First Civilization or Juno, as I feel it could have helped explain some of the things that confused many critics (especially around the purpose of the Apple). But alas. The movie still did a great job, I just wish there had been a bit more care versus the existing lore. Still, it gave me purpose to type all this out!
Anyhoo. What did you think to these lore points? Did I miss anything else lore wise? Feel free to jump in.
===============================================
Finally, if you were interested in my thoughts on the movie overall, I posted my review yesterday but I include it below for completeness should you be interested.
Presentation
I thought the differentation between the historical and modern day portions was really well done. They both had pretty distinct colourations, with the histortical sections more warm and golden, and the Abstergo sections cold and blue. I absolutely loved the use of the Eagle for bringing us to different scenes, I thought it was a beautiful and poignant way of setting up each piece.
I really enjoyed the fight sections, and thought the choreography was really good. The parkour scenes with Aguilar and Maria, and the fighting as a team was a great highlight for me.
Sound
I was kind of cringing at the start of the film when it opened to rock music, as it felt horribly out of place. Fortunately after that it switched to a more traditional soundtrack. I was a bit hesitant when I heard it was the director's brother serving as composer, but I honestly think he did a solid job. There was some really good music in the closing moments of the movie, which fit really well. Still, I would really have liked to have heard some tracks from the games. Ezio's Family and An Uncertain Present would have blown my mind, but alas.
Sound effect wise, there was the typical fare you expected like the hidden blade sound. Nothing really outside what was expected.
Story
It was essentially a retelling of Desmond's story. There is no way of getting around that. Though having said that, I thought it did a good job of introducing the Animus concept to non-fans. I'm really not sure why so many critics had such a hard time grasping the concept. I would say that the film could certainly have used a small explanation of the First Civilization and their ties to the Apple. It didn't really cover the story of Adam and Eve, and in my view would have benefitted the movie to have explained both the biblical tale and/or that of the AC universe version. I can see why those unfamiliar with either version of the Eden story might have found the Apple's purpose a bit wooly to understand.
I would say that the movie did feel short. Pacing wise, they could and should have done more with the historical sections. For example, it was obvious that Aguilar and Maria were in a relationship, but we saw next to nothing of that. Because everything zipped through so fast, the historical sections seemed to consist of primarily action sequences. It was a shame, but at the same time I really wasn't enjoying the subtitles - especially when we had write writing on a very brightly lit scene making it difficult to read. For me, the emotional impact is lessened when its outside of a language you are familiar with and you are more focused on reading the bottom of the screen, rather than enjoying the emotional performance of the actors. In my view, the sequences should have remained in English - not to mention the fact that the Animus could always translate in the games, thus this particular retcon makes little sense.
Speaking of lore contradictions. There were a LOT. I'm going to do a proper Lore Analysis over the coming days, but I want to double check my understanding versus the novelization before I post that. Suffice to say, there were some really odd things going on here that do not tally up with existing lore. As a big lore fan, this was without a doubt my biggest disappointment with the film, as with Ubisoft's direct involvement I fully expected everything to tie up - but alas. Anyhoo, I'll save that for my next thread as there is a lot to cover on the lore side.
As for the modern day, I enjoyed it. I thought the Bleeding Effect scenes translated well from the games. I quite liked Sofia (even though her accent was all over the place lol), and even Alan was quite fun. I was genuinely shocked that they killed off such a major character, as he has been around since the very original game. Felt a bit of a poor exit for such a big name. Still, the quest for eliminating aggression and violence kind of mirrored what Vidic was alluding to in the early games, so that was a nice touch - if a little familiar to the Clockwork Orange storyline. ;)
I thought that Fassbender did a really good job, but the way that Callum was written made it pretty difficult to like the character very much. I thought the scene with his father showed he was changing from the Animus, and in the end you could see that he was essentially reborn with a new purpose in life.
