Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

4

RollingStonerNov 19, 2016

This movie is definitely made for die hard Harry Potter fans. If you absolutely love the Harry Potter movies, you would probably already say this is amazing without even having to watch it. But for someone who was not a die hard fan, thisThis movie is definitely made for die hard Harry Potter fans. If you absolutely love the Harry Potter movies, you would probably already say this is amazing without even having to watch it. But for someone who was not a die hard fan, this movie is quite "meh". The pacing in the film is way off, the story line of the main characters and the villain have absolutely nothing to do with each other and never really has anything at stake, some of the CGI is actually terrible (which stands out compared to the really good CGI it has), and just an overall weak story that just screams sequel. Not a terrible movie, but really quite forgettable.… Expand

10 of 26 users found this helpful1016

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10

josephgmNov 19, 2016

This movie had a great plot and extremely interesting character list. Eddie Redmayne did a fantastic job of Newt and portrayed the inner character. CGI wasn't as good as I thought it would be, which was one of the let downs. But the nifflerThis movie had a great plot and extremely interesting character list. Eddie Redmayne did a fantastic job of Newt and portrayed the inner character. CGI wasn't as good as I thought it would be, which was one of the let downs. But the niffler was an extremely adorable addition to the movie. I thought this movie was incredible and fun to watch. Good job Yates and Rowling!… Expand

12 of 21 users found this helpful129

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8

Silverscreen91Nov 18, 2016

We travel once again into the magical world of Harry Potter, several decades before the rise of You-Know-Who and the birth of The Boy Who Lived, by following the misadventures of Newt Scamander in America and discovering his Fantastic Beasts.We travel once again into the magical world of Harry Potter, several decades before the rise of You-Know-Who and the birth of The Boy Who Lived, by following the misadventures of Newt Scamander in America and discovering his Fantastic Beasts. In this misadventure we get a treat of a film that is a decent follow up to the masterpiece of its predecessor but stumbles a little on the execution.

The biggest fault of the film is the story, or at least specific parts of it. The film is a little too obvious with its foreshadowing and setup, which distracts from the rest of the film. The entire subplot with the "exposure of the magical world" and the involvement of the "Magical Congress of the United States of America" (or "MACUSA") is interesting, but ultimately unnecessary for the movie until the sequels come out. When the film focuses on the Fantastic Beasts and Newt Scamander themselves, it shines, only to be rusted by the political overtones and the unneeded dark magic involved.

The characters are all fun and very distinct. They all have very unique looks and actions to them that makes them memorable and likable. The distinctions come to a disadvantage, however. The roles of each character is so obviously cliche that, if it weren't for the decent acting chops of all involved and the additional character tidbits added in, it would be rather painful. Newt is obviously the hero, Kowalski is obviously the comic relief, Tina is obviously the heroic girl and so on. The effects are a little questionable. It's easy to make out a lot of the CGI, and the filmmakers would have done well to use more practical effects. Especially for creatures that were on screen for a long time. For a movie that's based around them, that's a pretty big flaw.

The movie is good, but it could have been much better. If they cut out the subplots and add in more practical effects, we could have had the Magical World equivalent of Jurassic Park. Instead we get an enjoyable movie that is bogged down by stories that are obviously meant to set up future sequels.… Expand

8 of 13 users found this helpful85

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5

Megajohn85Nov 18, 2016

Just because Rowling wrote the initial Harry Potter books doesn't mean her first foray into screenwriting with "Fantastic Beasts" screams masterpiece...it actually screams "Jump The Shark"

12 of 29 users found this helpful1217

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10

batxavierNov 18, 2016

Gran comienzo de la saga. Mostrandose en su primera parte la similitud con los primeros libros como la aventura, descubrir nuevos bestias. Ya en su recta final se notan las similitudes con las ultimas peliculas de David Yates(masGran comienzo de la saga. Mostrandose en su primera parte la similitud con los primeros libros como la aventura, descubrir nuevos bestias. Ya en su recta final se notan las similitudes con las ultimas peliculas de David Yates(mas enfrentamientos, drama).Y dejando un final que da ganas de ver mas.… Expand

