Not Much of the Potter Magic or Charm

Rating: 8/10 (20 November 2016)

J.K. Rowling tries her attempt at recreating the magic of her previous creation, and the results are mixed. It is full of promises, but it doesn't have the same initial level of charisma and power the first "Potter" movie had. Most of the same elements are there, but the overall feel is a bit flat. Maybe because we don't have the same contrast of innocence and impending doom we witnessed in the first of the "Potter" novels. We dive straight into a new and earlier part of the same wonderful universe, full of incredible non-human creatures, each one beautifully designed, rendered very well with the latest technology. One can look into the various "animals" and almost feel like there's a living soul there.
Now, the main characters is a diverse bunch, with some very interesting and magical performances, Redmayne, Sudol, and Fogler raising the bar for whoever joins the sequels, and we definitely want to see them become permanent parts of the ensemble. One of the things that is missing is star power because we were treated to the best of the English actors in every one of the "Potter" chapters, and there's very little of it here, until near the end of the film when Depp makes quite an entrance, hinting at darker forces and enemies to come next. If you're in for creepy looks, he, like Voldemort, delivers.
Throughout the film, we have the problem that it feels as if the performances are too restrained, with very little of the sense of wonder we saw before. Fogler manages to bring some of that back, with a funny and sweet turn as the "muggle" who can't believe what he is now seeing. The section of the film when he walks into the world of the suitcase is what we wish would spill over the rest of the film. The main danger in this film is a bit too ethereal, which has never worked well in fantasy films. If we don't have a good, tangible villain, the movie will be out of balance, and in spite of a quiet and intense turn by Ezra Miller and a very dark turn by Morton, it's a bit disappointing to see an unruly cloud, no matter how destructive as too intimidating.
Maybe this whole film is a spring board for what is coming, and if we continue with the same level of quality that we witness in this production, and if we are treated to better developed characters, we will have a very enjoyable treat. Much praise goes to the world of the 20's, with all its ugly characteristics, every web, dusty surface, ragged outfit is there. It's a bit depressing, but is showcases some of the best work done by Atwood and her colleagues. It feels like a window into a world long gone, and this where some of the true cinematic magic lies. It's so real that it takes away from the illusion of magic this type of film requires.
Overall, it's a couple of very entertaining hours, allowing us to feel like there are better things to come.