Photo Credits here
By Yu Borong and Shina Tan
Directed by David Yates, four-times Potter director, and written by J.K Rowling, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them is the first installment of a planned five-film series exploring the wizarding world in a time before the original Harry Potter series, in a society an ocean away from Great Britain.
Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a dedicated, if nervous and shy Brit, visits New York on his way back to the UK and wounds up accidentally switching his briefcase with one belonging to a No-Maj (American parlance for ‘Muggle’, or non-magical people). Half a dozen creatures from Newt’s menagerie of beasts escape, unleashing chaos upon the unsuspecting people of New York. As he proceeds on a quest to recover his creatures and prove their innocence, Newt finds himself caught in the middle of escalating tensions between bumbling bureaucrats and the violent No-Majs intent on tearing down the magical community, an echo of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.
As the movie progresses, we get introduced to various beasts with their fun abilities – from lock-picking Bowtruckles to invisible Demiguises, with a side of gorgeous Occamies and adorable Nifflers. On the other hand, we have the hateful Mary Lou Barebone, leader of the New Salem Philanthropic Society, Percival Graves, Director of Magical Security and Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and more, who build up the darker side of the movie. Interactions between Graves and Barebone’s charge, Credence, with the older man manipulating an abused and neglected Credence into doing his bidding, contrast sharply with Newt’s sometimes-comedic adventures through New York.
Here in New York, the stakes are higher and reality is harsher. Every potential villain is more vicious, more driven and more cunning – a lethal combination more dangerous than the schoolyard bullies of Harry Potter.
If you enjoyed this movie, you could consider watching the Harry Potter films – after all, that’s where the magic began.
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