Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - Review
Director: David Yates
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Ezra Miller, Zoe Kravitz, Jude Law, Johnny Depp
Two years after the worldwide success of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the sequel to the prequel franchise has arrived and attempts to amp up the stakes with added characters, varying plots and frequent globetrotting.
As Gellart Grindelwald's (Depp) nefarious plan to raise pure-blood wizards to rule over muggles becomes more urgent, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists the help of his former student Newt Scamander (Redmayne) to thwart Grindelwald. Newt agrees to the task but is unaware of the dangers and complications that lie ahead as the wizarding world has never faced such division.
J. K Rowling has an enviable and impressive imagination, capable of concocting fantastical worlds with genuinely interesting characters and plots that demand our investment. A read of any single Harry Potter book will tell you that much, but sadly her prose prowess fails to translate in screenplay form. The film's structure is sporadic, certain scenes scream for their inclusion on the cutting room floor and the narrative is overburdened with B-plots that will fail to rouse even the slightest level of engagement or interest.
The Newt/Tina and Queen/Jacob romances may have resonated in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them but they are unnecessary distractions from much more pressing wizardry issues. The fight for Credence's soul is a complete wash and Leta Lestrange's battle with her own morality is severely rushed and underwritten. If Rowling had narrowed her focus, lost at least five characters and wasn't so concerned about peppering the film with ties to the original Harry Potter saga, then perhaps The Crimes of Grindelwald could have salvaged some redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, the HP references (including the appearances of Professor McGonagall and Nicolas Flamel and the fleeting presence of Hogwarts) only serve as a sore reminder of the current franchise's shortcomings and Harry Potter's superiority.
Although subtitled 'The Crimes of Grindelwald', the film is disappointingly light on Grindelwald's criminalities. In fact, we barely spend any time with the antagonist at all as the abundance of other characters and their mundane, ineffective arcs are constantly tearing us away from what should be the pivotal focus that, by all accounts, is going to drive the sequels going forward. Johnny Depp as the titular villain doesn't register and makes safe, unimaginative choices with his limited screen time; his controversial casting was not worth the risk or potential reward. The fictional crimes are few and far between, but the narrative and storytelling ones are fruitful. However, the casting of Jude Law as the young (and dashing) Albus Dumbledore is an inspired choice and the actor captures the mentor's spirit and knowing glint to perfection.
Whilst there may be wands that are capable or casting spells and spectacular creatures there are a wonder to behold, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald seems to have completely zapped the magic out of this dwindling franchise.
EB
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Ezra Miller, Zoe Kravitz, Jude Law, Johnny Depp
Two years after the worldwide success of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the sequel to the prequel franchise has arrived and attempts to amp up the stakes with added characters, varying plots and frequent globetrotting.
As Gellart Grindelwald's (Depp) nefarious plan to raise pure-blood wizards to rule over muggles becomes more urgent, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists the help of his former student Newt Scamander (Redmayne) to thwart Grindelwald. Newt agrees to the task but is unaware of the dangers and complications that lie ahead as the wizarding world has never faced such division.
J. K Rowling has an enviable and impressive imagination, capable of concocting fantastical worlds with genuinely interesting characters and plots that demand our investment. A read of any single Harry Potter book will tell you that much, but sadly her prose prowess fails to translate in screenplay form. The film's structure is sporadic, certain scenes scream for their inclusion on the cutting room floor and the narrative is overburdened with B-plots that will fail to rouse even the slightest level of engagement or interest.
The Newt/Tina and Queen/Jacob romances may have resonated in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them but they are unnecessary distractions from much more pressing wizardry issues. The fight for Credence's soul is a complete wash and Leta Lestrange's battle with her own morality is severely rushed and underwritten. If Rowling had narrowed her focus, lost at least five characters and wasn't so concerned about peppering the film with ties to the original Harry Potter saga, then perhaps The Crimes of Grindelwald could have salvaged some redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, the HP references (including the appearances of Professor McGonagall and Nicolas Flamel and the fleeting presence of Hogwarts) only serve as a sore reminder of the current franchise's shortcomings and Harry Potter's superiority.
Although subtitled 'The Crimes of Grindelwald', the film is disappointingly light on Grindelwald's criminalities. In fact, we barely spend any time with the antagonist at all as the abundance of other characters and their mundane, ineffective arcs are constantly tearing us away from what should be the pivotal focus that, by all accounts, is going to drive the sequels going forward. Johnny Depp as the titular villain doesn't register and makes safe, unimaginative choices with his limited screen time; his controversial casting was not worth the risk or potential reward. The fictional crimes are few and far between, but the narrative and storytelling ones are fruitful. However, the casting of Jude Law as the young (and dashing) Albus Dumbledore is an inspired choice and the actor captures the mentor's spirit and knowing glint to perfection.
Whilst there may be wands that are capable or casting spells and spectacular creatures there are a wonder to behold, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald seems to have completely zapped the magic out of this dwindling franchise.
EB
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