'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' Review

I attended an early screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Wednesday evening after months and months of anticipation build-up. Since I hadn't formerly reviewed the Harry Potter films and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them fit into J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, I thought it would be fun to re-read each novel, rewatch the corresponding film and then review them here on my blog over the course of the previous four months. If you happened to miss any of my previous Harry Potter reviews you can find them at the subsequent hyperlinks: Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows: Part 1 & Part 2.

'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' Review

Nominated For: Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.

Won: Best Costume Design.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them follows Newt Scamander, a Magizoologist (an expert on magical beasts) with a case filled with magical creatures, and the insane shenanigans that ensue once he reaches New York City in 1926 and an accident leads to the escape of a few creatures. Scamander winds up teaming up with a M.A.C.U.S.A. Auror (American magic detective), a Legilimens (mind reader), and a No-Maj (American for Muggle or non-magical folk) to round up his escaped beasts and prevent the wizarding and No-Maj worlds from colliding and overturning the International Statute of Secrecy (legislation intended to keeps the magical community hidden from the non-magical). 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the first Wizarding World spin-off that will supposedly be the first in a series of five Fantastic Beasts films and likely spawn other spin-off franchises under the Wizarding World umbrella if all are successful. It's connections to the Harry Potter series are few but intriguing to say the least. The first thing you should probably know is that Newt Scamander is the author of one of Harry Potter's textbooks also titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, that's the primary connection but there are some other threads fans will pick up on. 

David Yates, who directed the last four Harry Potter films, returns to explore a new corner of the Wizarding World crafted up by J.K. Rowling in her screenwriting debut. Yates brings the same energy and enchantment to Fantastic Beasts as he did in his Harry Potter films, conjuring thrilling sequences and maintaining a sense of wonder. The technical crew behind Fantastic Beasts also ought to be commended as the cinematographer, costumers, visual effects artists, and production design team work together seamlessly to produce 1920's New York City and the underlying magical community. Composer James Newton Howard effectively blends John Williams' classic theme with some original Jazz-like compositions into a fabulous score that serves as a nice undercurrent to the ongoing adventure.

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, treads new ground as a screenwriter and her first foray into screenwriting wasn't bad but she still shows room for improvement. Rowling's script finds itself to be a little bloated thanks to extraneous plot lines solely included to lay the groundwork for future installments. I was much more interested in the quartet of heroes and the beasts then the avenues Rowling explored and was slightly disappointed the film didn't center around finding the beasts as I was hoping it would have. 

It's almost as though Fantastic Beasts is two films morphed together, one about Newt Scamander and his beasts and the other about Gellert Grindelwald, so it wasn't quite what I expected but enjoyable nonetheless. The film suffers from some pacing issues throughout as it must cut from one superfluous sequence about the Second Salemers to the adventurous quest to find Newt's beasts. However with all that being said, Rowling shines in exploring the magical mythology and simply creating an enchanting atmosphere for her characters to thrive in. 

The beasts themselves are the real stars, stealing the spotlight for either a laugh or look of amazement. Some beasts are adorable while others will just leave the viewer awe-struck. The CGI made some very convincing likable creatures, so much so that when the film shifts away from the beast storyline it will likely annoy the viewer and wear their patience since the other storylines are slower paced. 

The cast bring about many new characters the viewer will likely latch onto through some solid performances. Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander made for a charming and simultaneously awkward lead character and his compassion towards his characters is one of the character's strengths. My only issue was that Redmayne's accent was so thick I had difficulty understanding a some of his dialogue when his character mumbles. 

Dan Fogler plays Jacob Kowalski and will likely be an audience favorite as his character is very endearing. Fogler plays Kowalski as the comedic relief, humorously reacting to the wizarding world through a No-Maj's eyes, and also manages to be grounded in the film's emotional core for the more touching moments. The friendship between he and Newt is one of the better developed character relationships in the film and also the most entertaining one for they make a very odd pairing. 

Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol portry a pair of magical sisters Tina and Queenie, Waterston imbues confidence, dedication, and loyalty in Tina while Sudol brings a kindred spirit to Queenie. The quartet have a natural chemistry about them and are delightful group of heroes I hope to follow in subsequent installments. 

Ezra Miller's Credence is painted to be a pathetic wimp who's scared of showing the world what he truly is and cowers from any sign of danger, Miller dedicates himself to the role but I found that the characterization crippled the character.

