A Film Almost As Fantastic As The Beasts

Rating: 10/10 (20 November 2016)

As a self-proclaimed Potter-head I admit I was excited, but also a bit worried when I entered the theater. How could anyone create a wonderful world of witchcraft, without Harry?! But, I must admit, JK Rowling did it again. I was smitten almost immediately as the adorably unassuming Newt Scamander's thieving beast escaped, and from then on, the film had me.
Before I went to the theater, I hadn't read the book or even seen more than half of a trailer. I honestly had no idea of what the story was about, except that it had something to do with some pretty Fantastic Beasts. I had no idea of the heart-warming, action and suspense packed, incredibly filmed, tale of fantasy that awaited me.
First, I want to talk about the story. Without the adventure that Rowling created, the film would have been beautiful but boring. The story perfectly weaves magic from Potter world we know, with the old- time-y feel of 1926, while also incorporating more than enough action and suspense to keep us on the edge of our seats, while the heartwarming story of a young man and his beasts. As JK Rowling's premier screenplay, she did fantastically- as the name implies.
The wonder of the film doesn't end at the plot. The cinematography was beautifully curated to present us an entirely new era of the wizarding world. The special effects gave us some of the most fantastic creatures that our minds could comprehend, while also feeling so real that the viewers couldn't be anything but fully engaged. The actors were also perfectly chosen for their roles, and fully embodied the characters they transformed into.
Overall, I was impressed. The seemed to be almost fully indented of Harry Potter, only sharing their world. This separation I think was extremely important because it leaves Fantastic Beasts room to grow and become its own series for this next generation. I can't wait to see what comes next!