Fantastic Beasts Crimes of Grindelwald review | Entertainment

fantastic beasts

Eddie Redmayne returns to take on Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) in the second instalment of J.K. Rowling’s fantasy adventure series.

Gellert Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and has begun gathering followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one capable of putting a stop to him is the wizard he once called his closest friend, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law). However, Dumbledore will need to seek help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander (Redmayne).

Directed by David Yates (‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1’, ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince‘)

Starring Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler

Written by J.K. Rowling

In cinemas NOW

So, what’d we think?

No matter how old I get, the Harry Potter universe is still one of my absolute favourites and I can’t help but be drawn in anytime a new iteration of the characters and the world hits the big screen.

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald is an enchanting addition to the world of Harry Potter with its explosive action sequences, amazing cast, impressive world building and outstanding magical moments.

It’s everything I wanted in a sequel and more.

The film follows Newt Scamander (Redmayne), our delightful protagonist who’s tasked with tracking down rogue wizard Grindelwald (Depp), a charismatic man with a cult following who is in the throws of causing an uprising against muggles. Who gives Newt this task? That bearded wizard we’ve all come to know and love, Dumbledore (Law).

While searching for Grindelwald, Newt is also trying to reconnect with Tina Goldstein (Waterston) and reach a highly coveted wizard named Credence Barebone (Miller) who wields an insane amount of power and whose purpose is unclear until the last few frames of the film.

There’s a lot going on.

It’s epic AF.

It’d be remiss to talk about this film without mentioning the talented cast who really bring this world to life. Jude Law is phenomenal as a young Dumbledore and his performance beautifully mirrors the wise, quirky and strong parts of the characters personality that Michael Gambon so wonderfully crafted in the Harry Potter films. While Johnny Depp’s casting was met with a lot of controversy after his personal life hit the tabloids, I have to say that his performance as Grindelwald is flawless. Ezra Miller gives a phenomenal performance as the misunderstood, confused and slightly strange Credence who I would say is actually the biggest character in the whole film; he’s the prize possession our characters are trying to get their hands on throughout the whole film.

Of course, the cast from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them are just as amazing as they were in the original and you could easily tell that they felt more comfortable in this world and in their characters this time around. It made for a better watch and the film didn’t feel stagnant at any stage.

The film is a lot lighter than the first with the characters now more familiar and the world more firmly established. The magical creatures are just as grand and wild as the first however instead of throwing every creature under the sun at us as they did in film one, Crimes of Grindelwald takes a more subdued approach to introducing key creatures that really serve the story and the sticky situations Newt finds himself in.

There are some great tie-ins to the original Harry Potter stories that I was living for. With characters such as Nicolas Flamel (Philosopher’s Stone) making an appearance and the origin of Dumbledore’s phoenix explained, hardcore Harry Potter fans will be thoroughly enchanted by this film.

Let’s quickly talk about twists.

If you aren’t going to watch this movie for any other reason, watch it for the mystery. Right up until the last second, you’re trying to figure out what is going on and who is on the right side and are these characters you’ve come to like really who you think they are. It’s exciting, it’s thrilling and the revelations at the end leave you needing to binge the next movie ASAP.

But, should you see it?

If the Harry Potter movies were your jam growing up and you’re still partial to a little magic in your life, then you definitely need to see this on the big screen. A bigger and better film than the first, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald will keep you entertained and leave you wanting more.

What is your favourite Harry Potter movie or book?

See more:

Written by Chrissy Thompson

A massive fan of a sing-along and dancing in the rain, Chrissy is an incredible artist who usually has a sketch pad in hand. A lover of nature, she spends her weekends hiking with her partner, taking pictures of her adorable pug Rosie and learning a new skill.

Favourite fashion and decor style: Boho-chic