But my word, what a massive boost the ending was for the Assassins. Gained an apple, took out Rikkin in the middle of a Templar owned ceremony, and escaped into the night with three new powerful allies.
Conclusion
I enjoyed the film alot. As a fan, there was enough there to safely say that it was true to the franchise. At the same time, my love for the AC franchise is ultimately why I would mark it down too as some of the lore really got messed up here. I still felt that the new Animus looked far too goofy, the subtitled Spanish was unnecessary, and the film could definitely have benefited from being half an hour longer to give us more character development. That being said, this was a solid movie, and for the life of me I cannot understand why the critics are averaging this film at 1 or 2 out of 10.
The biggest mistake for this movie is ultimately nothing to do with the filmmakers though. I still argue (http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/1381954-The-Assassin-s-Creed-Movie-Release-Date-concerns-Forums) that releasing the movie in the same timeframe as Star Wars was a fundamental mistake. I had to travel quite a distance to see the AC movie, as my nearest cinema had dedicated most of its screens to Star Wars. If the movie had released a month before or after Star Wars, it would arguably have had a healthier run at the box office. That and actually making the movie a global release - why several territories are months after the USA baffles me and will drag out its box office to cries of 'flop' from the media. At time of writing, its made roughly a quarter of its budget back, but some commentors have suggested that this will curtail the hopes of any sequel. I personally hope that is not the case, as I would love to see a sequel to fill the gaps between the games.
Converting a behemoth like Assassin's Creed to a sub 2 hour movie was always going to be a big ask. I feel that overall though, the movie succeeded. In my view, the franchise would still be far better suited to a TV series (http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/1425451-quot-Previously-on-Assassin-s-Creed-quot-The-case-for-an-AC-Television-Series-Forums) that could allow for a good 10 hours to give us proper character development and to fully explore the Animus concept and multiple timeframes and locations. If the movies do not continue, I hope that Ubisoft does not give up with the TV idea, as the movie certainly proved that the franchise can be converted to a very enjoyable medium away from the games.
I would give the AC movie, a 7 out of 10.
+ Parkour, action sequences.
+ The musical score
+ Eagle sequences and cinematography
+ Fassbender, Cotillard and Irons all did a solid job
- Spoken spanish and subtitles
- Numerous lore issues
- Too short/pacing/character development
- Movie release schedule was just awful
Thanks for reading!
The Assassin's Creed movie brought us all some new lore to enjoy. A number of events occur during the movie, which will affect the playing field of the Modern Day going forwards. However, not all of the movie's lore makes absolute sense, and in some regards contradicts the existing franchise lore.
To this end, following on from watching the movie I elected to read the Novelization for any further insights. Based on the original screenplay, and likely forming part of potential deleted scenes, the Novelization does bring a number of new lines of dialogue between Sofia and Callum, and greatly expands on the characterization of the other captive assassins (Moussa, Nathan, Lin, and Emir).
Lets have a look then at some of the stand out moments from both sources and try to make sense of them. If you haven't watched the movie, then I'd strongly urge you to do so because there are major spoilers below.
The Apple of Eden
http://i.imgur.com/n0huDSh.png
War, religious persecution - and the closest Father Torquemada or any of our order came to finding the Apple.
- Ellen Kaye
For the majority of existing AC fans, the Apple of Eden within the movie has caused a great deal of confusion - more specifically as to why the Templars are acting like its the only one in existence. By all accounts, there were at least 12 Apples created by the First Civilization, and honestly likely far more that we do not even know of.
Alan Rikkin's reaction is especially strange, considering he was well aware of the situation with Desmond Miles. He and Vidic spoke at length on the Animus project, and there is no way he didn't review the security cameras when Desmond stormed through an Abstergo building wielding an Apple in plain sight. Why then does he refer to it as the Apple?
