Released: 2016
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Carmen Ejogo, Colin Farrell
Director: David Yates
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Rated: PG-13 (UK -12A )
“What would you do if your beasts escaped?”
Hello, my name is Ella Fiore, and I am addicted to Harry Potter. Yes, that’s right. I am that kind of Harry Potter fan that is constantly waiting for more to be created so that I may visit my favorite world of all time; the Wizarding world. Although I always prefer books to movies, I loved the Harry Potter films. I was 11 when the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, came out and I was the same age as Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they started their adventure at Hogwarts. I grew up along with them and watched as the world I had read about came to life before my eyes.
Without any new books or films since 2011, I have re-read the books, read all I could read on Pottermore, purchased books about the series and have even started creating art based on my favorite books. Obviously, I wanted more. Luckily in 2016, J. K. Rowling answered my prayers with a new film based on a book Harry Potter uses at Hogwarts called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The film is directed by David Yates and the screenplay is written by J.K. Rowlings herself. As you can imagine I was thrilled.
However, watching it for the first time in 2016 I actually didn’t like it. My biggest issue was that it took place in America. When I think of the beautiful world that J. K. Rowling created, it doesn’t usually involve New York City and American muggles. I wanted to see Hogwarts, my favorite professors, Diagon Alley, and the lovely sound of English, Irish, and Scottish accents. I mean come on, Americans refer to a muggle as a ‘no-maj’. Seriously?! That’s the best we could do? And if I wanted to hear a New York accent I’d hop on the PATH train to NYC. There were other factors of course but the film didn’t catch my interest the first time around. I struggled with the pacing as well.
After giving it a second shot and realizing that perhaps my expectations were a bit too high, I began to enjoy the film and see the true potential of wonderful new adventures with amazing new characters. Seventy years before the events that began the Harry Potter books, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them follows English Wizard and Magizoologist, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne; The Theory of Everything, Jupiter Ascending), as he enters the United States of America in 1926 with a suitcase full of incredible magical creatures. After traveling around the world rescuing, nurturing, and studying magical creatures, Newt stops in New York City en route to Arizona where he plans to continue his work.
As Newt walks around the city, one of his creatures escapes and he is forced to follow the Niffler into a bank where he meets a “No-Maj” or “Muggle” named Jacob. Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler; Balls of Fury, Take Me Home Tonight) is seeking a loan for a pastry shop and instead gets caught up in the Newt’s attempt to catch the Niffler. When their cases are accidentally swapped, Jacob opens Newt’s briefcase releasing some of the creatures onto the streets of 5th avenue. This not only endangers the lives of the beasts but also attracts the attention of the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA), who has been investigating dark and inexplicable events throughout the city.
Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston; Alien: Covenant, Logan Lucky), a former Auror, sees Newt and Jacob and tries to take Newt to MACUSA for entering the U.S.A without reporting to MACUSA and bringing dangerous beasts into the country. She hopes this will help regain her position as an Auror. However, when Newt’s case is opened and MACUSA finds only Jacob’s pastries inside she is dismissed and shamed for wasting their time.
After finding Jacob and retrieving his case Newt, Jacob, Tina, and her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol; Between Us, Other People’s Children) team up to find the creatures that escaped. When Tina and Newt manage to get arrested by MACUSA, who blames Newt and his beasts for the death of Senator Henry Shaw and for working with the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, they are sentenced to death. However, with a little help from Queenie, Jacob, and some of those fantastic beasts the pair manage to escape and finally get back to the task of collecting all of Newt’s magical creatures. The dark events around the city continue. MACUSA fears more deaths and even worse the exposure of their secret world. Will Newt and his creatures be just what MACUSA needs to find the evil lurking in New York and put a stop to it?
