When we walked out of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald at the end of the movie, Diane said, “I need the Cliff Notes to this.” I can’t imagine what a single-digit age kid would think of this film with its convoluted plots and schemes. These new adventures of magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmanyne), less twitchy than in the first Fantastic Beasts movie, center around Johnny Depp’s character, Grindelwald. Newt’s allies, baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), and magical sisters Queenie (Alison Sudol) and Porpentina (Katherine Waterston), show up in Paris just as Grindelwald sets his trap for Credence (a powerful wizard with Obscurial powers). Grindelwald needs Credence in order to kill Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law).
If this summary doesn’t make sense, blame the movie. GRADE: C+
The reviews have been pretty brutal on this. Saw the first one on cable and wasn’t impressed even though it had some good special effects.
Steve, these FANTASTIC BEASTS movies have a good cast and excellent Special Effects. It’s J. K. Rowling’s confusing storylines that drag these movies down.
I’ll see it, just not right away. I still want to see A Star is Born
Maggie, don’t rush to see FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD. And, when you do, keep your expectations low.
I can’t remember now whether I gave up on Harry Potter in the middle of Book 4 or Book 5, but I do remember why I did. The books had become so relentlessly long and complicated that I could no longer follow the plot without a summary of the previous books, which Rowling never provided. Considering the depths to which the franchise has apparently descended I’m very happy to have escaped when I did.
Michael, my favorite Harry Potter novel is the third book in the series: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. After that book, the bloat set in and the storylines multiplied.
I finished the series because I wanted to know how it ended, but I didn’t like the last (broken into two parts) book much. What I think appeals about these Beast movies is the special effects, but I don’t want to wade through what is apparently an overly complicated plot just to see the “pretty stuff”.
Rick, once again a good cast and interesting setting are wasted because of needless complication and machinations of the storyline.
So you can tell us – does he kill Dumbledore? I am so tired of Depp’s act. Like Steve, I thought the first one was OK. I liked Waterston and Fogler more than Redmayne, who I thought was somewhat miscast. I’m sure we’ll see it eventually, but no hurry.
Jeff, Redmayne’s twitchiness in the first FANTASTIC BEASTS movie drove us crazy. He was way overdoing it. Like you, I like Waterston and Fogler. But they’re lost much of the movie in one subplot after another.