One possibility is that news of the Apples was suppressed. This would explain as to why the Elders knew nothing of them, and if it was indeed kept to the inner circle of Abstergo it would explain why Alan even feigns ignorance in front of Sofia as well. But even so, Al Mualim and Rodrigo Borgia both came into possession of an Apple, and even Abstergo itself had an Apple of its own to insert into their infamous Eye Satellite program - before they blew it up in Denver in 2011.
Another possibility is that they are literally referring to the Apple of Eden stolen by Eve herself. This in itself does not make much sense either, as we see two separate Apples within the Truth video of AC2. So it was not unique to the site at all. I suppose there might be some unique ability to the Eve version that we are not aware of, such as in the movie it appears to give off a green aura, but we remain pretty much in the dark as to its absolute abilities.
There is always the possibility that the movie writers just wanted to retell the Desmond story and decided to do away with the other Apples for a storytelling boon, but as stated this literally flies in the face of existing lore.
Another oddity is that the Apple in the movie appears red in colour in the Spanish timeframe, yet later in the modern day it appears to be both smaller and silver in appearance. There is no explanation given for this in the Novelization either. If there truly was one Apple - why are there several different versions mocked up as models within Sofia's office?
From a fan standpoint, the Apple situation is a bit of a mess honestly.
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that the situation with the Apple was a script mistake, most likely caused by different script versions.
Rikkin and its Pronunciation
http://i.imgur.com/qqhfBkY.png
As we hear from the ending of Syndicate, the surname has always been pronounced 'Rick-in'. (Listen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv4XjLK_Xog&feature=youtu.be&t=193)) How on earth we ended up with 'Rye-kin' is beyond me. But it bothers me. :p
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that this was a mistake, and canonically the pronunciation should be "Rick-in."
The Ring Finger
http://i.imgur.com/Xvq2W5q.png
Why were the Spanish Assassins still removing ring fingers? Its a strange oddity, when you factor in that Altair had already put in motion a way to stop the practice hundreds of years earlier. That plus other cells, such as the Italians, would scorch the finger instead of amputation. The Spanish even had grappling hooks in terms of technology, so I find it odd that they would not be aware of the current Assassin practices. I suppose they could have continued to remove fingers for purely nostalgic reasons or as an initiation test, but there was no need to do it for Aguilar's hidden blades for certain. After all, Callum used the exact same blades in the modern day with zero issue. Plus they only did one of Aguilar's hands. Oddness.
UPDATE: The official Assassin's Creed Facebook page pretty much confirmed (http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/1543991-Assassin-s-Creed-Movie-amp-Novelization-Lore-Analysis-Oddities-amp-Mystery-(Spoilers)?p=12157980&viewfull=1#post12157980) that it was for 'ritual' purposes.
The Elders
http://i.imgur.com/62y1NCD.png
Not to ourselves, but to the future - give glory.
- Ellen Kaye
We always knew that the Inner Sanctum was not the highest position within the order, but we finally have a name to them. It was previously suggested that the General of The Cross was the highest rank in the Order, and that may yet still be the case. But in terms of the movie, they are the Board of Directors, with Ellen Kaye as their Chairwoman. These are traditionalists, whom prefer to display the Templar order as they truly are, and do not hide behind the Abstergo face that the majority of the world sees.
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that the Elders do not outrank the General of The Cross - nor does Ellen hold the title.
Shutting Down The Abstergo 'Project'
http://i.imgur.com/1x1eFjf.png
Speaking of Abstergo. My jaw dropped when I heard that The Elders were voting to close down the Abstergo 'Project'. I'm not sure this is a reference to the Phoenix Project, but more a reference to the Animus Project given that the Chairwoman speaks of chasing dreams with no results. Even so, the Animus project has yielded numerous Pieces of Eden, as well as an entire entertainment arm that literally brings in the company billions of dollars a year. In my view, I think Ellen views Alan as a threat to her own position within the Elders, and as such was planning on taking forthright action to prevent his ascension. Thats how I decided to read it anyway.
