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Critics Consensus: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them draws on Harry Potter's rich mythology to deliver a spinoff that dazzles with franchise-building magic all its own.
Critic Consensus: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them draws on Harry Potter's rich mythology to deliver a spinoff that dazzles with franchise-building magic all its own.
All Critics (311) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (231) | Rotten (80) | DVD (1)
In all, the movie is a cunning and peppy surprise, dulled only by the news that no less than four sequels await.
To its considerable credit, Fantastic Beasts is not the Potter retread it could easily-and very profitably-have been.
The film strains considerably under the weight of all its plot lines-it's never fun to be the movie with the origin story.
Rowling has a voluminous imagination and Yates keeps things humming along, although, as was also true of many Potter movies, there is often too much of a good thing.
At least the monsters, when compared with their co-stars, have some personality.
A lavish visual feast that nonetheless fails to cast any new spells over its audience.
Does it reach the extremely high standards of the first Harry Potter film? I would say no, it does not. But it is extremely likeable, and there was not one second in the entire two-hour run that I was bored.
While the film itself is fun, its place in the wizarding world continuity requires some more thought overall.
The perfect compliment to children who grew up with Harry Potter and are now adults ... The series looks back with the trappings of a film more tailored for adults in tone.
Director David Yates knows this world well and is able to bring this world to life with the same sense of wonderment.
Stirring Johnny Depp into the mix is not the solution I would have hoped for and gives me legitimate cause for concern going forward.
The closest thing to the grotesque incestuous f***pile that defines the deeper recesses of modern "fanfic" culture ever to grace a movie screen: a Doctor Who meets Pokemon mash-up rewritten into a tangential Harry Potter prequel.
There's a lot to recommend. This should satisfy both Harry Potter fans and fantasy enthusiasts as well. Director David Yates is back. He brings his quirky aesthetic to this new film and the touch is welcome. He directed the last four installments of the Harry Potter series and he will direct all 5 of these films as well. On the other hand, Steve Kloves, who adapted every Potter movies except Order of the Phoenix, is only a producer here. This time the script is penned by none other than author Dame J. K. Rowling herself. This is her first screenplay. She pretty much had free reign to adapt her work any way she saw fit. We get a wandering two-hour plus movie from a meager story thread. Fantastic Beasts is a suitably accomplished escapist adventure. However the attempts to mix upbeat fantasy with something more sinister, fall flat. At best, the tale is a fanciful stroll through a dreamlike world. Nicely photographed, with a lush score and special effects galore; these all unite to create an occasionally bewitching imaginary universe. fastfilmreviews.com
Super Reviewer
The magic franchise reboots with enough CGI to power a Jurassic Park reboot. The story and characterizations are thin but let's not be such whiny and spoiled consumers. Take what's good about the thing and go home and be happy.
Dedicated Harry Potter fans are more likely to feel underwhelmed by this extension of the wizarding world! The films multiple plot lines and side details aren't substantial enough to make this movie feel magical! An opening movie has to stand as the lead up to the sequels so fingers crossed for the 5 additional movies!
The beasts may be fantastic, but the story?.... M'eh. "Fantastic Beasts" lacks the rich, engaging and inspiring world ofHarry Potter -- but what ever could match that? Knowing, going in, that the film couldn't possibly replicate the Potter magic, you may be pleased by the derivative storyyline. Otherwsie, you may count the minutes until the theater empties.
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