Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the newest film set in the Harry Potter universe, finally came out in November after much anticipation. Since J. K. Rowling, the author, never had the screenplay published as a book, audiences were completely taken aback by the narrative.
Newt Scamander, the movie’s protagonist, is a bashful misfit who was expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and who feels more at ease with animals than people. Newt is a particularly unusual hero since he was originally a member of Hogwarts’ Hufflepuff house, whose members are selected for their commitment, tolerance, and devotion and are sometimes derided or labelled as “soft.” When we first encounter him, he is travelling by boat to New York, dressed in a peacock blue coat, slightly too-short pants and, of course, a magical suitcase.
When Newt first gets to New York, he befriends three people who are all misfits in some way: Queenie, Tina’s younger sister, who has the ability to read minds; Jacob, a “No-Maj” (a muggle or nonmagical person), who wants to be a baker; and Tina, who excels at her job but lacks confidence and people skills. Together, they find a few magical creatures that have vanished and something a little darker that has been causing havoc on New York City. These four personalities are well matched; their chemistry is evident in every scene. Eddie Redmayne, who portrays Newt, appears to be a similar spirit to Newt—kind, sympathetic, and perhaps a little uncomfortable. Lesser-known actors Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol, who play Tina and Queenie, respectively, have become well-known for their outstanding performances in this movie. Dan Fogler, who is an actor and comedian, plays Jacob. This was Fogler’s breakthrough performance.
Stunning scenes of cobblestone streets, vintage cars, department shops decorated for Christmas, a tube station and even a speakeasy for wizards are used to recreate 1920s New York throughout the movie. Additionally, there is stunning costuming that combines wizarding with 1920s No-Maj attire. In addition to the streets of New York, the tale takes us inside Newt Scamander’s briefcase, which serves as a wildlife sanctuary for all of the magical creatures he has saved throughout his research. Rowling’s creativity did not disappoint. To accommodate each beast, Newt has developed bamboo forests, mossy hills, bright deserts, and icy landscapes.
Fans have a lot to anticipate and speculate about since Fantastic Beasts is the first of five films in Rowling’s series, which she shockingly revealed in October.
