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The second installment of the “Fantastic Beasts” series set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World featuring the adventures of magizoologist Newt Scamander.
Prequels are a tricky thing, just check out “Star Wars: Episodes I, II, and III” for proof of that. While they do have their followers, for the most part, the die-hard fans were bitterly disappointed with them, including yours truly. With the original trilogy, there was at least heart and emotion, we cared about Luke and Leia, Han and Chewie, and even the droids, but when Lucas decided to go back in time and present to us, the origins of Darth Vader, he took one big misstep for mankind, one huge miscalculation for Star Wars fans.
Now author J.K. Rowling has followed in his footsteps. Like Lucas, she created a magical and enchanting world about wizards and witches, spells and incantations, and lovable and despicable characters, all who existed in the same cosmos. And they were all led by a young boy named Harry Potter. While I have never read any of the books, the movies are absolutely spellbinding (pun intended) and deal with the age-old battle of good vs. evil. After “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” Rowling announced sometime later that she was working on a new series of stories and within a few years, “Fantastic Beasts” was announced. Five in total.
The main issue with these prequels, however, which are set over 60 years before the events of Harry Potter, is that while it most certainly takes place within the same, magical universe, the heart and soul that made the Harry Potter series so successful, is sadly missing. When we were first introduced to our new protagonist, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a wizard and magizoologist, in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” he initially came across as shy and awkward, and very introverted. These characteristics were supposed to make Newt endearing, and at first, they were, but now we are up to the second film, and he is still as self-effacing and apprehensive as ever. He is no longer charming or adorable, rather, he is annoying and irritating. The whole point of making five movies in a series is so that all of the characters within can grow and mature from each and every situation they encounter, and because Newt is the story’s central lead, the person we are supposed to resonate and relate to most, he must evolve with each iteration but so far, he seems to have regressed, instead of progressed, and I just hope that with the remaining three films, he will come out of his annoying little cocoon and grow some balls!
At the end of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Newt and his friends successfully managed to capture Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), the infamous and very powerful dark wizard. As our new story begins, Grindelwald is being taken away from New York to Europe, under lock and guard, so he can stand trial for the crimes he committed there but as soon as he leaves the Magical Congress of the United States of America, with the help of some of his followers, he manages to escape and returns to Europe. Back in London at the Ministry of Magic, Newt is trying desperately to have his international travel ban revoked, asking his brother Theseus (Callum Turner), a highly trained Auror and the Director of Magical Security, to help him, after the mess he left behind in New York previously. He is told that Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), the Obscurus that caused so much damage to New York, is believed to be in Paris and searching for someone close to him. Newt is told if he accepts the mission and intercepts Credence, his travel ban will be lifted. He declines, refusing to get close to the boy again after the destruction he left behind in New York.
When Queenie (Alison Sudol) and Jacob (Dan Fogler) unexpectedly turn up at Newt’s house in London, she announces that they are going to get married. After some initial confusion on Newt’s part, after all, Jacob is a No-Maj (a person incapable of performing magic) and at the end of the first movie, Newt had to perform a spell to obliviate his memories so he would have no recollection of the magic world, but Queenie tells him that he was obviously unsusceptible to the spell, stating that No-Maj’s and wizards have different physiologies to different incantations. Realizing that Jacob is under a love spell, he frees him, and almost immediately, Jacob begins to freak out, wanting to know why Queenie cast the spell on him. She states that she wants to marry him but he is afraid to do so because if the Magical Congress of the United States of America finds out about them, they will be separated and his mind completely wiped of all memories of her. She storms off, telling him that her sister Tina (Katherine Waterston) is in Paris and she is going to meet her and then disappears.
Jacob makes his way back to Newt’s and learns that he and Tina fell out when she misunderstood that he was engaged to another woman, Leta Lestrange (Zoë Kravitz), when in actuality it was Newt’s brother, Theseus (Callum Turner). When Jacob informs him that Tina is in Paris and Queenie left to find her, the two set off to try and track both women down. Along the way, Newt meets Dumbledore (Jude Law) and he asks him to try and find Credence since he’s going to be in the same city, and because of their lasting friendship, Newt reluctantly agrees. Dumbledore tells him that Grindelwald will stop at nothing to get a hold of the boy and use him for his powers. In Paris, Credence and his friend, Nagini (Claudia Kim), manage to find an address where a relative of Credence supposedly lives but before they have a chance to ask her for information, Grimmson (Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson), a man who supposedly works for the Ministry of Magic, kills her and Credence transforms into the Obscurus and attacks the entire building but Grimmson manages to escape. Because of Credence’s desire to know who he is and where he comes from, Grindelwald approaches him and gives him an address and tells him to meet him there later that night and he will find out everything he needs to know about his past and his family tree.
Newt and Jacob eventually find Tina but cannot locate Queenie. She winds up getting lost in the rain in the backstreets of Paris but is eventually found by Rosier (Poppy Corby-Tuech), a seemingly kindhearted woman who takes her back to her place. After drying off, Queenie attempts to leave but is then confronted by Grindelwald himself. She pulls her wand out, knowing exactly who he is but he inspires her by saying that he wants freedom for wizards to do whatever they want, and to be with whomever they want, something she very much longs for in Jacob. After a close call at the French Ministry of Magic, Newt and Tina try to uncover the truth about Credence and are met by Leta, who, in turn, helps them escape after they cause a ruckus and are attacked by Matagots (spirit familiars that guard the French Ministry of Magic.) They eventually meet up with Jacob at the Père Lachaise Cemetery and make their way underground, where Grindelwald is giving an impassioned speech to his many followers. Realizing that Newt, Tina, and Jacob are among them, he gives everyone present a glimpse into the future, including World War II and the creation of the atomic bomb, and reminds them all that if they don’t take a stand and rise up, there will be nothing left of the world after the No-Maj’s are done with it. When Newt’s brother, Theseus turns up, accompanied by a large assemblage of wizarding police, it becomes clear early on, that the only way out of the cemetery, will be for both sides to fight. With family and friends switching allegiance, Newt and Tina must finally pick a side and stand their ground, if they are to see the light of day again, together.
Visually, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is spectacular. While the stunning CGI and practical special effects are sewn together seamlessly, the rest of the movie flounders. Too many subplots are introduced and not enough time is given to satisfactorily conclude them. With the Harry Potter films, characters were introduced that we either loved or loathed and they typically stayed with the series until the very end, or close to it, at whatever time, depending on which side they stood, we either cheered for their demise or mourned them. The point is, we had many movies in which we got to know them, for better or for worse. Here, decidedly important characters are made part of the story and by the end, are dispatched of just as quickly as they were introduced. We are given no time to properly make their acquaintance so their obliteration carries no weight whatsoever, we just can’t grieve for someone we hardly know. Everything feels lethargic like the actors were stuck on cruise control and given very little direction. Even the big action set pieces, while visually breathtaking, feel emotionally empty, and that is a shock as David Yates, who directed the last four Harry Potter films, also directed my all-time favorite of the series, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” For the next movie, I think the producers should go back to what made the first four Harry Potter movies so successful, by bringing in new blood and giving them the chance to work their magic. But that’s only a suggestion.
In theaters Friday, November 16th
