Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald

I am a Day 1 Harry Potter fan.  When I was younger, my dad bought me the first one (Sorcerer's Stone) for Christmas.  As a kid, books typically aren't exciting; you want toys or video games or sports equipment.  My dad was convinced it was going to be a big deal after learning about it's popularity in England through NPR.  He made it a point to instill the joy of reading into me and would sit down every night and read the book with me.  I remember finding myself looking forward to each new chapter, and some nights staying up late to read further.  As the series progressed, I got older and began reading the series on my own (no my dad didn't read to me in high school haha).  It's a memory from my childhood I deeply cherish, and built a foundation for a continued interest in literature.

Whenever a new installation of the Harry Potter series arrives (movie or book) I try and experience it ASAP!  Although it took us a week, we went to see the Fantastic Beasts sequel, Crimes of Grindelwald yesterday.  My initial thoughts are simple: it's a set-up movie.  The film runs through numerous plots and new characters to pave the way for upcoming sequels.  It gets a bit messy, and overwhelming at times, trying to figure out where exactly the movie is going.  Not all plots are resolved, but that's the point.  The phenomenal graphics, and unique new creatures serve as a nice distraction from the fact that the movie is really just setting the scene for the next one.

Overall, it's worth seeing in theaters.  Although Annie fell asleep, she's not really a huge Harry Potter fan, and loves naps.  For those that love (and read) the books, you will find many easter eggs presented throughout the entire movie, and hear familiar names you can relate to from previous stories.  Fantastic Beasts is a fun film, and brings you back to the beautiful world Rowling created, and we all love.

  

Review: 3/5

Movie Details: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4123430/