Look Kids, Magic is Back!

Rating: 7/10 (3 December 2016)

I have loved and lived Harry Potter for over half my life. I've stood in line for books and attended midnight screenings of many of the movies. As much as I'd like to talk about the books, I will restrain myself and focus only on the movies for now. I vividly remember the day I bought tickets for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 2001; that was my introduction into the world of purchasing advance tickets, standing in line for hours before a movie, and dressing up as characters, it was a whole new world and I was loving it. I can recall the first time I saw each of the eight movies over the next decade. I was practically giddy before each film and sitting in the theatre watching the Warner Bros logo fade in the sky evoked a sense of excitement that only a fan could understand. So when the incomparable J.K. Rowling announced that a feature film was being made on Newt Scamander, a character you only know about from references made in the Harry Potter series, and she was penning the screenplay herself you can imagine how excited the fans became. Is using the Harry Potter name a ploy to create a new franchise and make billions of dollars? Probably. But do we care? Not really. Give the woman a pen and paper and we'll read her grocery list.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the name of a textbook written by Newt Scamander that Harry Potter and company read at Hogwarts. A guide on said beasts was also released a few years ago for us nonmagical folk. As such this movie (and whatever is to follow) is a spin off of the Harry Potter series existing in the same universe but taking place many years before we meet young Mr. Potter. J.K. Rowling has written a new story that she plans to expand in the next four movies or so we're told. The movie begins with Newt arriving in New York City with his many fantastic beasts and is on the hunt for a few which have gone missing. Along the way he meets sisters Tina and Queenie, two witches who are well immersed in the New York magic scene and Jacob, a friendly no-mag (the American muggle lol, right?) baker, who unwillingly become a part of his journey. The unlikely team must save the city from loose beasts, angst ridden children, and a dubious ministry worker whose intentions aren't made clear until the final reels. The first half of the movie focuses solely on the beasts. And while I respect a movie living up to its title we could've used some focus on the humans as well. An actual plot is practically nonexistent as we see Newt tame the many beasts. That is not to say that you're bored. The exceptional graphics, unusual creatures, and quirky characters keep you entertained even while you're waiting for something to happen. The second half takes off well with the story moving forward and ends on a literal bang as we're carefully shown the potential this series has. Famous and very popular characters from the Harry Potter series are given a quick mention in passing evoking chuckles from fans but alas, we'll have to wait longer to see them again. You've tested our patience, Ms. Rowling. Kindly deliver what we've been promised. That's a humble request from a fan.
The characters and the actors who portray them are extremely effective and endearing. From Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander, Katherine Waterson's Tina to the utterly charming Alison Sudol as Queenie and the lovable Jacob, played by Dan Fogler, everyone's at the top of their game. Colin Farrell and Ezra Miller who play Graves and Credence respectively deserve a special mention too. It's refreshing to see a blockbuster that delivers such fine acting along with all the glitter and gloss. The director, David Yates, is a Harry Potter alum having directed the final four films in that series. He's clearly comfortable in this zone and has a genuine fondness for J.K. Rowling's ideas. It seems the writer and director have found a formula that works wonders. I only hope they don't become complacent.
This is the first movie in the Harry Potter world that doesn't have a book (not counting the beasts' guide or printed screenplay) to accompany it which causes an interesting dilemma for us fans because for once we don't know what to expect from future installments. And while I thoroughly enjoyed this film I saw the small cracks even through my fan glasses. Nostalgia and a deep desire to return to this magical work shielded me from most of them but I wanted more- I wanted more human interaction, I wanted to know the characters' backgrounds, and I wanted the story to outweigh the shine. There is no shortage of ideas here and I'm excited to see where the team take it. We know the universe but not this particular world. It's a welcome journey, one I'd like to take again. And at this point we've taken the bait. Please don't lead us astray, Ms. Rowlingbecause we'll follow you almost anywhere.
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