An End to Violence
http://i.imgur.com/oOp7HNG.png
The Rikkin's stated aim. I couldn't help but have flashbacks to the movie Clockwork Orange, where the government attempts to control aggression by the use of mind bending drugs. Here we apparently have the 'Seeds of Man's First Disobedience' within the Apple, which apparently means that the genetic code to free will is encased within the Apple of Eden.
I find it somewhat ironic then, that they require Callum to enter the Animus purely of his own free will. Surely thats a bit of a dichotomy right there...
Why the Animus?
http://i.imgur.com/FpTSrAu.png
Speaking of the Animus. The Rikkin's state that they need Callum to find the Apple. Except they don't.
We learn from the Novelization that Sofia has actually participated in the creation of most of the Animus chairs for the past few decades, and is fully aware of the video games that were created from the technology. In short, Helix.
Helix allows an entire bloodline to be explored without the need for a living subject, purely from a DNA or blood sample. We have known this within the lore since Black Flag in 2013, and it was made even more abundantly clear with the release of Unity when Abstergo made the unit an actual marketed games console in 2014.
Beyond wanting the nostalgia from the original game perhaps, there was literally no reason for an Animus to be used. At all. The Heresy novel tried to make the case that a more hands on approach in the Animus can yield extra secrets, but when an entire DNA timeline can be mapped out within Helix with no involvement required, it smacks more of the novel simply trying to justify the appearance of the Animus within the movie.
UPDATE: The novel Tomb of The Khan is the first lore to be released post movie, and specifically states that the new versions of the Animus are "much faster, more stable, and reliable than using Helix." So there you go.
Why do we hear everything in Spanish?
http://i.imgur.com/9fbUxyY.png
When this was initially announced for the historical sections, it bothered me. Since the very original game, the Animus has been able to translate foreign languages into English. Why this sudden retcon? Did the latest software simply decide to drop the translation program? Most odd.
The nearest explanation I can find is that the filmmakers wanted to retain the native Spanish to give a feel of authenticity to the scenes. However, it sadly flies in the face of traditional Animus lore.
Ezio Auditore de la la la
http://i.imgur.com/U7D84Td.png
I am a friend of the Creed.
- Christopher Columbus
I thought this was a nice touch. In my view this is clearly a reference to Ezio and the Assassins Creed II Discovery game for Nintendo DS and IoS that released in 2009. Within the storyline of that game, Ezio was actually in the Granada region of Spain at the same time as Aguilar and co in 1491, and even came close to assassinating Torquemada himself.
It is perhaps a sad thought that no true cameo of the great Assassin was made in the movie, given this obvious overlap in game and movie timelines.
The Black Knight
http://i.imgur.com/gQ6DHKQ.png
Ojeda, the enforcer of Torquemada's Inquisition. He wears black throughout, and is even referred to as The Black Knight. Within the Novelization, his backstory is greatly embellished with the revelation that he actually killed Aguilar's entire family - which ultimately pushed him into joining the Brotherhood.
He is a strong and capable fighter, and I wonder if this individual was actually one of the original Black Cross's within the Templar Order. The novelization also makes a point of stating that he has different coloured eyes, which immediately made me sit up and think 'SAGE'. But alas, there is little other evidence of this and I certainly don't recall the actor having different eyes within the actual film. (Feel free to correct me.)
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that Ojeda is not a Sage.
AguilarXMaria
http://i.imgur.com/r7XSqKg.png
We got the smallest of glimpses in the movie at the romance between Aguilar and Maria. The Novelization takes it a step further, revealing that she actually fell in love with him prior to him joining the order. I always wondered why she evidently has no surname, and I have the suggestion that she may actually be Aguilar's actual wife all along.
She passes the necklace from her own parents to Aguilar, shortly before her death. This is ultimately the one and the same necklace that Callum is given within the film, having been passed down through the ages.
