Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them [2016]

Language - English
Director - David Yates
Run Time - 2 hours, 13 minutes
Genre - Fantasy
Starring - Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston and Ezra Miller.

Agreed, Fantastic Beasts is no Harry Potter, but Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander hardly disappoints.
JK Rowling has managed to spin off an interesting (and profitable) franchise (hopefully) from the Harry Potter saga.

As a prequel of sorts for the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts delves into the adventures of Newt Scamander, a self-acclaimed guardian of 'magical creatures'. The movie is set in 1926, in the United States, and shows us an entirely different magical society from the one we witnessed in the Potter films of 1980s in Europe. The movie revolves around Mr. Scamander's adventures in the country trying to achieve his mission. Along the way, we have some side plots, that involve the 'MACUSA' - Ministry of Magic for the USA and it's aurors. Apart from this, we have a grander plot involving a certain Dark Lord working his way behind the scenes.

One has to stop comparing Fantastic Beasts to the Harry Potter series to enjoy, or even appreciate the movie. Academy award winner Eddie Redmayne has proved himself to be an extremely versatile actor, and pulls off the character of Newt Scamander with utmost ease. I however, did not like the leading lady of the movie. Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, in my opinion was the weakest link of the movie, and her unimaginative acting drags the movie down. Colin Farrell as Director Graves also gives a performance well below his standard. Although, unfortunately, he was not given much screen time. Ezra Miller portrays the squib Credence, and validates why he is touted as the next big thing.

The beasts are FANTASTIC and Magnificent. But the movie became more about the cause of Grindelwald and the greater good, possibly trying to build up a story to take forward the franchisee, and in doing so, it became a tad bit long too.

Otherwise, an enjoyable film, which takes forward the mythology of Harry Potter. A fan of fantasy films should not ought to miss it.

My Rating - 7.3/10