Zoo Story

Rating: 7/10 (18 November 2016)

In terms of J.K. Rowling I have: read none of the Harry Potter books, seen the first Harry Potter film, read Casual Vacancy and seen the BBC adaptation, enjoyed most of all the detective novels published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. So I came to Fantastic Beasts knowing little about the magic world of Harry Potter but knowing that the locale was New York in the 1920s. For bizarre reasons best known to themselves the Multiplex at which I saw it was staggering the showtimes so that there was something like an hour between the 2D and 3D versions. I had intended to watch the 3D version but due to transport problems it had been running for some 40 minutes when I reached the cinema. Had both versions been showing roughly in tandem on adjacent screens I could have merely waited for the next screening of both versions but the 2D version would begin in ten minutes, or 50 minutes after the 3D version. Rather than wait approx 2 hours I opted for the 2D version. As it happened it was clear where the 3D print would kick in and it was still effective in 2D. Once you accept the nonsensical premise and suspend your disbelief it's a hugely enjoyable romp even if you have, from time to time, to turn back several pages to remind yourself just who this/these character(s) is/are.