Colin Farrell carries forth gravitas and an air of confidence to Percival Graves, proving to be a formidable foe with murky motivations. For those of you that are kept up with the news cycle it's likely been spoiled for you that Johnny Depp was cast in the franchise and I won't divulge his role to ensure I don't ruin the surprise, but be aware he's in the film for a quick minute with minuscule dialogue if any at all. 

At the end of it all I can say that I'm very curious to see where Newt will be headed next as Rowling has stated she has plans for at least five Fantastic Beast films, but can say this was a sufficient setup for them should Warner Bros. choose to carry forward. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a charming and spellbinding return to the Wizarding World that doesn't have to hold the scrutiny of being measured to any source material and is simply a delightful filmgoing experience. 

Film Assessment: B-

Throwback Thursday Review: 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2'

Well after four months I've reached the end of my Harry Potter reviews with my thoughts on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 to tie in with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which I watched last evening so expect a full review within a day or two. I changed my mind on what my Throwback Thursday Review will be as I decided to review Lilo & Stitch instead of Frozen to coincide with Moana, since it centers on Polynesian culture and also to save my review of Frozen for the inevitable sequel that's in active development. In the meantime other reviews you can expect from me in the next week or two include Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, The Edge of Seventeen, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Moana, and Allied. If you missed any of my previous Harry Potter reviews you can find them at the subsequent hyperlinks Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' Review

Nominated For: Best Makeup, Best Visual Effects, and Best Art Direction.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is the eighth film in the Harry Potter series adapting the second half of the final novel following up on Harry, Ron, and Hermoine's quest to destroy Voldemort's remaining horcruxes leading to the inevitable final confrontation with Voldemort himself.  

As I've said before, I'm not the biggest fan of film adaptations that split the book into two parts since it leaves both feeling slightly incomplete, a buildup with no real climax and a climax with minimal buildup. However, I think Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 suffers significantly less than Part 1 because it's the payoff the entire series has built towards and there's much more action to peak the viewer's interest.

David Yates returns to finish out the series and puts forth a strong conclusion to the franchise, at least till this weekend's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that looks to expand the Wizarding World both linearly and geographically by exploring America's Wizarding community of New York in 1926. Yates and his crew once again bring the various intricacies of the Wizarding World to life in a manner that continues to leave the viewer spellbound. Cinematographer Eduardo Serra frames the bleak scenery expertly while the visual effects and production design teams create convincing captivating creatures, enchanting environments, and incredible incantations.

Steve Kloves' screenplay is an adequate translation of Rowling's novel but one issue I have is that a few significant moments from the novel are shortchanged in favor of a slimmer running time and there are some alterations that I feel aren't as impactful as the original source material. I'm typically not sensitive about how faithful an adaptation of a book is but in this case I felt a couple changes detracted from the overall narrative strength of the story being told. Alexandre Desplat's compositions, appropriately melancholy and uplifting when necessary, make an excellent accompaniment to the pivotal moments both heartbreaking and riveting.

The enormous cast reunites practically every surviving character remaining in the Wizarding World for the final showdown. Daniel Radcliffe embraces the heroism that surrounds Harry Potter embodying bravery, selflessness, wit, and humility as he has previously but with a more mature demeanor evidenced in his performance this time around. Radcliffe showcases nuance and subtly that make watching his portrayal all the more rewarding. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint make the perfect supporting heroes, offering intellect and courage galore as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. 

Ralph Fiennes continues to play Voldemort as a reserved insightful menace and it comes to fruition with the final chapter. 

Alan Rickman offers complexity and emotional depth in his final turn as Severus Snape that's simply incredible and will likely leave fans in tears considering Rickman's recent passing earlier this year. 

Returning significant cast members include Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, George Harris, David Thewlis, Natalia Tena, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, Domhnall Gleeson, Clémence Poésy, Bonnie Wright, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Devon Murray, Jessie Cave, Katie Leung, John Hurt, Simon McBurney, Warwick Davis, Helena Bonham Carter, Dave Legeno, Helen McCrory, Jason Isaac, and Tom Felton who all do well in the time allotted (I won't bother listing out the character names since the cast is so immense). Ciarán Hinds is introduced as Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus' brother, and does a great job with the screen-time dedicated to his character. 

In summary, David Yates in collaboration with his wonderful cast and crew offer up one of the best films in the franchise that's simultaneously technically proficient, well-acted, and an effective translation of the source material. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is the ultimate conclusion for the franchise that provides enough heart-wrenching moments, engaging action and superstitious spectacle to please even casual viewers of the franchise.

