David Yates' first Harry Potter movie was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), it was my favorite book in the series, but then his direction made the film seem lifeless and humdrum. It was my fear with the first Fantastic Beasts movie, but that was quirky and fun. Yates’ Deathly Hallows films and The Legend of Tarzan (2016) were also great. This sophomore movie for the Fantastic Beasts series returns to Yates’ work on Order of the Phoenix. It’s characters you know, but are now uninterested in, doing something for some reason, and other things happen. So this film is for fans of Harry Potter only.
There are new beasts, some effects, and new characters, but they may look interesting, but presented flat. Heavy plot, it all seems random, and there is nothing compelling in any of it. J.K. Rowling continues scriptwriting, but I think the failure rests on Yates putting a cohesive story on film. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald picks up where the first film left off with Grindelwald held captive in the American Ministry of Magic. It was revealed at the end that the true villain was Grindelwald played by Johnny Depp. He has pale hair and eyes with two colors. His world view is that the Wizarding World has rules that are too constraining to everyone. He is locked up for six months and it is said his tongue was taken out.
There are new beasts, some effects, and new characters, but they may look interesting, but presented flat. Heavy plot, it all seems random, and there is nothing compelling in any of it. J.K. Rowling continues scriptwriting, but I think the failure rests on Yates putting a cohesive story on film. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald picks up where the first film left off with Grindelwald held captive in the American Ministry of Magic. It was revealed at the end that the true villain was Grindelwald played by Johnny Depp. He has pale hair and eyes with two colors. His world view is that the Wizarding World has rules that are too constraining to everyone. He is locked up for six months and it is said his tongue was taken out.
The president of the Ministry, Seraphina Picquery (Carmen Ejogo) is turning over the custody of Grindelwald to Europe to face his crimes. This is the part of film that makes sense, the magical prisoner transport, in a carriage pulled by thestrals (the magical horses who can only be seen by those who have seen death). There is Abernathy (Kevin Guthrie) who takes Grindelwald’s place and helps in his escape. We get three months later, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is at the British Ministry of Magic and watching Pickett, his green plant Bowtruckle friend, then Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz) catches up to him. She is the former girlfriend mentioned by Newt in the previous movie.
Now, she engaged to Newt’s brother, Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner). The relationship with Leta and Theseus is passing and confusing in how it happened and how their love bloomed to marriage. No matter, Theseus is preparing his brother for his meeting. Newt is trying to get permission for foreign travel, but the problem in America (from the first Fantastic Beasts) makes it difficult. The solution is if Newt will become an Auror like his brother. He knows they want him to go after Credence (Ezra Miller), who had a destructive obscurus and now it’s power is inside him. Newt does not want to work for an organization that is too formal. Theseus hugs his brother and leaves him with a warning that he is being watched. He uses his magic to bring winds that knock back an Auror and then sees a black glove. Newt takes hold of the glove and apparates him to the top of a roof.
Now, she engaged to Newt’s brother, Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner). The relationship with Leta and Theseus is passing and confusing in how it happened and how their love bloomed to marriage. No matter, Theseus is preparing his brother for his meeting. Newt is trying to get permission for foreign travel, but the problem in America (from the first Fantastic Beasts) makes it difficult. The solution is if Newt will become an Auror like his brother. He knows they want him to go after Credence (Ezra Miller), who had a destructive obscurus and now it’s power is inside him. Newt does not want to work for an organization that is too formal. Theseus hugs his brother and leaves him with a warning that he is being watched. He uses his magic to bring winds that knock back an Auror and then sees a black glove. Newt takes hold of the glove and apparates him to the top of a roof.
There he meets Albus Dumbledore, now his younger form, played by Jude Law. The part is more of a cameo. His Dumbledore is dressed up in a suit rather than robes, we get a sense of what will be the later Dumbledore, but this is in name only. Dumbledore sent, kind of, Newt to America. He wants Newt to go to Paris to counter Grindelwald since he cannot take on the dark wizard. At his flat, Newt goes to check on his beasts kept in his basement, his assistant, Bunty (Victoria Yeates) is trying to watch over them. Newt has the Niffler babies, the black-furred platypus-like lil’ beasts, all put in their jewelry-filled safe. He goes to take care of the vicious Kelpie, which is a sea serpent-like beast with seaweed covering. The Fantastic Beasts are sprinkled throughout the movie, but not meaningful as the previous movie. Newt returns to his kitchen to find visitors.
This is his friends from the first movie; Queenie (Alison Sudol), and Jacob (Dan Fogler). There is mysteries why both of them are in Newt’s London home. Queenie gets angry at Jacob and leaves him. Newt uses the Mending Charm to assemble a torn card that says Tina will be in Paris. In the City of Light, Grindelwald has his followers take over a home and his most loyal lieutenant, Linda Rosier (Poppy Corby-Tuech) shows her dedication to the cause. Queenie’s sister, Tina (Katherine Waterson) is also in Paris trying to find Credence. It would be interesting to see if she was assigned to Paris on the possible threat of Grindelwald on MACUSA, but she is just there. She uses a magical entrance to the Paris magical world and finds Circus Arcanus. It is run by Skender (Olafur Darri Olafsson) who is not the Greatest Showman. At the circus is Credence and his friend, an Asian woman played by Claudia Kim named Nagini. She is a Maledictus who can transform into a snake and we know later that Nagini ends up with Voldemort. How did Credence end up in the circus? A question that we have to pass up to get on the dense story.
Credence arranges for their escape with a Chinese Zouwu, a beast with a cat head, fangs, and a long, ruffled tail. Strange how Skender loses his two biggest performers and doesn’t seem to mind. Also, if Credence was showcased, then why is it difficult to find him? Tina meets with another wizard looking for Credence, Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam). Newt makes the crossing with Jacob to Paris using a Portkey. My favorite scene is Newt using magic to trace Tina’s trail with the help of the Niffler. They have to find Tina and also Credence. So there are several storylines going on; Newt and Jacob, Credence who is trying to find his birth parents with Nagini, Queenie who is trying to find Tina, and Grindelwald and his plans. We have a return to Hogwarts (seen in the trailer) and more secrets are revealed. I like the actors and the characters, including the new characters, but the film gives them no place to go. I will also say the costumes designed by Collen Atwood are brilliant and completely beautiful. I like the Wizarding World though and this movie gives just enough spectacle for me.
Three Wands out of Five!
#FantasticBeasts, #ProtectTheSecrets, #ZoeKravitz, #ClaudiaKim
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