12 of 21 users found this helpful129

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6

foxgroveNov 18, 2016

'Don't do anything that's predictable' states Eddie Redmayne's bizarrely named Newt Scamader, a piece of advice that the movie itself was never going to follow. And therein lies the problem with this formulaic, but not unlikeable Potter spin'Don't do anything that's predictable' states Eddie Redmayne's bizarrely named Newt Scamader, a piece of advice that the movie itself was never going to follow. And therein lies the problem with this formulaic, but not unlikeable Potter spin off. The trouble with these franchises or big blockbuster films is that they are all just constantly rehashing old story lines or ideas to the extent that one often knows before viewing exactly what will be on offer. This lack of originality began to pall ages ago for the casual viewer, but as freshness and surprises are no longer considerations maybe even the faithful fan will become bored with all the repetition.
Still, I'm sure the plentiful supply of Potter stalwarts will lap it up and, in fairness, it is actually a better film than some of those were. Eddie Redmayne follows up on his Oscar nominated roles in 'The Theory of Everything' and 'The Danish Girl' with a somewhat limp and inattentive performance, or maybe that's just the character he plays. Whichever, he doesn't impress. Far better is the supporting turn of Dan Fogler as prospective Baker Jacob Kowalski who gets unwittingly caught up in the world of magic and fantastic creatures. One scene involving him is actually very moving. The film cannot be faulted at all on its visual effects and Art-Direction. They often take one's breath away and are constantly eye catching. Both crafts go a long way in sustaining interest in a so-so story. Also prominently drawing attention, although not for the same reason, is the rather dark cinematography. Whilst the script's tone is intentionally sombre, dealing with wizards and magic as it does, the 3D visuals of the print under review are frequently so colourless that I had to remove my glasses on more than a few occasions in order to check that this effect was intentional. This aside, however, as franchises go you could do a lot worse than to commit to this initial instalment. As for the promised four sequels, I suppose we'll have to wait and see.… Expand

7 of 20 users found this helpful713

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9

MamoshaNov 18, 2016

U know guys I hope in future we will have law about cooruptibility rewievs of "critics" cause this movie are really good, actors really nice played, we have a little long scenes near ending of this movie but it is really good and a think itU know guys I hope in future we will have law about cooruptibility rewievs of "critics" cause this movie are really good, actors really nice played, we have a little long scenes near ending of this movie but it is really good and a think it is one of the best movie of 2016 year. I am not Harry Potter fan i just wana to throw to jail this critics who many time write their review for money cause many computer games and many movies unfairly overestimated or underestimated. Why we need normal law about this? Сause it concerns the service sector and when I come to cafe and waiter advises and give me bad launch i dont wana pay for it and i take my money back and waiter have problem with authority. I hope many ppl understood me.… Expand

11 of 24 users found this helpful1113

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7

SEROJNov 18, 2016

Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. I grew up with it. I was so happy when i found out that J.K.Rowling is planning to get us back to the wizarding world! Yeah but... no. The characters are interesting, but not complete. WithoutDon't get me wrong. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. I grew up with it. I was so happy when i found out that J.K.Rowling is planning to get us back to the wizarding world! Yeah but... no. The characters are interesting, but not complete. Without spoiling - you may not understand or care about the main "villian" in the movie, because the movie doesn't really tell much about him. The thing you probably liked the most in Harry Potter - the mystery, is really lacking in this movie! It's replaced by more action and comedy! The story was not that bad, don't get me wrong! But i really think that we needed more characters with more stories about them, so we could care about the plot. Because that's what the wizarding world was all about! The only character that gets that attention (without spoiling) is not even a wizard. I'm sorry for my bad english. Overall - i recommend this movie to pretty much everyone. I really liked it and i'm looking forward to the sequel!… Expand

8 of 13 users found this helpful85

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7

Muskrat147Nov 18, 2016

With incredible special effects and exceptional performances, Fantastic Beasts figures out how to stand up all on its own, even if it feels like somewhat of a set-up for future installments.

