A wonderful re-introduction to J.K. Rowling's world of witches & wizards.

Rating: 8/10 (22 November 2016)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set seventy years before Harry Potter begins his adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Magizoologist Newt Scamander(Eddie Redmayne) arrives in New York City, in the year 1926. Newt is carrying a briefcase filled with a variety of magical creatures. An unfortunate mishap causes the briefcase to open. Due to this, some of these wondrous creatures escape & are on the loose in New York City. Now, it is up to Newt to find the creatures, protect them & put them back in the briefcase, before they are harmed or cause widespread panic in the city.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a brilliant film. J.K. Rowling has written a fantastic script. What is even more amazing is that, this movie is Rowling's script writing debut. The visual effects are enchanting. The 3D is eye-popping & works in almost every scene of the movie. All the beasts in the film look incredible & match the descriptions that are given in the source material. Though I like all the Harry Potter movies better, this film holds its own & is a worthy addition to the Harry Potter franchise. I love the fact, that we find out about the American wizarding community. One minor flaw in the movie is that, the climactic set piece could have been a few minutes shorter. The highlights of the film are the titular beasts, the humor & the performances. Eddie Redmayne is spectacular as Newt. Redmayne continues to show us his versatility as an actor. Katherine Waterston is great as Tina. Dan Fogler is outstanding as Kowalski. Alison Sudol is awesome as Queenie. Redmayne, Waterston, Fogler & Sudol share this natural camaraderie, that makes it an absolute delight to watch all their scenes together. Ezra Miller is superb as Credence Barebone. Samantha Morton is good as Mary Lou. Colin Farrell is excellent as Graves. Carmen Ejogo is impressive as Seraphina Picquery. The supporting cast is effective. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a must watch for all Potterheads. I can't wait for the sequel!