Director: David Yates
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Runtime: 134 Minutes
Main Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Johnny Depp, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, Brontis Jodorowsky
Plot: Jack Sparrow Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and had begun his mission of recruiting wizards to his cause. At least that’s what the likes of IMDB tell me. Mild spoilers ahead this time folks, because I need to rant.
My Thoughts: I’m not mad, I’m disappointed, and I don’t know where to start so excuse the word vomit that’s about to happen. How about we start with the fact that Grindelwald doesn’t really commit many crimes in this movie? He murders a few people (I don’t know who or why) and makes some funky blue flames, but is that really what the movie is about? How about we rename it to Fantastic Beasts: Who is Credence? What is Credence? Why is Credence?
Where is the magic here? The original Harry Potter movies were beautiful stories, perfect for watching with the family over the holidays. We got a really short segment of Newt and Leta during their time at Hogwarts and oh, how I didn’t want it to end. I miss that school hall, the Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons, the huge beautiful castle. That’s all I want. Not a stretched to breaking point thinly veiled plot with some magical creatures thrown in for good measure.
There are so many characters in this movie it’s impossible to keep track of them all, and throwing in romance arcs for the sake of it only made things worse. Jacob and Tina, even Queenie were great characters in the first movie but I felt like their personalities just disappeared in FB:CoG. I did enjoy Jude Law’s Dumbledore though, I wasn’t sure about that casting choice but he really made it work.
As a normal movie sequel not part of the Wizarding World, it was a reasonably decent story that was simply half an hour too long and lacked emotion. As an addition to the Wizarding World, it was a huge disappointment for me. I’m always going to be extra critical though, I was practically raised on the Harry Potter books and movies! At the very least, it laid a lot of groundwork for the 3rd installment which I’m holding all my hopes for.
Best Bit: When we learned what Leta’s boggart turned into, it took me by complete surprise and absolutely broke me. It was a (pun not intended) fantastic bit of storytelling and it was so emotional. In fact she was my favourite character by far in the whole movie, she was so interesting! Slytherins always are though!
Worst Bit: So in the first 10 minutes we find out that the entire movie is really about finding out who Credence really is. 2 HOURS LATER we find out and honestly, was it a surprise to anyone? You can’t drag it out that long and expect your audience to not put two and two together.
Fun Trivia: Newt Scamander carries a wand, practices magic, and works for the Ministry of Magic even though he was expelled from Hogwarts, which puzzled several fans online especially since Hagrid wasn’t afforded those liberties. J.K. Rowling explained that the reason for this will be revealed throughout the series. (This made me lol. Is she going to explain all the other inaccuracies too?)
My Rating: 2 and a half Nifflers out of 5. Let’s face it, that cheeky little buggar was the real star of this movie.
Often Off Topic 
I was extremely disappointed with this one. I just couldn’t stop wondering “and that is supposed to be it?”. Let’s see what Rowling will do with the next part to save this while thing!
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Exactly! The whole movie just felt like it was setting the stage for another. Why drag this out??
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I was so disappointed too! I kept waiting for it to pick up but it just felt like a snoozefest all around. None of the magic or the charm of the first one. The whole selling point of this “series” are the beasts and we didn’t even get enough of them. I would’ve loved to spend more time in Newt’s basement with all the creatures and that assistant who never showed up again.
Sigh. And I was so excited for it too. 😦
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Exactly! I loved how Newt had gotten himself an assistant who seemed to have feelings for him, I wanted to know more about her!
It felt like the creatures in this one were thrown in last minute because they realised the movie fell into the Fantastic Beasts name!
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I wanted to know more about her too. 😦 And yes, I agree – it did feel like they were last-minute additions. What a bummer.
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I loved Leta to though not so much her flashbacks. It made me wonder who the one baby was traveling with that they couldn’t have just, “Accio Baby,” or whatever that spell is. Then that ending. Her and Queenie potentially great characters there and I don’t feel like the movie did justice to either! Loved the review.
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Omg, I didn’t even think of that with the baby. SMH. I wonder if the whole thing would have worked better as a novel? Who knows…!
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Yeah, I heard this was a really shitty film. I read a lot of the spoilers and the big reveal in the ending made go FACKING BULLSHIT!!!!! ala Iron Sheik. I think J.K. Rowling is now becoming George Lucas and the fact that there’s 3 more films coming. No thanks.
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Never have I been able to relate to Star Wars fans so much! I really hope this backlash actually reaches J.K. Rowling in time for her to do something to make the 3rd movie better.
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I still love the Harry Potter series and the books but what she’s doing is insulting her legacy for $$$$.
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“Fantastic Beasts: Who is Credence? What is Credence? Why is Credence?” – LOL
I still haven’t gone to this, I *might* see is Monday if there’s nothing else to go to but I have lost all my hype.
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Hahaha I was so hoping someone would pick up on my pun!
I’d love to read your thoughts if you do end up seeing it!
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This was not good. That final reveal was really lame indeed, like who cares? So much forced fan service in this thing too
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Oh tell me about it. So many people in my screening going “OMG look it’s the philosopher’s stone!” Like who gives a damn, we’re not thick – we know this is set in the Harry Potter universe!
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