Here is the big-screen adaptation of a present-day, time-bending sci-fi action video game series. I’ll start by saying I’m a huge fan of the games, which meant I was pretty excited to see this. It also meant there was a very large risk of disappointment. Luckily my enthusiasm was rewarded with a great film. Phew. I’m also pleased to say you don’t need to know the games to enjoy this film.

It’s the story of Cal Lynch (Fassbender) who flees home after the death of his mother. Many years later he has run afoul of the law and things aren’t looking very bright. However, his fortune changes when the mysterious Sofia (played wonderfully by Cotillard) and her father Dr. Rikkin (Irons) whisk him away to a private medical facility in Spain. They have a machine called The Animus, which harnesses genetic memory to enable a modern descendant of a long past ancestor to relive the memories of said ancestor. They need Cal to relive the memories of Aquilar de Nerha his great, great, great, great etc. grandfather in 15th century Spain. Oh, and Aquilar was one of the key members of the Assassins, a shadow organisation who protect the ideals of freedom and free will (yay!) from the tyranny and subjugation of the Templar Order (boo!).

I really enjoyed the film, there are some breathtaking visuals you need to see on the big screen, inventive and engaging action and fight sequences rounded off by an engrossing story. Though if you ever wanted to join the Assassins, you better not have acrophobia as they don’t seem to mind looking down! Exercise your own free will and come along to see this one.

This over-the-top comedy centres on Ned (Cranston), an overprotective father and CEO of a printing company. His simple life is turned upside down when the family meets his daughter Stephanie’s new boyfriend, Laird (Franco). Laird is a mega rich Silicon Valley technology entrepreneur who, among other things, is foul-mouthed, socially awkward and downright weird – a role Franco slots into very easily!

Ned and the family are visiting Stephanie for the holidays when they find out about this previously unmentioned boyfriend. Ned is soon in a panic; lost in this high tech world that is a far cry from the simple mechanical world of printing and aghast at the fact that this strange man could become his new son-in-law. So begins a battle between father and (would-be) son-in-law to convince Stephanie of the right thing to do.

Directed by John Hamburg, known for writing I Love You, Man and Along Came Polly, this is a crazy film which delivers on what it promises. Cranston and Franco are both a lot of fun to watch and, while it won’t go down in history as one of 2016’s greatest offerings, it’s an enjoyable time in the cinema.