'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' Movie Review

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
   Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is written by J.K. Rowling and directed by David Yates; it stars Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterson, and Ezra Miller. It is a spinoff/prequel to the incredibly popular Harry Potter series. After many of Newt Scamander’s magical creatures escape from his suitcase and start roaming New York City, he must track them down and stop them from causing any damage. 

   I wasn’t really sure what to expect out of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I’m a fan of Harry Potter, but I’m by no means a die-hard Potterhead. Going into this film, I had no idea what to expect. I was just hoping that it would be enjoyable and that it would have an interesting plot. It did not disappoint. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was an incredibly fun return to the Harry Potter universe.
   The thing that stands out to me the most about this film is that it is not a Harry Potter film. You can tell that it takes place in the same universe, and there are a few references here that elude to what might happen in the future, but for the most part, this film stands on its own extremely well. It connects to Harry Potter just enough to satisfy fans, but it’s just separate enough to be its own entity. This is a testament to the fantastic (no pun intended) script penned by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. She knows this universe better than anybody out there, and all of the new additions and returning themes work extremely well.
   The characters in this film are ones that I can’t wait to see again. Newt Scamander is just this fun loving guy that you actually want to be friends with. Does he make mistakes? Yeah, definitely. But you can’t get upset with him because he is just so likable. Eddie Redmayne shines in this role, and he fits extremely well into this universe. All of the side characters, particularly Jacob Kowalski and Credence Barebone, are just as interesting as Newt. Jacob, who is a No-Maj (Muggle), has no magical powers, but he makes up for that with his humorous personality. Credence, played by Ezra Miller, is a very nuanced character. He becomes an extremely compelling character throughout the course of the film, and Ezra Miller played him perfectly. There is a lot more about this character that I want to say, but I don’t think I can without spoiling anything. So, I’ll just leave it there.
   Fantastic Beasts is an extremely fun film, and there are so many factors that go into making that happen. The creatures themselves are one of the biggest. They are all so incredibly creative and original! They are intricately designed, and they don’t feel like somebody just made them up. They feel like something you’d expect out of the Harry Potter universe, and it’s wonderful.
   While this film is extremely fun, it’s not afraid to bring some of the darker tones that accompanied the later Potter films. At times it feels like it’s actually two films: the fun adventure across New York, and the serious side involving some things that I won’t spoil. However, both of these sides work very well together to make a really entertaining film.
   If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, I think that you’ll absolutely love Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It’s a wonderful return to the universe that won’t disappoint. If you didn’t love Harry Potter, you can still have a really fun time with this film. I would very much recommend Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I’ll definitely be seeing this one more than once, and I cannot wait for its sequels!
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8.5/10

   So what did you think of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? Are you excited to see its sequels? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter! It really helps! Don’t forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!
 
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