9 of 13 users found this helpful94

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5

royledesma90Nov 18, 2016

Realmente es muy grato volver al mundo mágico después de tantos años y comprobar que Rowling puede escribir bien un guion es placentero, existe fe de que las próximas entregas serán mejores. Por el lado técnico, la iluminación me parecióRealmente es muy grato volver al mundo mágico después de tantos años y comprobar que Rowling puede escribir bien un guion es placentero, existe fe de que las próximas entregas serán mejores. Por el lado técnico, la iluminación me pareció desmedidamente oscura. yates hace mas de lo mismo, la música esta bastante bien. Por su parte, los actores estuvieron muy bien.… Expand

4 of 15 users found this helpful411

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4

JUSTINT123Nov 18, 2016

Lacks originality and soul, at least 20 minutes too long, and the special effects team seems to think that we want to watch bricks fly around- a lot. If it wasn't for the baker, his girlfriend, and the platypus, it would be almost unwatchable.

9 of 19 users found this helpful910

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6

Whatever12345Nov 18, 2016

This movie doesn't live up to the expectations of the first Harry Potter movies but it's fun. Visuals are great and interesting however movie suffers from the lack of the self identity. It wants to be a movie for kids at the beginning butThis movie doesn't live up to the expectations of the first Harry Potter movies but it's fun. Visuals are great and interesting however movie suffers from the lack of the self identity. It wants to be a movie for kids at the beginning but then it turns in a dark story which was quite unsettelling. As if you wanted to see a lighthearted fantasy movie about sorcery but the tone shifts to the last two HP movies in the end and leaves you with a strange feeling of "well you could avoid that and this and it would be still a great movie". I also had a hard time finding likable characters except Colin Farrell - the only guy who really did a great job here. Other characters were pretty weak and didn't deserve much attention. Overall it is a good but overhyped movie that worth watching.… Expand

5 of 17 users found this helpful512

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8

mrushing02Nov 18, 2016

In 1926 a former Hogwarts student, Newt Scamander travels to New York with a case full of magical creatures only to find himself pulled into the strange world of magic in the United States, which is very different than Britain. The MagicalIn 1926 a former Hogwarts student, Newt Scamander travels to New York with a case full of magical creatures only to find himself pulled into the strange world of magic in the United States, which is very different than Britain. The Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) is embroiled in a situation that threatens the safety of the wizarding community as well as the No-Majs (Muggles). It also jeopardizes the International Statute of Secrecy, risking the exposure of the wizarding world in America. Newt and his beasts may be just the thing needed to help bring to light the true forces at work.

Us vs Them

The Magical community has been hidden from the rest of the world since 1692 when the International Confederation of Wizards enacted the International Statute of Secrecy to protect itself from Muggles or No-Majs. In America it has created an even stricter divide between the two worlds as witches and wizards are forbidden to marry non-magic folk. It's created a sense of superiority in the magical community which Tina clearly show when she says to Newt, "Why would I want to marry him?", pointing at Jacob, a No-Maj that has unwittingly become entangled in the wizarding world. The No-Maj world is no better. Mary Lou Barebone who runs an orphanage and the New Salem Philanthropic Society, works to indoctrinate the children she "cares" for and the people of New York of the dangers go witches and wizards in their midst. There is a real sense of tension that is palpable as each side cloisters in it's group, spreading fear of the other.

The movie, in subtle ways, slowly undermines this idea of Us vs Them through the character of Jacob. In America, a No-Maj is immediately obliviated (a memory charm) so that they do not remember what they have seen, yet circumstances in the film make that impossible. Jacob and Newt form a friendship, learn from one another as they share their worlds. Jacob also has a major impact on Tina and Queenie Goldstein who, for the first time in their lives, get to spend significant time with someone from the "other side". It's beautiful to see the fear of the unknown vanish as communication leads to the awareness that they're not that different. In the real world where this happens every day, the message is clear, true knowledge of the "other" side only comes though interaction, communication and an open mind.