Film Assessment: A+

Throwback Thursday Review: 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1'

I apologize for the late review but I had a busy week and only just now managed to find rime to sit down and watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Next week I will conclude my Harry Potter reviews with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 to tie in with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In the meantime other reviews you can expect from me soon include Arrival, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1' Review

Nominated For: Best Visual Effects and Best Art Direction.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is the seventh film in the Harry Potter series adapting the first half of the final novel. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they undergo the mission left to them by Dumbledore to locate and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, pieces of Voldemort's soul hidden in various objects, in hopes of ultimately defeating Voldemort himself only to learn of the three most powerful object in magical history, the Deathly Hallows.

As you may know if you've read my reviews of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1 & Part 2 I'm not a fan of when a studio decides to split a book into two films upon adapting it for the big screen, seeing as both halves feel incomplete. That's once again the case with this film seeing as it's mostly build-up that doesn't pay off till the next half. 

David Yates returns to direct the final installments and thoroughly examines the politics of the Wizarding World amidst the chaos that has befallen it in addition to telling the crucial tale at hand. Yates once again brings the Wizarding World to life thanks to the phenomenal work from the cinematographer Eduardo Serra, costuming department, production design team, and visual effects artists. The enchanting world we've come to know feels plunged into darkness as a nice representation and symbolic showing of how Voldemort's rise to power would affect the Wizarding World. 

The screenplay penned by Steve Kloves does an excellent job translating J.K. Rowling's novel to the big screen, making miniscule alterations to either enhance the narrative or trim down the running time and fit everything necessary. 

One issue is that by the very nature of the story, the film is primarily the Hogwarts trio running around, hiding, and searching for Horcruxes and so naturally there's some teen angst and melodramatics among the group in the second act that isn't all that interesting to watch. It's not the fault of Kloves but only part of the source material being adapted that's being stretched slightly to extend over the course of four to five hours in two films, a factor that I believe makes a case for a Harry Potter Netflix series that could be quite successful as they can take as much or as little time necessary to tell the entire story of one year over the course of episodes in one season as opposed to one film and likely make for an entirely faithful adaptation of the source material. Alexandre Desplat takes up the mantle of composer and crafts a gorgeous score that is filled with both hope and despair and the perfect parallel to the events on screen. 

The cast includes returning members from the previous six films as well as some new additions that all prove up to the task. Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter continues to mature as he steps further into the role of the Chosen One and hero of the Wizarding World, Emma Watson remains the ever consoling and insightful shoulder to lean on as Hermione Granger, and Rupert Grint brings charm and courage to Ron Weasley. 

Ralph Fiennes makes a grand overcoming and enigmatic threat of Voldemort, making the inevitable confrontation between himself and Potter all the more exciting for the concluding chapter. 

Returning significant cast members include Robbie Coltrane, Brendan Gleeson, David Thewlis, Natalia Tena, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Harry Melling, John Hurt, Simon McBurney, Toby Jones,Warwick Davis, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Dave Legeno, Helen McCrory, Jason Isaac, Tom Felton, Timothy Spall, and Imelda Staunton who all do well in the time allotted but are cast into a more secondary supporting role as the film focuses on the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione (the cast is so immense now that I won't bother listing out the character names for those who don't have a major role to play). Additions to the growing cast include Bill Nighy's Minister Rufus Scrimgeour and Rhys Ifans' Xenophphilius Lovegood who each have their own vital role to play in the overarching story.

In conclusion, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is another technically proficient chapter in the Harry Potter franchise with a grand visuals, an enchanting score from Alexandre Desplat, and tremendous performances from a gifted ensemble cast. It's problems lie in the feeling of incompleteness and some of the less interesting storytelling to be found in the second act. When paired with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 it makes an excellent companion piece but when separated it doesn't manage to stand confidently on its own.

Film Assessment: B-

'The Legend of Tarzan' Review

I apologize that this review has been significantly delayed as I actually just got around to seeing The Legend of Tarzan thanks to some unforeseen complications and a busy schedule.

'The Legend of Tarzan' Review

The Legend of Tarzan picks up a decade after the classic tale of Tarzan written by Edgar Rice Burroughs (not to be confused with Disney's animated adaptation Tarzan as this film is in no way correlated to Disney's version since The Legend of Tarzan is a Warner Bros. production) where we find that Tarzan has adopted his official monicker of John Clayton III and grown accustomed to a lavish life in London. Tarzan must return to his true home to thwart imperial schemes threatening all life in the African Congo and that's where the adventure begins. 

