Harry Potter fans around the world are rejoicing this week. J.K. Rowling’s screenplay–Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them–is now a movie, the first in a new series of five films. It was originally a book published by J.K. Rowling; in 2013 Warner Bros. announced that the book would be developed into a screenplay, written by Rowling herself.
The movie takes place 70 years before any of the original Harry Potter books, and it explores themes and characters that readers already know. Fantastic Beasts opens with a young Newt Scamander arriving in New York City in the 1920s. He is carrying a leather suitcase that keeps moving by itself, and as soon as Scamander’s back is turned, a “fantastic beast” has escaped into the depths of a New York City bank. In the rush, his suitcase gets switched with the suitcase of Jacob Kowalski, an aspiring baker who came to the bank for a loan. Unfortunately, Jacob is also a No-Maj, which is American for non-magician or Muggle. He has no idea what lies ahead of him.
A young woman immediately notices Scamander, and she follows him as he tries to locate his escaped creature. Eventually Tina Goldstein reveals herself as a member of MACUSA, or the Magical Congress of the United States of America. The two are both wizards, but apparently the British Scamander is violating MACUSA law. She takes Scamander into headquarters, but Scamander’s suitcase is filled with Jacob’s baked goods, not magical creatures. Scamander is released, along with a very embarrassed Tina. The two begin the search for the magical creatures and for Jacob Kowalski.
Meanwhile, a dark force is at work in New York City: that of an Obscurus, an evil force that is housed in the body of a magical child whose power is concealed. Percival Graves, an Auror at MACUSA, is trying to learn the source of the Obscurus. He believes a strange adopted boy named Credence Barebone may know the source, and the film audience can see that Graves’ intentions in learning and owning the source of the Obscurus are not all pure. However, Graves works for MACUSA. Is he working for the greater good of the magical world? Or is there more to Graves than meets the eye?
The movie is getting rave reviews from critics and Harry Potter fans alike. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 76% and IMDB rates it 8/10. CommonSense Media warns that it is appropriate for children ages 12+ due to some violence and difficult themes, saying that the “delightful but dark Potter prequel is more grown-up.” The Verge entertainment website notes that in order to understand Fantastic Beasts it is necessary to understand a lot of Harry Potter lore first, and that article details various themes and complicated references throughout the movie.
I will say, though, that it is not necessary to be a Harry Potter expert to enjoy the movie, and I speak from experience. I grew up overseas in far-flung locales like Pakistan and Brazil, and so I unfortunately missed the Harry Potter craze during my childhood. (I’m looking forward to reading it and discovering it with my own kids now.) Even though I have only a basic knowledge of wizardry, I really enjoyed the movie, which is funny, sweet, adventurous, and totally fantastical, clearly imagined by an amazingly creative mind. I’m looking forward to seeing the other installments in the series now.
My husband, meanwhile, is a Harry Potter fan; he was the one who requested we review this movie. “I thought it was great, and everything Harry Potter fans have been missing since the original series ended.” He also loved the quality of the special effects, particularly of the magical creatures themselves. He’s a veterinarian, and he took special interest in seeing how J.K. Rowling had imagined the creatures, both large and small. “I highly recommend it for all Harry Potter fans!”
Movie times: click here
Genre: Fantasy/Action
Actors: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterson, Colin Farrel, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler
Rating: PG-13 (for language and action)
Running Time: 2 hours and 13 minutes
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