By Lilly. K. Drew
Written 2nd October 2018. Last edited 10th October 2026.
For all the Potter heads out there, the new Fantastic Beasts movie has been strongly anticipated. There has been much debate and speculation over the outcome of the events in the previous movie, while the trailers leading up to the recent release have certainly left fans with a lot more questions.
However, on Friday the 16th of November our prayers were answered! My friend Aimee and I excitedly made our way to the cinema, proudly dressed in our best Wizarding World merchandise, laden with popcorn and sweets galore. After two years of planning and waiting for this moment we desperately found our seats long before the adverts started.
Soon we were swept in to the magical 1920’s World of New York and Paris. We were reacquainted with the beloved characters Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol), Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller). We were also introduced to some new characters: Leta Lestrange, Theseus Scamander (Newt’s brother), and Nagini.
What particularly stood out though was Jude Law’s convincing role as the young Albus Dumbledore. Law connected to the character well, winning over the hearts of the viewer and leaving us wanting more. Although Dumbledore did not have many scenes in the film, Jude Law understood how important the role of his character was to the plot, and he set himself up well for a more hands on role in the next instalment of the franchise.
Of course, it is also worth mentioning Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the villain, Gellert Grindelwald. As one of the most important characters in the movie, it was essential that Depp did the role justice. From what I saw, the casting was excellent as Johnny Depp used his usual flair to captivate the audience.
The Crimes of Grindlewald featured some true ‘fan girl’ moments for hard core Potter fans, as a number of cameos were included. To name a few, Hogwarts, the Philosophers Stone, Nicolas Flamel and the Deluminator all made an appearance.
Directed by David Yates, the Crimes of Grindlewald featured some fantastic digital effects. I especially enjoyed the escape scene at the start of the film, and the final action scene, as the spell casting was very realistic. This enhanced how gripping the plot was for the viewer, because it made it feel like you were there.
If there is one thing to be disappointed about though, there was not enough focus on Gridelwald’s character for a movie named ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald’. I feel that the movie needed to have more focus on crimes being committed to do the title justice. What the movie should have been called is Fantastic Beasts: The Origins of Credence.
Throughout the film, it became more and more apparent that the question of Credence’s real identity was important. J. K. Rowling ensured that the viewer was led down numerous rabbit holes from the trailers leading up to the release, and then throughout the movie itself. The final scene of the movie leaves the viewer in a stunned silence. Aimee can vouch for me when I say that I was left both literally and metaphorically on the edge of my seat as the credits rolled!
If you want to see a movie featuring a tragic love story, action, adventure and the magic of Harry Potter, then Fantastic Beasts: the Crimes of Grindlewald is not one to be missed. Just ensure you are prepared for the epic cliffhanger ending. In the words of my friend Aimee: ‘the movie was jaw dropping, just wow!’
For more on all things Harry Potter, click here for the official website.
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