It’s been five years since the last installment of the Harry Potter films hit the big screen and, unsurprisingly, fans of the franchise – both fully committed fangirls and casual watchers – have eagerly awaited anything more. ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ has been out in the UK for almost a fortnight and we at Her Campus couldn’t wait to catch even a glimpse of it.
In case you’re not in the loop, the story follows magical creature enthusiast, Newt Scamander, on an adventure in 1920’s New York City. Things start to go wrong for him when his magical creatures begin to escape from his suitcase. Along the way, Newt makes friends (both of the magical and non-magical variety) whilst continually escaping the grasp of the Magical Congress of the United States of America.
From start to end this film was a joy to watch. Eddie Redmayne is the perfect fit for the quirky, yet charismatic Newt, somewhat echoing the beautiful eccentricity of David Tenant’s Doctor Who. The cinematography was as awe-inspiring as should be expected with action moving seamlessly across shots and the creatures so realistic I wanted a Niffler of my own! The story itself was as enchanting as the original series Harry Potter, taking me instantly back to my childhood. As for the script, it could not have been better constructed. You’ll be taken on a whirlwind of emotion from curiosity to fear, from tears to laughter. My one piece of advice: remember to pack some tissues!
For me, however, the glue that binds all of the above is the soundtrack. James Newton Howard has done a fantastic job (pardon the pun!) of reintroducing the best bits of John Williams’ original soundtrack but sprinkling it with delightful jazz riffs to make everything feel vintage. My favourite musical scene has to be when a sultry, magical woman sings ‘Blind Pig’, a lazy jazz song that forms a wonderful bridge between the mystical and historical.
Overall, ‘Fantastic Beasts’ is a brilliant film and you’d be a fool to miss it. There will supposedly be four more films and I’m excited to see where the story will lead. I happily give it 5 stars but don’t just trust my judgment; go see for yourself!
Buy your tickets from Nottingham’s Savoy Cinema here: https://www.savoyonline.co.uk/SavoyNottingham.dll/Home
If you fancy listening to the soundtrack go to: https://play.spotify.com/album/0Qjf8HihKKHk1sGInHPGeF
Edited by: Jessica Greaney
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/28/fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-final-trailer
https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Beasts-Where-Find-Them/dp/1338109065