“The year is 1926 and Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident...were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.” – IMDB.com

Over the weekend, my boyfriend, Zach, and I saw the newest film in the (sort of) Harry Potter universe, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The film stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Folger, and Alison Sudol. Colin Farrell and Ezra Miller also have supporting roles. “Beasts” takes place in New York City some 70+ years before the story of Harry Potter.

Fans of Harry Potter will definitely enjoy this movie, but those who are not familiar with the Harry Potter franchise will also be in for a treat! “Fantastic Beasts” has well-known characteristics of the magical world that almost seem nostalgic in a way. But non-Potter enthusiasts will not be confused by any of the magical elements or jargon.

As someone who has read the original seven Harry Potter books and has seen all eight film adaptations, I was not familiar at all with Newt’s storyline. But it honestly did not matter. The plot of the movie is easy to understand and is engaging. There are some slow and unneeded parts, but the overall the story flows well. The film has fun, romantic elements, but also has dark and serious scenes.

We saw “Fantastic Beasts” in 3D, something I was on the fence about at first, but I am glad we did! The movie has many elements that come off the screen, and they work well in 3D. Some of the CGI creatures did not look as real as I would have expected. But the ones that did look real were amazing.

I also thought the acting was spot on. I mean, it’s Eddie Redmayne, he is always fantastic. Colin Farrell’s character kept me on my toes. Dan Folger and Alison Sudol are new actors to me, but they had great on-screen chemistry.

If you are on the fence about seeing “Fantastic Beasts,” or think it’s not for you because you aren’t into Harry Potter, give it a chance! It is entertaining and you may be surprised about how invested in the character you become.