At six o’clock on Thursday night, I was absolutely giddy. Why, you ask? Because, for the first time since 2011, Harry Potter fans were going to be able to get a glimpse back into the world that we had lived in for over a decade. My expectations for the movie “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” written by J.K. Rowling herself and directed by David Yates--who directed the last four Potter films--were ridiculously high, and I can now safely say that they were exceeded. Taking place approximately 70 years prior to Harry Potter’s life, the film follows the story of a Mr. Newt Scamander, the author of the textbook of the same name that Harry and his friends use in the books. Not only do viewers get to revisit the wonderful world of Harry Potter, they get to do so in New York City in the 1920s, the height of Prohibition, mobsters, and flappers.
Although still part of the same realm as Harry Potter, and thus having the same magical feel to it, it is very clear that this isn’t a continuation of the story Potter fans grew to love. Characters from the books are mentioned in this film, such as Dumbledore and a certain dark foe of his, and some of the terminology is the same, but this is definitely a story all of its own. But this doesn’t make it any less fantastic (pun totally intended). All it means is that, if someone goes into the theater expecting to watch another Harry Potter film, they may be a little disappointed--unless the recognize that it isn’t a Harry Potter movie. First and foremost, this movie isn’t as serious as the Potter series ended up being. It’s much lighter and happier, and a whole lot funnier than the series as a whole. Imagine almost an entire movie of the “Felix Felicis” scene in Half-Blood Prince, and you’ve got the feel of this movie.
Without giving away any spoilers, this movie will make you laugh, make you sad, and make you plain old happy. If you thought Arnold the pygmy puff or baby Norbert(a?) was adorable, just wait until you see the creatures that Scamander--played by Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne--has collected, especially the shiny-object-stealing niffler. A mating dance will make you cry tears of laughter, the action seats will put you on the edge of your seat, and the intensity between some characters will have you blinking misty eyes, thankful that the theater is dark. All in all, the movie will make you feel just about every emotion known to man, and will make you want to sit in your seat and wait for the next showing. I, for one, am more than ready to see it again, and cannot wait to see what the next four(!!!!) films have in store for us.
