Fantastic Beasts – a “fiction” which excites “children” of all ages.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is there to entertain the same audiences who were enchanted with the wizards, magicians and muggles of Harry Potter plus a few new fans perhaps.  Set in the streets of 1920s Manhattan this forms the backdrop to the story which stars Eddie Redmayne, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston, Colin Farrell, Alison Sudol, Samantha Mortona nd Carmen Ejogo and is directed by David Yates. The 20’s set was made where the Harry Potter Studios are in Leavesden. JK Rowling wrote the book first and then the screenplay – her first script. As in some other of Rowling’s works, controversy does enter the fray in this case where the city it is set in has xenophobic occupants who are grimly a little paranoid also. In walks Newt Scamander who is a magizoologist (Eddie Redmayne) who arrives with a suitcase full of magic and some fabby creatures under his arm. Soon after muggles escape after a bag switch and invade the city. Though it does hark back to the Harry Potter style genre it is guaranteed that viewers will see new beasts and they are inventive, engrossing and eye popping. There are divine members of the female species which is good including Queenie who can read minds and says to one person “Don’t worry honey. Most guys think what you were thinking, first time they meet me”.

Casting was very carefully orchestrated and the chemistry between the four main “heroes” is very happyistic and cosy. This is the first of five films, and you will find the costumes beautifully designed to help you get into the “character” of the story.

Coin Farrell’s Percival Graves is the wizarding world’s chief of police, Johnny Depp briefly appears as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.  For the rest of the story and obvious lows as well as highs – true to life itself, go and see Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them and wallow in the creative genius of a whole group of film industry bods who can give us such an enchanting and mesmerising time when we park ourselves in a comfy seat at the movies.  I defy you to wait until you can grab a DVD copy!!  See it and enjoy!

Penny Nair Price