Nerds rejoice over “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
Screw the critics. The Potter Generation celebrates the wizarding world!
I could write this review from a critical standpoint (and what a positive review it would be), but the truth is viewing this film skeptically would have been a waste. I am a Harry Potter fan at heart, which means that for me and many others this film is a way to delve back into, explore, and expand the wizarding world we know so well and love so much.
As a die-hard fan of the original books and movies, my expectations were excruciatingly high. But I never expected to love this film as much as I do. All my expectations were exceeded in spectacular fashion. It would be wrong of me to say that Fantastic Beasts is better than the original Harry Potter movies, but it certainly isn’t worse.
What you should know about this story is that is completely independent from any of the original Harry Potter films. Apart from small references to Grindelwald, and Scamander’s amazing Hufflepuf scarf, the two stories have little in common, and rightfully so. What we get is a new, interesting, exciting adventure, without touching and changing the story we love, in a world we know, yet has so much more to offer.
Speaking of this world, the wonderous wizarding world is easily the most beloved, most amazing aspect of this film. I was surprised by how realistically J.K Rowling paints the American wizarding community differently from the European community, as well as how she perfectly respects the time period the story is set in, all without altering the way we look at the wizarding world as we know it from Harry Potter. Every new creature, every never before mentioned magical concept we see is different, new, yet so familiar, and always absolutely extraordinary.
Not only is the concept of this world amazing, but the execution is too. David Yates made a work of art out of every setting, vibrant and alive. Every frame gives the audience a sense of wonder, as well as a sense of adventure. The visuals always manage to impress as well as aid the story by setting the tone for the scene flawlessly.
So the world is fascinating, but everyone in it was excellent as well. The characters were interesting, and portrayed admirably. I love how all character were exactly what they needed to be, and nothing more. Nothing was overplayed, there were no layered performances where layers weren’t needed. The entire cast did precisely was they had to. I could start naming my favorite performances, but a link to the complete cast overview would do the same.
So the visuals are great, the cast is great, but what I didn’t expect to love to such an extend is the soundtrack. The score completely blew me away. Not in the sense that the music is good (even the music in Suicide Squad is good) but in the sense that it adds so much to the story. The music elevates the story to the extend that any given scene wouldn’t nearly have the same emotional impact without it. The film has action, adventure, and wonder, but without the music it wouldn’t have any heart. James Newton Howard is a composer a certainly hope to hear more from.
Unfortunately, where the film scores the least is the plot and the pacing. The plot could be a bit all over the place at times, having a main story line and a side story line while not knowing which is which. The pacing could be rushed, wanting to show you all the pretty magical stuff NOW, or slow, giving much time to a character we don’t know much about. However, this had little effect on the emotional investment the audience has in the characters and the story, as the incredible performances, the stunning score, and the beautiful cinematography made up for this.
In conclusion, if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, fantasy, or just movies in general, you have to see this film. If you don’t plan on watching it, you are ridikulus, because Newt Scamander’s crazy journey has it all. It’s an adventure in a beautiful, magical world, perfectly executed, with great performances, and a story with heart. J.K Rowling proves once again that she can captivate an audience like no other. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” truly is magical!
