Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Is A Magical Addition To The Wizarding World

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is a wonderful addition to JK Rowling’s Wizarding World. Directed by David Yates and written by Rowling, fans are once again transported to this magical world where reality and fantasy merge to create a fantastic ride mixed with dark tones and shocking twists.

In the first of a five-part series, Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arrives in the United States of America in hopes of finding a rare creature for his collection. Thing turn south for our hero when the creatures in his briefcase escape in New York City, where the statues of secrecy between wizards and No-Majs (non-magic humans) are at an all-time high.

His creatures aren’t the only things running loose in the Big Apple. An unknown dark person is wreaking havoc on the city causing The Magical Congress of the United States of America to believe Newt is behind all the chaos. With the help of an Auror, Tina, her sister, Queenie, and an unlucky No-Maj named, Jacob, Newt sets out to find his creatures and clear his name.

Yates and Rowling once again do a delightful job balancing the real and magical world. From the CGI to the scenery, to the soundtrack to the costumes, fans are immersed in a world that was so very missed. Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, and Colin Farrell round out a cast of entertaining and fascinating characters that are perfect additions to the fictional world.

The film does fall a bit flat towards the middle of the film. Unlike it’s Harry Potter predecessors, Fantastic Beasts is not told from one point of view, but multiple. The switching back and forth between views leads to two different stories being told at once which produced a slower paced middle. Once the two stories merge the pace picks up and the audience is left on the edge of their seat for the rest of the ride.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is no Harry Potter, but that is a good thing. This film is darker and more mature, but still has the magic fans love. This is definitely a film I recommend seeing in theaters, but beware, for those planning on bringing children there are some scenes that are a bit hard to watch.

Grade: B+