Before Harry Potter...

Rating: 7/10 (4 February 2020)

First of all, I have to say this: J.K. Rowling is a GENIUS. She's one of the few genius storytellers that the world should have more of. She's one of the few storytellers who created an entire universe, like J.R.R. Tolkien with Lord of the Rings or George R. R. Martin with Game of Thrones. And now, after her enormous success with Harry Potter, she writes a spin-off based off of a textbook that belonged to Harry Potter in his first year at Hogwarts: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by Newt Scamander. It takes place in 1920's New York, 70 years before Harry went to school. The visual effects of the film certainly displayed the production budget of $180 million. The money was definitely on the screen. I went to see this movie in Harry Potter apparel, complete with a Deathly Hallows necklace, expecting it to expand on the Harry Potter universe and when I came out, I was slightly disappointed. I felt like it didn't really expand on the universe and instead aimed to be its own film, which in a way is good. Don't get me wrong; it still was wonderfully whimsical, but I feel like it just didn't have that much to offer. Because of that and also its slightly incoherent and confusing story, I'm giving this film a 7/10.