Most time travel movies focus on scoping out the advancements of the future or flying back through time to change a mistake, a loved one’s death, something personal to the time traveler—but changing the course of Christianity? Now, that’s a new one.
Assassin 33 A.D. introduces the audience to Brandt (Donny Boaz), a former U.S. assassin, who quickly turns into a bitter Christian and angry alcoholic after losing his wife and two children in a car accident. He has been hired by Ahmed (Gerardo Davila), the bigwig of a research company, to be their security leader. However, when a group of young research scientists discover time travel, Brandt also discovers that Ahmed has plans to use the security team to hijack their time travel machine and change Christianity’s destiny.
Viewers find out that Ahmed’s parents, once Muslim, were converted to Christianity and martyred for their faith. Ahmed, remaining a devout, radical Muslim, wants to travel back in time, save his parents’ lives, but also discredit Jesus as the Messiah.
It’s up to the young research team to take back their time travel invention and warn Jesus of Ahmed’s attack before history changes Christianity.
Assassin 33 A.D. offers redemption through the lives of some characters, as skeptics become believers and wandering Christians find their way back home.
However, though this film introduces the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, many elements contradict well-accepted, biblically based theology. For example, in one scene, assassins shoot and kill the disciples and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and although Jesus’ life is redeemed via time travel (Sorry for any spoilers!), this idea of man having the power to take the life of Christ contradicts John 10:18 (ESV) that says, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
In addition, the idea that Jesus needs to be warned, saved, protected, etc. by man denotes His power as God in the flesh, denying John 1:1 (ESV) that says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Outside of theological issues, this film also carries a heavy amount of violence. Though blood and gore aren’t predominant, the title itself warns that people are shot, stabbed, and tazed throughout the film. And just as violence is a heavy theme, a boyfriend/girlfriend pair of researchers find room to make out in several scenes.
Assassin 33 A.D. finds a creative outlet to present their story of the Gospel, but the creativity heavily contradicts the authority of Jesus, and for those who are either new Christians or seekers of the meaning behind the faith, this film could serve as a potent deterrent and sway the foundational principles that make Christianity so beautiful.
Because of the theological confusion and biblical contradictories, this film is Not Dove-approved.
Dove Take:
Though Assassin 33 A.D. uses modern script to retell their Gospel story, much of the creative interpretation contradicts the foundational principles of Christianity.