The Movie

This is the first of five movies in the Fantastic Beasts series, written specifically for the screen by J.K. Rowling. There is a really strength to this since there are no books to compare it to leaving the audience free to enjoy the film for it's own sake. The movie does a good job of laying the foundations for the world of wizardry in this time period as well as what's to come in the series. The cast is outstanding, with the relationship between Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein and Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski being a true highlight. James Newton Howard's score is good, even if it never reached the heights of Williams and the production value, character design and world building is, well, magical. The film nicely begins it's journey to telling the history of the Harry Potter universe that we got hints of in the previous series, making it a wonderful addition and expansion to the world, yet, at the same time, it stands on it's own. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is rated 4 out of five Bowtruckles.… Expand

10 of 19 users found this helpful109

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9

PipeCNov 18, 2016

Scamander's Lumos Maxima Is Sufficient For Another J.K. Rowling's Heptalogy

It was predicted by the selfsame Rowling: "If I have a sufficiently powerful idea, I will come back", it is. The return to the wizarding universe most acclaimed ofScamander's Lumos Maxima Is Sufficient For Another J.K. Rowling's Heptalogy

It was predicted by the selfsame Rowling: "If I have a sufficiently powerful idea, I will come back", it is. The return to the wizarding universe most acclaimed of all time was as logical and pressing as the return to Katniss Everdeen's Panem or a galaxy far, far away in "Star Wars". "Fantastic Beasts" fulfills all its aims with faultless expertise: conceiving the spinoff wished by all fanatics drawing on Harry Potter's rich mythology to forged a style of its own which stands out with power of franchise, introducing to the most apathetic or uninterested people of Rowling's writings and laying a consistent foundations for extensive franchise which has in front of its wand.

Seductive prequel begins in in the midst of the 1920s, in New York precisely, a period of economic prosperity. Magizoologist Newton "Newt" Artemis Fido Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) born in 1897, who was expelled from Hogwarts due to an incident with one of his beloved offsprings, does expeditions across five continents to register, protect—from the most dangerous specimens in the planet, "humans—" and categorize magical creatures in order to write a meticulous textbook of preservation about them, entitled "Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them" (with a foreword written by Albus Dumbledore: "Never tickle a sleeping dragon"). These trips take him to 'The Big Apple', where meets the baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Floger), who accidentally takes Scamander's fabulous carrying case. That mistake ends with the catastrophic opening of the suitcase, which four celestial animals escape ("Night at the Museum" style). While Kowalski, Scamander, Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) — a police belonging to the 'MACUSA' — and her charismatic sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) are in the exhaustive animal search and capture, in Europe, malicious and powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) causes great vicissitudes, which will be connected ominously with animal chase in North America.

The charm, excitement and fantasy projected before us were theoretically 'as if by magic', nonetheless, such magic is performed by explicit magicians. The first of them is who has been behind the art of wizards all this time, J. K. Rowling, who now holds the start of this new story with her own hands, since in addition to assembling almost naturally the new piece within Harry Potter's vast universe, wrote the screenplay of all the characters involved. British (screen)writer makes a well-built beginning as such; it's for that reason that first installment is crammed with information, narrative threads as: The Magical Congress of the United States of America (which is strictly dissimilar to the British), varied range of suggestive characters, meaningful range of facts, ambitious catalog of creatures and the presentation of who perhaps will be the king-villain of the saga (akin to 'Thanos' in "MCU").

