Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them (2016)

'Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them' returns audiences to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scarmander, the young wizard who would go on to write the titular book used in Wizard Schools around the world. However with this first film, we go back 70 years before the previous books and follow Newt as he makes his first trip to America, where some of his magical creatures have unfortunately escaped and its up to him, a muggle baker, and two young witches to fix it.

To be honest, I had little hope for this film when I first heard of its existence. Yes, J.K. Rowling returns to pen the screenplay and David Yates, the director of the last few Potter films returns as well, but I just didn't think they had enough to squeeze from this premise and in some ways I was right, but for the most part I was sorely mistaken. 'Beasts' isn't one I would place very high on the franchise scale, but its a passable and at the very least entertaining film that I didn't regret a two-hour sit. The best part of the film by far is the cast, with Redmayne standing out as Newt. He was perfectly cast as this character and he is quickly becoming one of my new favorites. The rest do well too, I particularly love Queenie who is a bubbly and fun character without being too ditzy or ignorant of the situation. Colin Ferrell is well..Colin Ferrell. I've never really cared for him and this changes nothing but even if he weren't cast as the villain I really found him to be off to the side too much that by the time his hand is revealed, he's already been defeated.

With a title such as this one, one would expect beasts of various kinds correct? Well luckily we get some very nice designs and creativity in this department. Rowling's magical animals are always one of the most interesting things for me in her novels and here they did well. The computer effects may at times not be convincing and I will always be an advocate for practical effects, but overall I didn't have a problem with the effects. Like I said earlier, I didn't think the film could have enough to warrant a two-hour plus film and really that's unfortunately true. The film feels like a slog at times and very dreary and more grounded in reality with only hints of fantasy and magic seen at key moments. It's a shame that this one really doesn't have the wonder or mystical enchantments that came before with the previous films and it really pulls it down. The film just doesn't feel like a Potter film, despite strong connections and continuity I just couldn't get that same feeling.

Hopefully, with some sequels coming we can get some more unique settings and some more fantasy elements in there. New York City in the 1920's has been done to death and adding 'Harry Potter' elements just didn't make the film stand out more than a period film with some good-not-great elements. It's not a bad film at all, but I would really lower my expectations and just enjoy the good that IS here.