The 'Other' Modern Assassins
http://i.imgur.com/uY9RWl2.png
Within the Novelization, the four other modern day Assassins that are held within the Madrid facility are given far more characterization. We even learn as to whom they are related to, and we even get a regression scene for each of the historical assassins as well. If there are deleted scenes within the DVD/Blu Ray, I can guarantee it will feature these characters, particularly Moussa who has a fun scene with one of the guards.
Moussa / Baptiste
http://i.imgur.com/B6Awuik.png
Nathan / Duncan Walpole
http://i.imgur.com/mNd30wV.png
Lin / Shao Jun
http://i.imgur.com/njxd3gv.png
Emir / Yusuf Tazim
http://i.imgur.com/O8pckbU.png
Also, at some point there were FIVE Assassins in the ending. Hmm! The fifth was the character of Lara, whose scenes were sadly cut, but she can still be briefly seen in the first trailer.
http://i.imgur.com/FpcNbn7.png
The Bleeding Effect / The Final Hallucination
http://i.imgur.com/VPe53Xa.png
Another contentious point from the movie is what was going on once the Animus shut down, with Callum still attached. It was a very strange scene that on the face of it is very difficult to explain.
Earlier in the movie, we see 'Splitting' - which is the process by which a subject encounters a neurological split and loses their sense of identity - essentially becoming the emotionless zombies we saw in the Infinity Room. Was Callum experiencing a split over several lifetimes at once? If so, how - the Animus was essentially shut down at this point.
We see him fighting with a hallucination of Aguilar earlier in the movie, which suggests that the Bleeding Effect may be able to do far more than we experienced within the games. As other people present in the room could also see the Assassins, we can discount them as a hallucination purely of Cal's. They were also 'not memory' according to an aide.
Ok then, were they ghosts perhaps? Well, maybe. What if they were representations coming through via The Grey? Juno stated that the likes of Desmond and Clay lived on in the digital afterlife. Its a stretch, but with Callum still connected to technology it could feasibly be possible. Within the Novelization, his father appears within this scene as well, whom at this point of the film has recently been killed - which adds a little credence to this theory.
Were these ancestors all related to just Callum's DNA? Some certainly were, but its been suggested that Arno, Connor and even Ezio could be seen in the background. I doubt this is something we can really confirm without freeze framing, but if Callum was related to those bloodlines, why has he not exhibited Eagle Vision at any point in the movie (or novel)?
There is another major flaw to his DNA theory too. Why does Sofia see her own ancestor? The 'hallucination' is clearly interacting with Sofia, as she looks directly at her. If it was all coming from Cal's brain, then where on earth did she come from? Its a strange mystery, but in my mind confirms that Sofia's mother was actually an Assassin. I think she realises this, and ultimately knows that Alan was likely behind her murder. In my mind, this is why she makes no attempt to stop Callum murdering her father in the closing scenes of the movie.
In the end, the whole sequence makes little sense in the grand scheme of the lore. For now though I'm going to stick with The Grey theory.
UPDATE: In a recent Reddit AMA, Aymar Azaïzia confirmed that the sequence was a manifestation of Cal's subconcious combined with the Bleeding Effect, which allowed him to not only see his blood ancestors, but also individuals that interacted with them - such as Sofia's ancestor.
Overconfidence of the Templar Order
http://i.imgur.com/FAwopja.png
We've won. The modern world has outgrown notions like 'freedom'. They are content to follow.
- Ellen Kaye
We know from Syndicate that London has near always been a Templar stronghold, and the Modern Day is no different. We do see some extraordinary examples of overconfidence from the Templars here though. For a secretive order to be holding a grand party at the 'Templar Hall' with visible Templar logos all over it is one thing, but then to all be openly wearing hoods to the ceremony - its almost as if they were goading the Assassins to try and have a go. And ultimately they did, with their job made so much easier due to this. I found it a bit of a struggle lore wise to believe that this ancient order could be so naive, but there we have it.