Second miracle worker is director-producer David Yates, who was in the middle of Gabonese jungle with "The Legend of Tarzan" in July and concluded masterfully the story of Harry, Ron and Hermione with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 & Part 2" in 2010 and 2011 respectively; he enigmatically returns to inaugurate a new and long chapter, which probably also will direct. His tremendous experience is imposed on the fluidity of the story, the refreshing and vital blocking and assiduous harmony of every complex aspect on the screen. It is open to view that Yates and Rowling are understood well and for the sake of their all 'muggles', that honest connection must endure.

Our third magicians are the art, production and boundless special effects team, they demonstrated some of their aces under the sleeve, the others are kept for future films. Simply by the imaginative, surprising and sophisticated recreation of the 1920s, radiant —and sometimes terrifying— creatures, thundering lightning flashes of wands, flying food and objects in the movie, parallel worlds of the suitcase of Newt and more are a compelling Academy Awards nomination. Maybe there is a little excessive use of CGI, but if the current blockbusters abusing technology for purposes like these, they have the clear path.

Lastly, but no less important, the true wizards of the story. Oscar-winning Eddie Redmayne wears the coat that made Radcliffe shine in his time. The new hero for a new era of magic has an inherent connection with his stooped over way of walking, his shy personality and bangs manage to create an overwhelming and interesting atmosphere. His team is equally effective, however, Dan Floger ("No-maj") is who amuses us and provides part of the comicality in the film, and in addition, gives us glimpses of silent film. On the dark side of witchcraft and wizardry, Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller and the short cameo by Johnny Depp become the subplot into something scary, creepy and not too suitable for kids— substantially, pointing out in the excellent performances and background music by James Newton Howard.

"Fantastic Beasts" fortuitously becomes us absent-minded of the original series, with a spin-off packed with magic, joy, new opportunities and surprises to come. The faithful muggles—or No-maj— of Rowling have a lot to be happy with the return to the essence of Harry Potter with a golden and striking wrapping which promises fabulous visuals, stories, and possibilities. Open that suitcase, we are on the right way.… Expand

11 of 18 users found this helpful117

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10

grinfinoriaNov 18, 2016

But once, JK Rowling showing that he is one of the most creative and ingenious people at the time of creating history, the film is totally competent to take the name "History derived from Harry Potter" along with it, the story is very wellBut once, JK Rowling showing that he is one of the most creative and ingenious people at the time of creating history, the film is totally competent to take the name "History derived from Harry Potter" along with it, the story is very well thought out , With insane effects and a very amazing script, well-scaled actors and everything else, one of the best films of the decade!… Expand

11 of 25 users found this helpful1114

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10

chrisblackeyeNov 18, 2016

amazing film with well made settings and enchanting moments. JK is such a talented writer with a script that keeps you at the edge until the very last moment. Yates' directing is really good

13 of 23 users found this helpful1310

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6

romanontherunNov 18, 2016

The first part of the movie is kinda fun, lighthearted and enjoyable
Second part movie turn into some dark and uncanny territory. This felt odd and unnecessary - I wish movie was only about beast and how to find them (ironic, isn't it?) notThe first part of the movie is kinda fun, lighthearted and enjoyable
Second part movie turn into some dark and uncanny territory. This felt odd and unnecessary - I wish movie was only about beast and how to find them (ironic, isn't it?) not late-potter dark magic themes.… Expand

5 of 17 users found this helpful512

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9

A1yrNov 18, 2016

A worthy successor of Harry Potter movies, well thought out story and good casting make it works. Finally we get some insight to the wizard's world, and we like it. I think CGI is exaggerate, however it's well made and enjoyable.

12 of 18 users found this helpful126

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7

EpicLadySpongeNov 18, 2016

This spin-off of the Harry Potter franchise isn't what everyone was expecting to see, but just for the benefit of it, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them builds a feeling connected to the original Harry Potter books and/or movies and theThis spin-off of the Harry Potter franchise isn't what everyone was expecting to see, but just for the benefit of it, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them builds a feeling connected to the original Harry Potter books and/or movies and the spirit lives on.… Expand

12 of 18 users found this helpful126

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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