J.K. Rowling has done it again with "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!" The film is a prequel to the hit series "Harry Potter." When I initially heard about the prequel, I was both worried and excited. I was excited because I am a huge fan of "Harry Potter" and I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the wizarding world. I was worried because I wasn't sure if the film could live up to the "Harry Potter" franchise. Nonetheless, I made the courageous decision to walk into that theater with an open mind. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was blown away. I found myself laughing and at the edge of my seat the whole film. There are many avid Harry Potter fans out there that are worried about watching this film, but I hope my review will help. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is in theaters now, so go get your tickets!

The first thing I loved about this film were the characters. They all had their own unique personalities that helped to develop the story. The acting was great and the chemistry was great. I found myself loving the characters almost as much as I love the characters from "Harry Potter." Newt Scamander played by Eddie Redmayne was fantastic. They could not have picked a better actor to play this part. I wish Eddie Redmayne had been a part of the "Harry Potter" series years ago because boy does he have charm and talent. Not to mention that the other actors did a great job as well. The Auror Porpentina Goldstein played by Katherine Waterston, the funny No Maj Jacob Kowalski played by Dan Fogler, and the Legilimens Queenie Goldstein played by Alison Sudol, all made a great group of characters.

The story line was very engaging and as a "Harry Potter" fan, I always wondered what the wizarding world was like in America. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" takes place in 1926, New York during the rise of Gellert Grindelwald and the witch trials. While all of this is going on, Newt Scamander visits New York and loses a bunch of his beasts. Scamander and his companions go on the hunt for his lost beasts, while the city is terrorized by an Obscurial. Talk about a lot going on in one film! Don’t worry, all of the subplot lines fit nicely to create an exciting, action-packed story. Plus there is a little love story going on. Who doesn’t like a good love story?

If the plotline and characters haven’t reeled you in, the “fantastic beasts” surely will! In the world of Harry Potter, a number of creatures were introduced but that number has now been doubled. The list keeps growing! First up is the Niffler, who likes to steal gold, and shiny objects. Then there is the Erumpent, who is very friendly but it’s mating season (this makes for a hilarious scene that you don’t want to miss). Then there is the adorable Bowtruckle, who is shy and has an attachment to Newt. Finally, there are various others, who are just as intriguing and important as the others. The creatures all provide their own bit of entertainment and are every bit as important as the characters.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" certainly lives up to its name, but it also stands alone from the rest of the "Harry Potter" series. As much as it pains me to say this, this film is better than a few of the "Harry Potter" films-- that’s how great this film is. It doesn’t matter if you have seen the other films because "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is easy to understand and follow on its own. I recommend everyone and anyone of all ages to go see this film. I rate this film a 10/10.