Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s adventures ended in 2011 with the last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. But on November 18, 2016, Newt Scamander brought audiences all of the magic, wonder, and breathtaking creatures that make up the world of Harry Potter. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them takes moviegoers on the adventure of a lifetime, exploring the world of witches and wizards in America with a darker and more humorous approach.
The film begins with Newt Scamander, a writer who has taken it upon himself to protect the rare creatures that are near extinction in the wizarding world. Originally from England, Scamander travels to New York, bringing chaos with him. But everything begins to change when he loses one of his beasts in a bank, where Tina, an undercover spy for the wizards and witches of NYC, sees him and tries to stop him from exposing the muggle world to their supernatural world. While Newt eventually does recover the creature he lost, there is much more to fear than a few lost animals; an evil force has been unleashed and is ready to wreak havoc on New York. With beautiful sets, plenty of wit and humor, lovable characters, and a quick return to the “wizarding world,” this is a movie fans old and young are guaranteed to enjoy.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was everything I could have hoped for as a Harry Potter fan. It was spectacular to see J. K. Rowling’s world be brought back to the big screen. While it would have been nice to see more characters from the previous movies, the new cast members were very likable and equally charming. During the movie-watching experience, there was virtually nothing to complain about, although there was one aspect of the film that I found to be a bit uneven from Rowling’s previous films. Unlike most of the Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts took a much darker and ominous tone, which took away from the usual nostalgic moments and charm that come with Rowling’s work. The film had a darker look on witches, possession, and some domestic abuse involving young children, which was slightly disturbing and not what I had expected going into the movie. That being said, this movie is aimed at older teens and adults rather than children. Other than the darker mood of the film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was highly engaging and definitely worth the watch.
Bringing readers and fans of the films back to theaters to celebrate the wonderful world of Harry Potter was a great way to ease fans into the holiday season. The movie was humorous, larger than life, and truly “fantastic.” For those looking for a little excitement and a plethora of cute and unpredictable creatures, Fantastic Beasts is a movie that you cannot miss. J. K. Rowling’s world has impressed and hooked audiences yet again.