A criminal purportedly executed is in fact spirited away to a secret laboratory, where he is taught to use a nifty machine to connect with an ancestor in 15th-century Spain, a professional assassin. Just by showing up, Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard confer respectability on this uninviting, needlessly complicated silliness, but they are sorely misused. It’s creatively choreographed, and above average among video-game adaptations (faint praise), but it’s also glacially paced, gloomy, obtuse, violent, and not a little frustrating. Shameless attempt at the end to set up a highly unlikely sequel. (115 min)
Don Morton
Don Morton has viewed some 6,000 movies, frequently awake. A bachelor and avid cyclist, he currently divides his time between Tokyo and a high-tech 4WD super-camper somewhere in North America.You may also like
Space-Saving Furniture in Japan: Optimizing Your Living Space
Eight products to make the most of your small Tokyo apartment
Jasmine Thai Terrace Akasaka: A Tranquil Thai Dining Escape in Tokyo
Savor authentic Thai cuisine, officially recognized by the Thai government
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea in Tokyo
Nibble on charming treats at The Strings Omotesando
5 of Japan’s Weirdest YouTube Channels You Should be Watching
Where unhinged creativity meets strangely soothing chaos
The Best Japanese Mystery Novels to Read
Honkaku, thrillers and crime sagas — Japan’s got it all
Japan Bullet Train
Speedy and stress-free Shinkansen tickets
English-Speaking Sports and Fitness Groups in Tokyo
Find community and stay healthy through these sports and fitness groups