Alan Rikkin, a member of the Inner Sanctum is now dead. A fundamental blow to Abstergo, and the end to a character that has been in the lore for a decade. With Sofia to take his position, she swears to track down the Apple for The Elders, but wants Cal for herself. The novel briefly suggests of a possible romantic angle between herself and Callum, but I think she is now in a strange position that she wants to track down whom was an Assassin in her bloodline. After knowing only a life within the Templar order, she suddenly wants to know more about the 'other side'. It could make her character arc very interesting in the purported sequel, as she may end up working for both sides in a fashion.
But what of the Assassin Brotherhood? Wow, they had a big win here. They've gained three new powerful and trained assassins, as well as another Apple of Eden (presumably to go along with the one that William Miles ran off with). What next for Callum, Moussa and Lin? Will they go off to join Miles and the rest of the known Modern Day Assassins? Will we possibly see them in the next game maybe? I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Conclusion
http://i.imgur.com/oxkDSS4.png
Looking back on some of the lore inconsistencies, I suppose one reason behind the differences is purely timing. After all, development of the movie apparently began in 2011. With the game series constantly progressing, perhaps there just wasn't enough focus on ensuring that new lore changes might impact upon the movie. That and of course that the movie be given its own room to try and do an impactful story for new fans.
Having said that, Ubisoft designs and writes their games years in advance of their releases too. I'd be curious to hear how some of the lore decisions were decided upon, but I suppose if the movie really is a self contained thing, if the movies do not continue it would not really affect the future of the game series that much. Well, save the death of Alan Rikkin.
Its a shame that the movie did not really touch on the First Civilization or Juno, as I feel it could have helped explain some of the things that confused many critics (especially around the purpose of the Apple). But alas. The movie still did a great job, I just wish there had been a bit more care versus the existing lore. Still, it gave me purpose to type all this out!
Anyhoo. What did you think to these lore points? Did I miss anything else lore wise? Feel free to jump in.
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Finally, if you were interested in my thoughts on the movie overall, I posted my review yesterday but I include it below for completeness should you be interested.
Presentation
I thought the differentation between the historical and modern day portions was really well done. They both had pretty distinct colourations, with the histortical sections more warm and golden, and the Abstergo sections cold and blue. I absolutely loved the use of the Eagle for bringing us to different scenes, I thought it was a beautiful and poignant way of setting up each piece.
I really enjoyed the fight sections, and thought the choreography was really good. The parkour scenes with Aguilar and Maria, and the fighting as a team was a great highlight for me.
Sound
I was kind of cringing at the start of the film when it opened to rock music, as it felt horribly out of place. Fortunately after that it switched to a more traditional soundtrack. I was a bit hesitant when I heard it was the director's brother serving as composer, but I honestly think he did a solid job. There was some really good music in the closing moments of the movie, which fit really well. Still, I would really have liked to have heard some tracks from the games. Ezio's Family and An Uncertain Present would have blown my mind, but alas.
Sound effect wise, there was the typical fare you expected like the hidden blade sound. Nothing really outside what was expected.
Story
It was essentially a retelling of Desmond's story. There is no way of getting around that. Though having said that, I thought it did a good job of introducing the Animus concept to non-fans. I'm really not sure why so many critics had such a hard time grasping the concept. I would say that the film could certainly have used a small explanation of the First Civilization and their ties to the Apple. It didn't really cover the story of Adam and Eve, and in my view would have benefitted the movie to have explained both the biblical tale and/or that of the AC universe version. I can see why those unfamiliar with either version of the Eden story might have found the Apple's purpose a bit wooly to understand.
