‘Fantastic Beasts’ Lives Up to Expectations

Potterheads. You can pick them out by their black cloaks and striped scarves as they wander excitedly with their friends and plastic wands.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them premiered Friday, Nov. 18. It stars Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterson as Newt Scamander and Tina Goldstein, the dynamic wizarding duo that must team up to find Newt’s escaped creatures.

The year is 1926, 54 years before Harry Potter is born. Newt has just finished traveling the world, documenting magical creatures for his book. He decided to make a brief stop in New York, however it was extended when he encountered no-maj (American term for muggle) Jacob Kowalski, misplaced his brief case and lost some of his fantastic beasts.

I was thoroughly pleased with this movie. I tried to go in with an open mind, knowing that if I cared too much I would pick it apart over the tiniest details.

Of course I missed Harry, Hermione and Ron– that was the biggest drawback. But the new characters quickly captured my attention and brought a whole new side to the wizarding world. Newt and Tina will never be Harry and Ginny or Ron and Hermione but there could not be a better alternative.

New York’s wizarding world during the 1920s is very different from the English wizarding world we have loved for years. I enjoyed how the spells we grew up reciting and many of the creatures Hagrid taught us about stayed the same but many elements and beasts were new.

I saw the movie in 3D and while I do not think it was necessary to capture the essence of the film, I did think it added an extra element to the movie. I felt like I was traveling alongside Newt and Tina when fiery sparks and bright blue insects flew out of the screen.

Overall, this lived up to the magical world that J.K. Rowling created years ago. I would recommend this movie to not only Harry Potter fans but also anyone who is looking for an adventure. Put on your cloaks and grab your wand and go see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.