“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Review

JK Rowling has blessed us once again with her imagination

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Review

Kate Gaynor, Staff Writer

Ever since 1997, when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was first published, people of all ages have been enamored by JK Rowling’s endless imagination and creativity. They anxiously awaited for each book release, desiring to see how Harry Potter’s character had developed and craving to discover what new struggle he would inevitably end up in with none other than Lord Voldemort. By the end of the long, seven novel series, Rowling delivered the final ending that all Potter fans desperately hoped for: Harry (with some help) murdered Voldemort!

Thus, when it was announced that a magical themed movie written by JK Rowling herself was going to be released, Harry Potter fanatics were ecstatic (which I know, because I am one of them).

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set in New York City in 1926, but revolves around the journey and decisions of Newt Scamander, a wizard from Britain who travels to America to release one of his extraordinary magical creatures. Newt is played by famous actor Eddie Redmayne, who likely captured the hearts of most of the audience with his good looks, charm, and kind heart.

The conflict begins when Newt, who takes care of all sorts of magical creatures, accidentally switches his briefcase (with all of the outlandish creatures inside) with the briefcase of a muggle/non-magical person. In his determined conquest to get his bag back from the clueless man, Newt is seen by Tina, a witch who works for the Magical Congress of the USA. Tina, played by Katherine Waterston, attempts to have Newt arrested but originally fails.  

However, the story becomes a bit more complicated when Jacob, the non-magical man who took Newt’s case, accidentally releases three of the magical creatures that were contained in it. Newt and Jacob work together and search all over the city to find the creatures before they could cause any disruptions. They succeed in catching the creatures, but once the Magical Congress finds out that Newt has an extremely dark and dangerous parasite (Obscurus) with him, they arrest him.

Besides this, a series of dramatic and destructive events are happening in the city. Wizards in the Magical Congress suspect that the mysterious killing of a non-wizard and deadly occurrences are the work of an Obscurus.

Will Newt and Tina be able to escape and help solve this city’s magical mystery? To find out, go see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them or purchase it on DVD when it is released!