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.