I would say that the movie did feel short. Pacing wise, they could and should have done more with the historical sections. For example, it was obvious that Aguilar and Maria were in a relationship, but we saw next to nothing of that. Because everything zipped through so fast, the historical sections seemed to consist of primarily action sequences. It was a shame, but at the same time I really wasn't enjoying the subtitles - especially when we had write writing on a very brightly lit scene making it difficult to read. For me, the emotional impact is lessened when its outside of a language you are familiar with and you are more focused on reading the bottom of the screen, rather than enjoying the emotional performance of the actors. In my view, the sequences should have remained in English - not to mention the fact that the Animus could always translate in the games, thus this particular retcon makes little sense.
Speaking of lore contradictions. There were a LOT. I'm going to do a proper Lore Analysis over the coming days, but I want to double check my understanding versus the novelization before I post that. Suffice to say, there were some really odd things going on here that do not tally up with existing lore. As a big lore fan, this was without a doubt my biggest disappointment with the film, as with Ubisoft's direct involvement I fully expected everything to tie up - but alas. Anyhoo, I'll save that for my next thread as there is a lot to cover on the lore side.
As for the modern day, I enjoyed it. I thought the Bleeding Effect scenes translated well from the games. I quite liked Sofia (even though her accent was all over the place lol), and even Alan was quite fun. I was genuinely shocked that they killed off such a major character, as he has been around since the very original game. Felt a bit of a poor exit for such a big name. Still, the quest for eliminating aggression and violence kind of mirrored what Vidic was alluding to in the early games, so that was a nice touch - if a little familiar to the Clockwork Orange storyline. ;)
I thought that Fassbender did a really good job, but the way that Callum was written made it pretty difficult to like the character very much. I thought the scene with his father showed he was changing from the Animus, and in the end you could see that he was essentially reborn with a new purpose in life.
But my word, what a massive boost the ending was for the Assassins. Gained an apple, took out Rikkin in the middle of a Templar owned ceremony, and escaped into the night with three new powerful allies.
Conclusion
I enjoyed the film alot. As a fan, there was enough there to safely say that it was true to the franchise. At the same time, my love for the AC franchise is ultimately why I would mark it down too as some of the lore really got messed up here. I still felt that the new Animus looked far too goofy, the subtitled Spanish was unnecessary, and the film could definitely have benefited from being half an hour longer to give us more character development. That being said, this was a solid movie, and for the life of me I cannot understand why the critics are averaging this film at 1 or 2 out of 10.
The biggest mistake for this movie is ultimately nothing to do with the filmmakers though. I still argue (http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/1381954-The-Assassin-s-Creed-Movie-Release-Date-concerns-Forums) that releasing the movie in the same timeframe as Star Wars was a fundamental mistake. I had to travel quite a distance to see the AC movie, as my nearest cinema had dedicated most of its screens to Star Wars. If the movie had released a month before or after Star Wars, it would arguably have had a healthier run at the box office. That and actually making the movie a global release - why several territories are months after the USA baffles me and will drag out its box office to cries of 'flop' from the media. At time of writing, its made roughly a quarter of its budget back, but some commentors have suggested that this will curtail the hopes of any sequel. I personally hope that is not the case, as I would love to see a sequel to fill the gaps between the games.
Converting a behemoth like Assassin's Creed to a sub 2 hour movie was always going to be a big ask. I feel that overall though, the movie succeeded. In my view, the franchise would still be far better suited to a TV series (http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/1425451-quot-Previously-on-Assassin-s-Creed-quot-The-case-for-an-AC-Television-Series-Forums) that could allow for a good 10 hours to give us proper character development and to fully explore the Animus concept and multiple timeframes and locations. If the movies do not continue, I hope that Ubisoft does not give up with the TV idea, as the movie certainly proved that the franchise can be converted to a very enjoyable medium away from the games.
I would give the AC movie, a 7 out of 10.
+ Parkour, action sequences.
+ The musical score
+ Eagle sequences and cinematography
+ Fassbender, Cotillard and Irons all did a solid job
- Spoken spanish and subtitles
- Numerous lore issues
- Too short/pacing/character development
- Movie release schedule was just awful
Thanks for reading!