After seeing “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” there’s only one place where you will find me for the next week; the theater. J. K. Rowling’s wizarding world is back! As a religious Harry Potter fan, that makes me buzz with joy. Though “Fantastic Beasts” takes place before the story of The Boy Who Lived, we are immersed in a world where the rules are already established. The characters are grown up, the movie is filled with mature themes, and the magic does not need to be explained. Like the story that started the magic and taught us valuable life lessons, "Fantastic Beasts" is familiar because we’ve all been here before.
There was something truly magical about watching three friends grow up together through shared shenanigans, but “Beasts” is not Harry Potter. Even though the movie did not live up to the magic of the "Harry Potter" films at the box office, J. K. Rowling’s screenplay debut holds its own kind of magic, bringing in an estimated $75 million at the box office this weekend. Not only is it set in New York City of the U.S.A., introducing us to all sorts of new rules and regulations, but the movie also exposes us to the magnificence of magical creatures we have never seen before. I’ll be one of many to admit, but I fell in love with Niffler and all of Newt’s suitcase companions right away.
Newt himself was an enjoyable character to watch. Throughout the movie, he is a smooth force of compassion, morality and unwavering strength. His connection to his fantastic beasts not only drives the narrative of the entire movie, but it also forms a close bond between him and the audience because who doesn’t love animals?! Newt’s pained reaction and anguished cries of “They won’t hurt anyone! They won’t hurt anyone!” when his case of creatures was taken away from him might have been the most heartbreaking part of the movie, even over Credence’s fate or the Obliviation of our favorite No-Maj, Jacob Kowalski.
Though Mr. Kowalski’s comic relief was mostly appreciated, I couldn’t help but feel it was a little overbearing at certain times, like that’s all he was good for in the movie. With a minor tragic backstory, he tagged along with Newt as they tracked down his magical creatures throughout New York City and crushed over Queenie Goldstein. The two seemed a bit mismatched, but I can still appreciate Rowling breaking typical Hollywood stereotypes with their relationship.
One relationship, in particular, is worth mentioning, only because it drives out the climax of the movie; Credence and adopted mother, Mary Lou. Their dynamic was a classic conflict of opposite forces: Mary Lou, whose life purpose was to fight against the existence of witches and magic, and Credence, whose suffocated magical ancestry created the most powerful Obscurus the wizarding world had ever known.
In a movie full of bizarre beasts, the most bizarre thing was not in Newt’s suitcase. I felt like a giant CGI mass of black matter that manifested from suppressed magical powers and created the most havoc across New York City was just too weird. Maybe it’s because I just wasn’t prepared for anything like it. Or maybe it’s because J. K. Rowling wants to build up to bigger and badder evils in this wizarding world, like Gellert Grindelwald or even fantastic beasts that aren’t so fantastic? There are four more movies after all….
As I wrap up my thoughts, I would like to say that Tina Goldstein was a subtle favorite of mine. I wasn’t like obsessed with her character, but I did enjoy her small rebellions against the MACUSA, as well as her (pointless?) relationship with Newt Scamander. I am confident in saying that I hope we see the two of them together again because I couldn’t help but feel something with “I would like that… very much.”
