Review of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) by Bentarr — 15 Apr 2022

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is a wonderful addition to the Wizarding World franchise and Fantastic Beasts series. Although the Fantastic Beasts films do have issues, none of them is the story, which has been enthralling from the start. The performances are once again top-notch, with Jude Law delivering his second perfect outing as Albus Dumbledore and Mads Mikkelsen showing what Gellert Grindelwald should be (and I spent three years thinking Johnny Depp was perfect).

Depp was brilliant and what happened to him unjustifiable, but Mikkelsen is perfect as Grindelwald and whom David Yates, the director of every Wizarding World film since Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, originally wanted for Grindelwald. He provides the charm and charisma, and cunning, presence, and malice that encapsulates Grindelwald, without the cartooniness of Depp's look and, sometimes, acting. He's a dialled-down Grindelwald in many respects, but to his benefit not detriment - he's grounded in reality, a trait that the Wizarding World has always strived for and encompassed, which makes him so much more visceral, and real, and makes him feel like a huge threat.

Seven is the most magically powerful number, and David Yates' seventh Wizarding World film lives up to the standards set by its eight Harry Potter and two Fantastic Beasts forebears, delivering a nuanced, intricate, and powerful story that is also alight with spectacle and photo-realistic CGI, including old and new beasts that aren't token inclusions but fundamental to the story and great to learn about, and gorgeous outdoor environments and indoor sets.

Although hardcore fans like myself love the plot and pacing of Secrets of Dumbledore's middlingly received predecessor, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Secrets of Dumbledore shows its creators learnt from their mistakes and listened to the justified criticisms of the previous instalment. Steve Kloves, the screenwriter of every Harry Potter film bar Order of the Phoenix and producer of the Fantastic Beasts films, has aided in writing a wonderful script for Secrets of Dumbledore that is packed with emotion, depth, action, and humour.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore has proven itself worthy of the four year wait. It is a brilliant third chapter in the Fantastic Beasts series and sets up its latter half to have a thrilling journey and conclusion.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is absolutely phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. It has a beautiful story (as did Where to Find Them and Crimes of Grindelwald) and was beautifully shot. The beasts looked photo-realistic and were absolutely amazing to see and learn about, and Mads Mikkelsen is the perfect Grindelwald. I cried so much, and will be seeing it every week until it leaves theatres.