Review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) by Jamie J — 01 Apr 2017

Despite not really being all that interested in or familiar with the intricacies of the Harry Potter franchise I found there to be quite a lot to like about spin off/prequel Fantastic Beasts - And where to find them.

The slightly quirky and off beat setting of 1929 New York is enthralling, beautiful to look at and captivating. Despite the unfamiliarity with the material making for somewhat awkward going for a viewer like myself, the storyline itself could have benefited from being slightly more in depth, or at the very least perhaps a bit more exposition in places. It's as if the film makers expect you to have at least a cursory knowledge of what the hell is going on. It isn't all people awkwardly waving wands around.

The Beasts themselves are wonderfully designed and make a real impression, they feel unique and seem to have their own personalities. I'm glad the film doesn't flood you with hundreds of creatures, instead choosing a select few makes it feel a lot more personal. Fantastic Beasts has a lot of heart to it, and despite there being a proposed four follow up films in the pipeline, I'm happy to see where Eddie Redmayne's delightfully quirky Newt ends up next.