Cinematic genius or a disappointment?
Ayumi Hulmes
It physically pains me to write this, but I was disappointed by Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I'm not saying it was a bad film, but it certainly didn't reach my high expectations. I went to see this film, on the final night of showing, because a) everyone had told me it was amazing, and b) well, I'm obsessed with Harry Potter. I had high hopes from the moment this film was announced, and the hype following its release only made me expect more.
Fantastic Beasts follows the adventures of Newt Scamander, a young English wizard in 1920s New York. As hinted in the title, he encounters a problem in the form of a "fantastic beast", and enlists the help of two witches and a "No-Maj" (Muggle to us Brits) to ensure the safety and continued secrecy of the wizarding world.
Don't get me wrong, the cinematography was amazing and the acting was first-class, but that's about as far as the good points go. There were brief mentions of Hogwarts and Dumbledore, and the iconic theme tune played during the opening credits to remind you that this in fact a Harry Potter spin-off, but right from the off, you could feel the painful efforts made to ensure these films were different from the original series. The film, albeit complete with wands and plenty of magical creatures, felt different, like a rip-off from the originals. I also had a pretty huge issue with the plot. It felt as though the producers could get away with having a weak plot, because they knew the film itself would attract millions anyway. I thought you were better than that, Rowling.
At the end of the day, the film wasn't dreadful and had it been a stand alone film with no relation to Harry Potter, I would have enjoyed it more. Although, I left the cinema feeling disappointed, it was mainly because of my unrealistic expectations. To be honest, I would go and see the rest of the series, but mainly out of curiosity (and my devotion to Harry Potter).
Fantastic Beasts follows the adventures of Newt Scamander, a young English wizard in 1920s New York. As hinted in the title, he encounters a problem in the form of a "fantastic beast", and enlists the help of two witches and a "No-Maj" (Muggle to us Brits) to ensure the safety and continued secrecy of the wizarding world.
Don't get me wrong, the cinematography was amazing and the acting was first-class, but that's about as far as the good points go. There were brief mentions of Hogwarts and Dumbledore, and the iconic theme tune played during the opening credits to remind you that this in fact a Harry Potter spin-off, but right from the off, you could feel the painful efforts made to ensure these films were different from the original series. The film, albeit complete with wands and plenty of magical creatures, felt different, like a rip-off from the originals. I also had a pretty huge issue with the plot. It felt as though the producers could get away with having a weak plot, because they knew the film itself would attract millions anyway. I thought you were better than that, Rowling.
At the end of the day, the film wasn't dreadful and had it been a stand alone film with no relation to Harry Potter, I would have enjoyed it more. Although, I left the cinema feeling disappointed, it was mainly because of my unrealistic expectations. To be honest, I would go and see the rest of the series, but mainly out of curiosity (and my devotion to Harry Potter).