Our take on... Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
“Harry Potter” has become such a huge part of popular culture that as soon as you hear those first few bars of the theme music for this film, there’s a real sense of familiarity about it. It really has an ability to transport the audience into the Wizarding World, where anything can happen and usually does. This film is set only a year after the original “Fantastic Beasts” we rejoin the foursome from the first film, and we also get to see more of the world that JK Rowling has created. We also travel back to some familiar sights as well, in addition to meeting some younger versions of old faces.
In this latest instalment to the series, we also catch up with Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), last seen being arrested by the wizard police in New York at the end of the last film. While being transferred from his prison in New York to London to be tried for his crimes in Europe, but while being transferred he makes a daring and spectacular escape.
Following this, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is approached by Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to try to locate a character from the last movie. This character (who shall remain nameless for fear of spoilers) is supposedly the only person with the ability to kill Grindelwald, which makes them an incredibly important asset.
Newt is surprised to receive a visit from his three cohorts from New York, Tina (Katherine Waterston), her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol), and his friend and Queenie’s partner Jacob (Dan Fogler). Coincidentally, they are also looking for the same unnamed character from the last paragraph. Their trip takes them from London to Paris where their adventure continues, but I can’t give away any more than that!
This is David Yates’ sixth film in the “Harry Potter” series, and he has really shaped the visual style of the series, and this film is no different. From the spectacular opening escape scene, through the adventures in Paris, to the film’s shocking conclusion, Yates working with JK Rowling’s writing, has made another worthy addition to the franchise. It’s a film that takes another step towards connecting this series to the original “Harry Potter” in an interesting way, I that sometimes you think a character’s destination is obvious, when it’s anything but. The fact that these movies can still keep you guessing after all this time means that it is well worth your time.
These are the learned and considered contemplations of our Kevin Dillon. @kevinwritestuff.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is available at goldendiscs.ie on DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K UltraHD and 3D, and in all Golden Discs stores nationwide.
