‘Magic blooms… only in rare souls. Still, we must skulk in shadows. But the old ways serve us no longer.’
Based on the eponymous novel by J. K. Rowling and directed by David Yates, the film is neither a prehistory, nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but rather a thrilling expansion of the Wizarding World. This time, ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ takes us back in time, in the 20s of the last century, decades before our favourite Harry Potter was even born. This time, the main character of J. K. Rowling’s script is Newt Scamander, played by the Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne. Young Dumbledore’s role is fantastically played by Jude Law, while in the skin of the villain we see the greatest black sorcerer after Lord Voldemort – Gellert Grindelwald, played by Johny Depp.
Newt is a renowned magizoologist and in 1926, he has just completed a global tour of seeking and documenting unusual creatures around the world. He stops for a while in New York, and probably would not stay long there if it was not for a character named Jacob, an unresolved case of magic and the escape of some of his own fantastic animals that would cause trouble in the sorcerer’s world.
In the second part of the series follows Newt in his attempts to help the young and brilliant magician Albus Dumbledore, who is going after the mighty evil wizard and once his best friend, Gellert Grindelwald. Despite their strong and unstoppable friendship in the distant past, Albus and Gellert’s paths are now irreversibly separated and the villain must be stopped at all costs. The black-hearted wizard has begun to establish his own army of pure-blood magicians, taking control over the muggles, or in other words, those who lack any sort of magical ability.
While the first movie in the ‘Fantastic Animals’ series takes us to New York, this time spells and witchcraft are spilled over into Paris. The hardships, dangers and twists in the wizarding world make everyone choose a side, while love and devotion are put to the test even among the closest friends and family members. The intriguing adventure is full of incredible risks, which eventually reunite Newt and Tina (Katherine Waterston), Queenie (Alison Sudol) and Jacob (Dan Fogler) but how real does their loyalty turn out to be?
It is a must see-film not only for those who are sworn fans of the Harry Potter and the magical world but I would say to those who are not big fanciers of the fantastic genre. Even more, ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ takes us back to a favourite place – Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and demonstrates some of the fascinating creatures of the wirzards’ world, while growing the tension and making you want the film does not end.
I would strongly recommend that you go for the ultimate film-going, IMAX experience at Showcase Cinema de Lux or if not, try Savoy Cinema for a more student-friendly price.