Unlike with the other Harry Potter films where I usually favored his friends over Harry himself, Newt is my absolute favorite character in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He is awkward and uncomfortable when around humans and rarely makes direct eye contact but when he is dealing with magical beasts he is confident, affectionate, and cares for them with respect. He is on a mission to not only save the beasts but educate the Wizarding world on them. He is the excellent new hero for the wizarding world and I find him more fascinating than The Boy Who Lived. He is peculiar and socially awkward but he is brilliant. I love everything about him, right down to his clothing. His signature teal coat moves with him and almost mimics the grace of one of his winged creatures. Despite being expelled from Hogwarts he still wears his Hufflepuff scarf and even states that Hogwarts is the best wizarding school. He is not afraid to speak his mind and even calls America out on their backward laws regarding Muggle and wizard relationships, which are prohibited.
Jacob is the opposite of Newt and that is what makes their friendship so entertaining. He is charismatic, bubbly, and a whole lot of fun. Even Newt admires him and his likability. Their friendship forms fast and seems genuine from the start. Jacob does offer a lot of the comedic relief but still gets a pretty serious role when it comes to his relationship with Queenie. Queenie has the best New York accent in the film and I enjoy her sweet and wise character. She is super girly and beautiful but she is wise and resourceful and manages to help save her sister Tina and Newt from being executed by MACUSA.
Tina wasn’t an instant favorite but I enjoy her role in the film. Tina is an outsider just like Newt. She is misunderstood but passionate about her job; another thing they share. She is funny at times and I do enjoy what builds between Newt and Tina. I feel as though not a lot is shared about her in the film and hope to see her character develop more in the next film.
The 11 creatures in Newt’s case deserve an entire review just for them but I will only name a few as I want you to experience them yourselves. There are a few that we have heard in the Harry Potter books and films such as the Niffler, who enjoys stealing anything that is shiny. The Bowtruckle named Pickett is the green leaf-like creature that is usually found in Newt’s pocket. He’s kind of like his sidekick and even helps out throughout the film. The thunderbird was the stunning beast that led Newt to the USA to begin with. His name is Frank. One of my favorites is the Swooping Evil that seems to truly be a handy creature to befriend. Especially if you need to escape execution.
The score by James Newton Howard is beautiful. Hedwig’s theme is even heard a couple times throughout Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them which connects the two worlds in just the right way. You feel pulled back to the world and yet introduced to an entirely new one at the same time. Costumes and set are true to the time period and aesthetically pleasing. It offers a bit of that magical feel without being in London or Hogsmeade. It’s interesting to see more fashion and fewer robes. Because the Wizarding community must remain in this environment you get to see all your ordinary Muggle things with a magical flair.
As you may have noticed I keep referring to non-magical people as Muggles. Why? Because “No-maj” is probably my absolute least favorite thing about this entire new world. Why is it that the English Wizarding community was able to come up with an entire new term but Americans choose “no-maj” as in no-magic. I mean, I know we sometimes say Fall instead of Autumn but come on J.K. Rowling! We speak English as well. Couldn’t we get a proper word? Besides that term, I don’t think anything else truly stood out as “unbelievable” or that it just didn’t fit in.
As the first in what I believe will be five new films I believe it did a good job of setting up for the future of these characters and getting a new generation interested in the Wizarding World. I think the storyline, specifically when it came to the “villain”, could have been stronger but I believe we will see that in the second film. I look forward to seeing a young Dumbledore and other ways that the two worlds will connect.
The ending is absolutely beautiful. I really enjoyed how they ended the film regarding the four main characters. The ending left you satisfied yet intrigued at the possibility of what comes next. It was also super emotional and yes I found myself shedding tears, specifically for Jacob. If you are emotionally invested in this world then you have been warned. Grab tissues. I was content at the end of the film and I feel it could stand alone. Luckily, we have plenty of more films on the way.
It’s been 20 years since the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was sold in the U.S. which means for 20 years the Wizarding world has been a part of my life. So thank you for the adventures, J.K. Rowling. I will continue to be a fan. Always.
Rating:
Ella Fiore:
Putting my love for all things Harry Potter aside for a moment, overall I give this film a ⅘. For a Harry Potter fan starving for more of the Wizarding world, this was a great way to dive back in and I look forward to learning more via the other films. This film is also great for someone looking to get into it for the first time. You will enjoy Newt and his fantastic creatures. Muggle or No-Maj. “You are one of us now.”
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