The year is 1926, A magical zoologist named Newt Scamander, who has made a brief stop in New York City with a brief case full of magical creatures. On the way to meeting a breeder of a magical he runs into Jacob Kowalski played by Dan Fogler, a former WW1 vet/ cannery worker who is trying to get a loan to start a bakery. After a problem at the bank the two switch cases which results in Jacob letting a few of the beasts out of the case.

A Demoted Auror, Porpentina or Tina Goldstein played by Katherine Waterston arrests Newt for being an unregistered wizard and takes him to the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) headquarters, where they learn that Jacob has set some of the beasts loose. David Yates returns directing his 5^th Harry Potter film as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a spinoff of the popular books and is actually the screen writing debut of J.K Rowling, the author of the books.

The movie works well in the 20’s Era and definitely introduces very interesting and likeable characters. While I couldn’t help geeking out at the references to Hogwarts and familiar spells the pacing is one thing that doesn’t work in the movie. Some scenes were like beating a dead horse with the exposition and some were exciting and fun. The fun takes over most of the movie but it manages to be one of the darkest wizarding world movies.

Eddie Redmayne was really good in the movie and played a socially awkward character who couldn’t maintain eye contact for more then 3-5 seconds but was still likable. Some of the trailers made him look a bit menacing but he is way different in the film. Katherine Waterston plays Porpentina Goldstein, an Auror (an employee of the MACUSA whose mission is to pursue and apprehend Dark wizards) who has been demoted but still tries to perform her job and apprehend people. Her performance was great too as a supporting character. Dan Fogler plays pretty much someone from the audience, in awe of his surroundings as he sees magical beasts and wizards as unbelievable as they are he sparks the adventure by setting some of the beasts loose by accident. Colin Farrell plays Graves a Auror who is searching for a child who is magical but holds down the magical power and becomes an obscurus. An obscurus can’t live past the age of 10 and graves seeks help from local teenager Credence Barebone played by Ezra Miller, who feels like he has no purpose as he has an abusive home life. Both Miller and Farrell do good for how little time they have in this movie. The cast is great and is full of talented actors.

The fantastic beasts in the movie are quite fantastic as some are as small as a twig to as big as an elephant. Some of my favorites included the Bowtruckle, Niffler, Erumpent, Demiguise, and the Thunder Bird. Most of them have personality and Newt has a personal relationship with them. The case can support each creature’s habitat and we see this in one scene as the inside changes climates, terrains, and more as Newt cares for all of them. The movie is very relevant as it shows that we should be studying animals instead of killing them which is Newts main motive for keeping all these creatures so he can study them and make everyone in the wizarding world aware. Overall, I really enjoyed the movie and it utilizes the 3D well and while there are some pacing issues it was an still enjoyable and fun film. I give it a 8.2/10!