Hi everyone! I think I have turned a corner since breaking my arm. I just haven’t felt comfortable typing reviews (even though we have seen movies every weekend as usual). My arms is getting to the point where I have a better range of motion, and typing is not as much of a chore as it was – so here comes my first review since The Batman on March 7! This is the third Fantastic Beasts movie out of what is supposed to be five. I was charmed by the first one, didn’t like the second one at all, and thought this one was better, but not great. When the movies stick with Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, who roams the world looking for fantastic creatures, the movie is enjoyable. Also, Dan Fogler as the muggle baker Jacob Kowalski is a scene stealer and lights up every scene he is in. But the rest of the movie is missing something and that is saying a lot when other characters are played by some great actors, namely Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore and Mads Mickkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald. The plot, involves Grindelwald, who is manipulating people and events to seize control of the wizarding world and ultimately begin a war to destroy all muggles. There is also a secret Dumbledore child, a cute animal called a quilin (looks like a tiny deer), a bunch of look alike suitcases, and a new method of traveling by the pages of a book. This whole Fantastic Beasts franchise doesn’t seem to contain the spark, or whatever you call it, that the original Harry Potter books had in abundance. Maybe it misses the comradeship and trust of the Hogwarts students and their teachers. Maybe it’s that the plot lines are more murky and even somewhat disconnected and harder to follow. It just lacks that something special that the Potter saga has. Even so, if you liked the first movie, I think you will like this one too.
FANTASTIC BEASTS and Where to Find Them
Harry Potter fans are in for a treat with this movie! I saw Fantastic Beasts today in 3D and I would highly recommend you do the same if you can. The creatures are everything I expected them to be, magical, colorful, imaginative and cute. Eddie Redmayne is delightful as shy, nerdy Newt Scamander who collects magical animals from all over the world and keeps them in a very roomy satchel. The surprise to me though was non-mag ( American word for muggles) baker Jacob Kowalski, played by Dan Fogler, who accidentally gets involved in some classic wrong suitcase shenanigans. There is a dark side to this movie in the form of Colin Farrell and a child who is trying to suppress his/her magical side with tragic results. There is also a budding romance that I hope gets explored in the next movie (I believe a total of 5 are planned). SMALL SPOILER ALERT: I do want to give you a heads up on a fun cameo. I think without this heads up you might miss him – I only spotted this famous actor because I read about his cameo on line. Anyway, see if you can spot Johnny Depp — let me know if you do.