Review of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) by Jon C — 24 Nov 2018

It's not as deep as the previous film in the 'Harry Potter' prequel series but certainly more entertaining.

There's a heck of a lot more magic and more appealing creatures.

The big draw this time is more of the presence of Gellert Grindlewald after he was revealed last time; his plan is to disrupt the peace between the muggles and the wizarding world for a new world order played expertly by Johnny Depp.

He gathers as many followers as possible and a few months after he escapes custody Newt Scamander is called into the Ministry of Magic to pick a side.

Even his brother urges him to see reason.

It's been a while too since he's seen Tina Goldstein and her sister Queenie, even Kowalski's memory has returned after being oblivated.

Now Newt makes his way to France after being asked by a younger Albus Dumbledore to find out what Creedance is exactly whom was born with the Obscurus entity inside him.

Grindlewald's bigger plan is to ultilize Creedance's anger and isolation.

Leta Lestrange also makes her appearance trying to cope with the fact that her brother died years ago from a father that completely disowned her and has had a very rough life growing up a social pariah as a witch with Newt as her only friend.

There's a lot more connections and name drops from the Potterverse transcending into future installments from the Mirror of Iresid to the Thestrals to Nicholas Flemel to Nangin to returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The film is certainly getting darker in tone considering how much death and destruction Grindlewald is leaving in his wake, the creatures are a lot more creative on visual level, the wizard world FX are so pleasing to witness as usual, and the world is expanding a lot more.

These characters are still good but it's not as emotionally inviting as last time.

Still if they can make the next 3 installments with enough ease and focus leading up to the Boy Who Lived and He Who Must Not be Named then David Yates and Warner Bros. should be fine making this franchise bigger.