Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Rowling magic is back!

'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is in theaters nationwide

So often these days, once you’ve seen a couple of trailers from a movie you’ve seen the best the film has to offer. This is not the case with David Yates’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”  This prequel to the Harry Potter saga, written by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, has so much more going on beyond the enchanting teaser trailers.

Its 1926, dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) has gone underground, and the wizarding world is on alert. English wizard/magizoologist Newt Scamander (Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne) arrives in New York City carrying an enchanted suitcase full of magical creatures. Unfortunately, the suitcase isn’t quite able to properly contain the beasties. A kind no-maj (muggle) named Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) gets dragged into the center of the action when he accidentally switches suitcases with Newt, and unwittingly allows some fantastic beasts loose in the city.

A witch named Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) notices Newt looking suspicious outside of a bank, and decides to investigate. When she witnesses him expose magic to no-majes, she arrests him, and takes him to MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America). She reports to an auror (magical law enforcer) named Graves (Colin Farrell), who’s up to no good. Graves is having secret meetings with an orphaned boy named Credence (Ezra Miller) whose guardian is out to prove that witches are real and living among them. Newt, Jacob, Tina, and her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) must recover the magical creatures or face dire consequences.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” has the same kind of intensity as a Marvel superhero movie. It’s fast paced, and jam-packed with story and action from start to finish. It sports outstanding cinematography, writing, directing, music, and acting. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is not just some attempt by producers and movie studio to make a bunch of money by trading on the popularity of the Harry Potter franchise. Creativity, vision, talent, hard work, care, and love was put into every aspect of this movie.

Verdict: 5 out of 5 stars, a must see! “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is a sensational thrill ride. It is definitely not just for kids, this is a grown up movie featuring grown up characters and story. For more information visit the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” official website and Facebook Page.

Harry Potter marathon during Fantastic Beasts opening weekend

Harry Potter Weekend on "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" opening weekend 

As every Potterhead knows, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opens Friday, November 

18. Freeform is adding to the excitement by airing a Harry Potter Weekend. “Fantastic Beasts and 

Where to Find Them” is the title of one of Harry Potter’s school books at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The book was written by wizard/magizoologist Newt Scamander. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” tells the story of Newt Scamander’s adventures in the magical community in 1920s New York City.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is the first film in a five picture deal. Producers and Warner Bros. announced that the movie series will also focus on the story of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald who, along with Albus Dumbledore planned to conquer the muggle (non-magical) world. No word yet on who will play Dumbledore, but Johnny Depp has been cast as Grindelwald, whom Dumbledore split from, and defeated in 1945.

Fans will be able to see “Fantastic beasts and Where to Find Them, and then head home and continue the magic with the “Harry Potter Weekend” on Freeform. “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix won’t air during the movie marathon. The TV rights to the fifth movie in the Harry Potter series currently belong to HBO/Cinemax.

“Harry Potter Weekend” schedule (times are Eastern Standard Time, times subject to change by Freeform):  

Friday, Nov. 18:

3:30 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

7 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”

Sat., Nov. 19:

7 a.m. – “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”

10:30 a.m. – “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”

2:30 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

5:30 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

9 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”

12:30 a.m. – “Tom Felton Meets the Super Fans”

Sun., Nov. 20:

7 a.m. – “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

10:10 a.m. – “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

1:50 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”

5:30 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1”

9 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows, Part 2”

Mon., Nov. 21:

2 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1”

5:30 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2”

Tues., Nov. 22:

5 p.m. – “Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows, Part 2”

As always, viewers will be able to tweet along with Freeform’s  official Twitter account using  #HarryPotter, and #HarryPotterWeekend all weekend. Freeform will also post some fun content on their official Facebook Page. Visit Freeform’s official website for more information.