The Crimes of Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts)
Directed By: David Yates
Grade: C+
This is not to say that I don’t like Newt Scamander or think he could be a good hero. It’s simply I think the main flaw, the main problem, with this film was that the story is Albus Dumbledore (Grindelwald too) but it is being lost in the marshes of an overstuffed, over baked film.
I like Ezra Miller but this stuff is full on soap opera at this point as he’s looking for his mommy. The wizarding world thinks he’s the lost son of some prophecy (of course their had to be a prophecy) and Grindelwald well I think he just wants to use him to blow shit up.
Which for me even aside from the fact that the heart of this story rests with Dumbledore (an excellent Jude Law) is the bigger problem. There’s simply too much and Yates and crew don’t just sacrifice for more characters they seem willing to waste the time that they have on effects and CGI. I hate to say it but Nagini- not necessary. Nicholas Flemel- not necessary.
A perfect example is everything that happens with Queenie and Jacob. It’s like I kind of got it but it still didn’t feel earned and there were ways it could have really if they had just been willing to put a bit more time into it.
I was entertained. The performances were good. I’m intrigued and building some theories. And the world still has that childish enchantment that draws you to it. Niffler was perfectly used and I did like the end.
But the script needed work. The movie needed different editing (I think they need to bring in a different director at this point.) And I can’t help wish Dumbledore’s story had been told in book format or at least differently. Also not sure how I felt about those end revelations. I think/hope he’s lying.
Recommend: Overall yes but…
You really don’t need to see it in theaters. None of the effects are that good and it mostly seems like messy set-up for part 3 in 2020 so plenty of time to catch it at home.