Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Movie review

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Movie review

Arts and Entertainment, Informative, Opinion, Video Comments Off on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Movie review

by Abigail King

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an action/fantasy spin off the Harry Potter series. It stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Katherine Waterston as Porpentina Goldstein, Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski and Fine Frenzy who plays Queenie Goldstein,.

Set during the American Jazz Age, the film follows the four characters as they search for runaway magical beasts and try to save New York City from a magical disturbance, which threatens to expose the wizarding world to mainstream America.

Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a British wizard, comes to New York City in 1926 in hopes of returning Frank, the Thunderbird, to his rightful habitat in Arizona. Instead, some other magical species that Scamander has in his suitcase break free and cause mischief in the city.

After an accidental mix-up of suitcases with a No-Maj (Muggles), Scamander realizes that there is a bigger problem than just his escaped animals. An unexplained magical entity is terrorizing New York and a group called New Salem Philanthropic Society is trying to start a purge for witches and wizards.

Overall, I was amazed by how well the film was made. The directors did an amazing job with bringing the movie to life and making me feel immersed in that world. It made the concept of a magical world within our own world seem believable.

The set design and lighting for the movie gives a realistic feel for what it would be like in 1926. This creates a better connection with the audience and brings out the realism in the movie.

The directors bring life through the set design making it astoundingly colorful for the audience which conveys a “magical”feel. In the movie the real world is darker, making a grungy and negative feel and the wizarding world is completely the opposite.

Fantastic Beasts isn’t all fantasy and wonder. Themes of discrimination and abuse are prevalent in the film.

Author J.K. Rowling uses her powerful writing style to show different forms of abuse and its affect on people. Both emotional and physical abuse are addressed in the film. It shows that all abuse is unhealthy, and there should be more awareness of this in today’s society. I’m glad that the directors are taking a stand and speaking out about this subject.

Another thing I enjoyed is how the directors broke the normal guy-girl romance in movies and brought in two strong female protagonists, who end up unattached to any man. Like Katniss and other recent female leads, films seem to be encouraging girls to believe they can be strong and tough.

If you like watching movies about magic, action, or even animals then stop by Linway and watch Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them before it leaves the theaters.

Author

lshetler

GHS English Teacher

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