The Beasts Weren’t the Only Things That Were Fantastic
A review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) searches for magical creatures.
I’ve always had a deep and unyielding obsession over J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, so when I heard that she was producing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them after the final Potter film was released, I’ll admit that I squealed with excitement. When I finally saw the movie after a wait that seemed like forever, I was pleased to see that the beasts weren’t the only thing that was fantastic.
In 1926, wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) takes a trip from the UK to Arizona with his suitcase that has numerous magical beasts hidden inside. While making a stop in New York, Scamander finds himself in a whirlpool of events that cause him to tumble with no-maj’s (more commonly known as muggles) who run the New Salem Philanthropic Society, the American government, and the villainous Gellert Grindelwald himself (Johnny Depp).
One of Scamander’s creatures, a Niffler, escapes and steals shining objects.
After Scamander and muggle Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) accidently switch suitcases and several magical beasts are released into New York, witch Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) and her legilimens sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) assist them in retrieving the creatures. However, once all of the creatures are found, the four friends encounter a monster more dangerous than they’d ever imagined.
As I said before, the beasts weren’t the only thing that was fantastic, and the beasts were absolutely spectacular. The story, the characters, and the graphics all together made the movie worth the wait and the time it took to watch it was well spent. Between Newt’s awkward mating dance and the continually developing characters, I was on the edge of my seat for over two hours in anticipation and excitement.
In addition to the twists and turns of the story, the movie’s graphics were magical. With every spell, the screen lit up extravagantly, and the fantastic beasts themselves were beautiful in both their design and their personalities.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was the perfect addition to Rowling’s Potter series. It added more perspective into the worlds of both wizards and muggles. I definitely won’t be able to wait patiently for 2018, when the next movie hits the big screen.
