Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

— Eddie Redmayne is just a really likeable actor and he does a very good job in this film. For those of us who read the Harry Potter books as they were released and as Harry grew, we were ready to get away from the confines of Hogwarts. “Fantastic Beasts” pulls witchcraft and wizardry out of Hogwarts and all the way to 1920’s New York City where American and European wizarding can meld. It’s a fine tale with some likable fantastic beasts, made a bit long as it introduces us to lots of characters, most of whom we assume will be part of the 5-film series. I saw the 3-D version and was impressed that David Yates spared us wands poking at our eyes or all kinds of horrible things flung at as by the Obscurial/Grindelwald. Instead, he managed to resist being infatuated with the technique. It’s a good film—enjoyable, entertaining, well done, and a springboard to more coming.

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[2016. 132 min. Directed by David Yates. Starring Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, and Colin Farrell.]
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/20/fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-review