Our own Lori is a big “Harry Potter” fan. She was nervous about a prequel film, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Find out if she likes the film. What about you? Did you like the film?
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
Directed by David Yates
Produced by David Heyman, J. K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram
Written by J. K. Rowling
Based on “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” by J. K. Rowling
Starring Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Carmen Ejogo, Ron Perlman, Colin Farrell
Studio Synopsis:
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” takes us to a new era of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, decades before Harry Potter and half a world away. Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything,” “The Danish Girl”) stars in the central role of Magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters.
There are growing dangers in the wizarding world of 1926 New York. Something mysterious is leaving a path of destruction in the streets, threatening to expose the wizarding community to the No-Majs (American for Muggles), including the Second Salemers, a fanatical faction bent on eradicating them. And the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, after wreaking havoc in Europe, has slipped away…and is now nowhere to be found. Unaware of the rising tensions, Newt Scamander arrives in the city nearing the end of a global excursion to research and rescue magical creatures, some of which are safeguarded in the magical hidden dimensions of his deceptively nondescript leather case. But potential disaster strikes when unsuspecting No-Maj Jacob Kowalski inadvertently lets some of Newt’s beasts loose in a city already on edge—a serious breach of the Statute of Secrecy that former Auror Tina Goldstein jumps on, seeing her chance to regain her post as an investigator. However, things take an ominous turn when Percival Graves, the enigmatic Director of Magical Security at MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), casts his suspicions on both Newt…and Tina. Now allied, Newt and Tina, together with Tina’s sister, Queenie, and their new No-Maj friend, Jacob, form a band of unlikely heroes, who must recover Newt’s missing beasts before they come to harm. But the stakes are higher than these four outsiders—now branded fugitives—ever imagined, as their mission puts them on a collision course with dark forces that could push the wizarding and No-Maj worlds to the brink of war.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” also stars Katherine Waterston (“Steve Jobs,” “Inherent Vice”) as Tina, Tony Award winner Dan Fogler (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”) as Jacob, Alison Sudol (“Transparent”) as Tina’s sister, Queenie, Ezra Miller (“Trainwreck,” upcoming “Justice League”) as Credence, two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (“In America,” “Sweet and Lowdown”) as Mary Lou Barebone, Oscar winner Jon Voight (“Coming Home,” TV’s “Ray Donovan”) as Henry Shaw, Sr., Carmen Ejogo (“Selma”) as Seraphina Picquery, and Colin Farrell (“Saving Mr. Banks,” “True Detective”) as Percival Graves.
The film marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, whose seven beloved Harry Potter books were adapted into the top-grossing film franchise of all time. Her script was inspired by the Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by her character Newt Scamander.
Lori’s Take:
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them“Fantastic” seems appropriate in describing the movie “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” This movie truly was fantastic! I’m sure my fellow “Harry Potter” fans were a bit saddened by the ending of the “Harry Potter” series but thrilled with the additional magical story of fictitious author Newt Scamander, which takes place 70 years before the “Harry Potter” story.
In all honesty I already had a mentality that the film would no where near be as good as any of the “Harry Potter” films. The first 20 minutes of the film proved me wrong and I was already at the edge of my seat anxious to see what was going to happen next. Even the simple melody that played before the beginning credits had me going from the beginning.
A promising factor that worked well in the production of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” was that it was directed by none other than David Yates, who also directed the last four installments of the “Harry Potter” series. He did such wonderful work in creating a film that is amazing separate from “Harry Potter,” while keeping the “Harry Potter” feel of the movie, and giving fans a bit of nostalgia with a few familiar spells and Hogwarts references.
One of the many things I enjoyed about this film is it expands your view of the magical world that was first seen in “Harry Potter.” In “Harry Potter,” Voldemort is said to be a threat to everyone all over the world. However, all chaos appears to only take place in London. Naturally it seems as though the magical world only exists in London even if the characters say otherwise. It’s easier to believe it when you see it. Being that London native Newt Scamander’s (Eddie Redmayne) story begins in America, the audience is more aware that magic exists in other parts of the world outside of London. I also enjoyed that in this film you get the adult wizard’s perspective. As much as I appreciate the curiosity and spontaneity of young magical adolescent characters the adventure is much different when journeyed with a skilled experienced adult wizard. In this film you experience new magic that extends beyond anything you’ve seen in the “Harry Potter” series. It’s almost as if you experience what life would be like after Hogwarts as a Wizard.
The movie takes place in 1920’s New York with a series of characters each one with their own special ability, skill, and unique personality. The setting and array of characters truly make for a whirlwind of surprises. The main character Scamander is an awkward but brilliant, and compassionate magi-zoologist who arrives to New York from the UK with a peculiar suitcase that he speaks to upon approaching the shore. Upon his arrival his plans are nearly thwarted at customs when a customs officer asks to inspect his case. From then on Scamander is faced with a series of obstacles that are keeping him from his ultimate goal. In the end he achieves beyond all that he had intended.
After watching this film, I was inclined to reread a few chapters out of a few of the “Harry Potter” books. There were a few references in the film that brought a few questions to mind. This was a very effective way to gain interest in the sequel of this movie. I very much enjoyed this film and look forward to when it’s available on Bluray. I would love to hear the director’s commentary and hopefully get a glimpse behind the scenes, as well as watch the deleted scenes. This is definitely a movie I wouldn’t mind watching a second time in the theater.