One thing that I think should be made expressly clear in this review is that The Legend of Tarzan is in no way, shape or form a retelling of Tarzan's origin, although there are some flashbacks intermitted that flesh out the backstory for this specific adaptation. However, I found myself wishing that the film did retell Tarzan's origin because I'd love to see a modern live-action take on it and especially with the talented cast amassed for the flick. **Psst** Disney, please make a live-action adaptation of the animated film and use the technology showcased in The Jungle Book because that would be terrific. Although with Disney's crowded slate of films, I'm not sure when a live-action Tarzan could feasibly happen. 

David Yates, director of all Harry Potter films post-Goblet of Fire and even the upcoming spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, takes charge of The Legend of Tarzan and I must admit his direction and the other technical elements are a mixed bag, soaring in their heights and drowning in a sea of boring bleakness in their lowest points.

Yates tries one of the latest Hollywood tropes by bringing about a dreary reimagining of a classic character (ala Man Of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). I'm not knocking Yates' abilities as a director but rather commenting that he doesn't have a distinctive voice.

As for the cinematography, Yates and cinematographer Henry Braham in many instances captured gorgeous imagery of the lush African jungle shrouded by mist and natural light while also bringing some sloppy camera work, reminiscent of The Hunger Games, and the remaining portions of the film are lit in a grim grayscale that evokes a darker tone for the film reflected in the grittier more mature narrative and the grounded fight choreography. 

The visual effects seem a bit mediocre in comparison to this year's The Jungle Book and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, films reliant on computer generated animals that look exceptionally real in comparison to the gorillas here. 

The screenplay is penned by Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer, and unfortunately neither saw it fitting to to explore the character of Tarzan or any character for that matter. The story's convoluted, the dialogue is cheesy, and the entire thing lacks energy (something a movie about a man swinging through the jungle hooping and hollering desperately needs). 

The only charisma to be found in the flick comes from Samuel L. Jackson's George Washington Williams. The remaining cast members all give quality performances but aren't granted exciting material to work with. 

Alexander Skarsgård brings the sheer impressive physicality of Tarzan, going the extra mile by even ensuring he has posture of a man raised by apes, and a more intellectual mind now that he's become the civilized Brit John Clayton III but doesn't get to do much beyond that with such a shallow lead role. He does provide a terrific trademark Tarzan yell, works well in action sequences, and sure can swing around. 

Margot Robbie has proven herself to be quite the actress hitting the nail of role after role straight on the head, I can't wait to see her kick butt as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, and this film is no exception. Margot Robbie makes for a more capable Jane Porter, who although characterized as a damsel can certainly fend for herself if need be. Robbie like her other costars isn't given much to work with, but does the best she can with the lackluster material provided. 

Samuel L. Jackson steals the show as the charming George Washington Williams, a real historic figure, bringing fun and levity to the proceedings. Jackson seems to be the only actor enjoying himself and was certainly the only one with a smile on his face for the entire runtime (I'm not qualifying any mischievous grins from Christoph Waltz). 

Christoph Waltz's villainous role as Captain Leon Rom is all too reminiscent of his roles in Inglorious Basterds and Spectre, a refined wacko in charge of some malicious organization, but he's done it better in those films. I seriously hope that Waltz isn't headed in the direction of Johnny Depp where he will play a single caricature in upcoming films because I'd prefer to see something new from Waltz, and it's not to be found in The Legend of Tarzan. 

Poor Djimon Hounsou is given another relatively small antagonistic role in yet another big budget franchise, similar in size to his roles in Furious 7 and Guardians of the Galaxy. Hounsou is great as Chief Mbongo, but is used in such a small capacity it may have been a better idea to just leave his character out of the story altogether.

With all that being said, there are some aspects that saved the film for me. For one, the third act finale is epic and full of grandeur adventure as Tarzan leads a wildebeest charge. Up to this point, I had found most of the first and second acts be sluggish and boring at times as it was very uneventful and a tad uninteresting till the characters reached Africa, and even then I didn't ever feel the raw energy that should be emulated from a Tarzan movie till the third act. Another saving grace was the score composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams. Greyson-Williams' score fit perfectly with ongoing events and when the action got going, African drums crescendoed instilling a more adventurous undercurrent, but unfortunately this daring fun tone wasn't carried forth into the entire film. Just another thing The Jungle Book did right.

The Legend of Tarzan is worth watching at some point and maybe when the film swings onto home media release will be a prime rental, but is just a so-so Tarzan movie that's too dark and gritty for it's own good.

Film Assessment: C+