Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Genre: Fantasy
Released: November 18, 2016
Running Time: 2h. 13 min.
Rating: 3/5 stars

*highlight white text to reveal spoilers*

In 1926, magizooologist Newt Schamander has entered New York City in hopes to find some rare breeds of beasts. However when a no-maj named Jacob accidentally takes the briefcase of beasts that Newt keeps with him, chaos ensues, and suddenly Newt is thrown into a wild adventure with new friends to find all the misplaced beasts.

I didn't know what I was expecting from this movie. I wasn't sure if I was looking for some sort of prequel for Harry Potter, or an action-packed movie filled with one of my favourite actors, Eddie Redmayne, but honestly, I left Fantastic Beasts feeling somewhat underwhelmed at somewhat confused. Idk, it just wasn't all I had hoped for.

Let me start with the positives first. Eddie Redmayne could play a potato and I would still go see the movie and gush about how great of an actor he is. There's just something about this man that is so charming, and he is able to adapt to literally play any role. I couldn't have imagined a better Newt and I thought he played the role perfectly.

I also really liked the whole beasts storyline. It was witty and funny and kept me interested. I really like Jacob and him and Newt going to find the beasts was very entertaining. I liked how the beasts were portrayed and the scene where they go inside the briefcase and see all of the beasts was really well done.

Now to the not so good things. What the hell was the point of Ezra Miller? Every once in a while we'd just go to his character and this weird witch organization with this little girl and I was so confused??? I did not understand the significance/relevance of those parts at all and I was very bored.

I also didn't really get the end. The crisis seemed so out of loop with the whole "fantastic beasts" story and I just couldn't grasp it. And then Johnny Depp shows up and I was like: whaaattt?? I did not understand.

So overall, a good movie, but not as great as everyone says it was. I needed more of the beasts storyline and less of the orphanage to have been thoroughly engaged throughout the entire thing.

Have you seen Fantastic Beasts? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Harry Potter Novella's: The Tales of Beetle and the Bard and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by: J.K. Rowling

The Tales of Beetle and the Bard 

Genre: Fantasy 

Published: December 4, 2008 by: Bloomsbury 

Pages: 108 

Rating: 5/5 stars 

Enchanting stories and myths that have delighted wizard children for ages, The Tales of Beetle and the Bard consists of 5 mystical stories translated from ancient runes, all about the wizarding world. The stories may have been familiar to us from The Harry Potter series, and now there ours to read to a get glimpse on some "wizard style" fairytales. 

I have been wanting to get my hands on this book since forever! The stories look absolutely mysterious, and I was especially excited to read the 4 stories we have only heard about in Harry Potter, but never read about. For those of you unfamiliar, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione receives a book containing wizard fairytales that the wizarding world grew up with. Now, J.K. Rowling has published the stories so that we may read all about them. This woman has a damn great imagination. 

I'm going to go classic here and say that my favourite story was The Tale of the Three Brothers, because that story is oh-so-chilling, especially if you know the significance behind it. However I also really loved "The Warlock's Hairy Heart", it was equally funny and mysterious. To be honest, all of the stories were amazingly thought out, and believe it or not, had some great morals and lessons to be learned as well. As we all know, Ms. Rowling does magic well. 

Pick up this book if you'd love to look more into the stories of the ancient Harry Potter world, or if you just simply love fairytale-style books! I think anyone would enjoy these :D 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 

Genre: Fantasy 

Published: June 1, 2001 by: Arthur A. Levine 

Pages: 64 

Rating: 5/5 stars 

The ever so popular magical monsters guide, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was written by magic zoologist Newt Scamander, as an alphabetical guide to the wizarding world's magical creatures. Now, us muggles can read them to get a glimpse, just in case you might cross a basilisk or a troll in your lifetime. 

This book was utterly hilarious and so adorable! Another wizarding-world style novella, Rowling set this one up in the style that it belongs to Harry himself, and so the whole book is graffitied with notes from Harry and his friends. It seemed as if it was his actual copy! The actual book was very imaginative and fun to read, and the silly notes from Harry and co. just made the whole thing even more joyous. I especially loved all of the Hagrid jokes! 

So these are my reviews of J.K. Rowling's Hogwart's Library series, and I think she did a fantastic job! This woman truly created an entire world of wizardry that goes beyond what we learnt in Harry Potter, and it was great fun to read about. 

Have you read these books? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess