This spin-off prequel of the Harry Potter film series was indeed fantastic.

Rating: 8/10 (26 November 2016)

In 2001, British author J. K. Rowling (under the pen name of the fictitious author Newt Scamander) wrote 'Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them' and its companion, 'Quidditch Through the Ages', in order to raised millions of dollars for children's charities around the world. The books became so popular, that it was made into a film by Warner Bros in 2016, in order to replace the lost of the Harry Potter film franchise that just wrap up, a few years, earlier with 2011's 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2'. The first of many future stand-alone films in the 'Wizardly World' universe, the film directed by David Yates was quite enjoyable! Not only did it recapture the magic, but it expanded it. Everything about this movie was a breath of fresh air. It did opened up a lot of unique things to new audiences. The new characters were amazing. I like the story of a soft-spoken, awkward magi-zoologist, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he attempts to return all of the escaped magical creatures to the zoo inside his briefcase, before it spell trouble from both the wizardly world & the no-maj (non-magic world) of New York City. However, there were a few flaws with the script that J.K Rowling also wrote. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, I didn't like, how the movie had two disparate plot lines that really don't match, together. While, I like the idea of escape creatures running amok on the urban centers of the city, I really couldn't get, truly behind the other much darker, plot line about American wizard cops looking for a dark spirits that is hidden within a no-maj children. Don't get me wrong, both Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton and Ezra Miller does great acting to bring that story to life, but it wasn't what the film was supposedly built upon. After all, it doesn't make much sense that Newt would be trying to capture an Obscurus. It was a bit distracting, to see the movie switch tones, from the light-hearted relationship between Newt and his new muggle friend, Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) trying to capture animals to borderline horror, with the abusive context of an evil over-religionist foster mother and her quest to kill magic. It felt like, two different movies, being clunk together. It was very uneasy. Despite that, the pacing did work for the most part. There were hardly any slow moments in the film that I can say was dull. The action scenes with the creature features were fun to see, however the ending fight with the Obscurus felt a bit forced, and the property damage magically fixed, and the minds of the No-Maj being erased, over-convenient. Despite that, the CGI visuals works well, both in 3D and 2D. However, I would love to see more practical effects in the future. The elves look a little bit off, compare to the other films. Another thing, I didn't think the film really took advance of the American side of the Wizardly World that much, besides showing the tiresome politics of 1926. It doesn't really embrace the rich history of folklore that America, has. So, where is the mention of the Native Americans of the Wampanoag and the Narragansett tribes that they talk about it? Where is the Wampus cat?! Where is the Horned Serpent!? Where is anything? Most of all, where is the American version of Hogwarts of Ilvermorny that the marketing for this movie, made die-hard fans, to look forward, for!? Well, sadly, we don't really get to see that, either, besides a small mention by one of the supporting character, that one does existed. That's really disappointing. I get that, the fictional make-up book is first mention in small discussion between the main characters in 1997 novel 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', but come on! I really don't like the mention of names like Leta Lestrange (Zoë Kravitz), and Professor Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) being here, nor the last minute appearance of Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) who looks so out of place. Are we supposed to believe that he secretly act like a high-ranking Auror and Director of Magical Security for years, while in hiding!? Did we really need all those references to Hogwarts!? Also, while, I like the theme song from James Newton Howard. Did we really need that 10 second 'Harry Potter' jiggle!? Come on, let this movie, be its own thing, separate from the Harry Potter films. If anything, all these call backs and fan service only add to confusement of the main backstory of the 'Harry Potter' time-line. It also ruin any huge mysterious twist and turns in the future movies, since the history of what happen is already mention in the canon 'Harry Potter' backstory. Despite that, I can only, hope new characters like Jacob Kowalski, disgraced, former wizard cop Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) & bright attitude, sugary voice mind-reader, Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) return to the second movie. They were some of the highlights of this film. Overall: While, I'm not a huge fan of the 'Harry Potter' film franchise. I just happy that this movie is more than a fictitious documentary about magical animals. It was an entertaining film. Highly recommended watching.