2016 has been a special year for Harry Potter fans. First we were able to get our hands on another Harry Potter book focusing on the children of our beloved characters, The Cursed Child. Now, JK Rowling has given us a brand new set of amazing characters in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
In Fantastic Beasts, Harry Potter and friends do not even exist yet. Set in the mid 1920’s, we get to experience the wizarding world across the pond in New York City focusing on the adventures of Newt Scamander, author of one of the famous Hogwarts textbooks, wait for it, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t fully aware of what the storyline was going to entail for this film, aside from the fact that Newt was bringing a suitcase full of magical creatures to NYC, but that’s how I wanted to go into seeing the movie. I had seen a few trailers, but tried not to read into other characters, easter eggs, or curious questions surrounding the story. Being that I’m a recent Potterhead, the experience of seeing characters in raw form left me emotionally attaching myself to more than just Newt – which, I suppose can be a dangerous thing for a Potter fan.
For those of you who have not yet had the chance to see this film, what are you waiting for!? It’s hard for me to say how Muggles No-Maj folk will feel towards the story, but I will say this, Eddie Redmayne, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, and Katherine Waterston all had brilliant chemistry and made this movie not only fun to watch, but will leave you wanting more and makes the film enjoyable to watch for all ages.
For those of you who have seen the movie, here are the top 5 reasons (in no particular order) I will be seeing this movie again this weekend, and probably a few more times before it leaves theaters:
**Spoilers Ahead**
5. Looking More Carefully at Percival Graves
I’m happy to say, the twist ending actually took me by surprise. I feel like I should have seen it coming because the Deathly Hallows symbol was present a few times in Graves’ possession, and with the HP series fresh in my mind, but I am almost glad that I didn’t because it is hard to keep a good spoiler quiet in this day and age.
Now that I know the big secret of Percival Graves, it’ll be fun to watch his character again knowing what lies beneath the mask.
4. The True Obscurial
Another one that took me by surprise. The emotion that Ezra Miller poured into this role was brilliant and tragic. A boy his age should have been at Ilvermorny, and was instead abused both emotionally and physically, and stuck in a home with a family that wasn’t his own. I was hoping his story would not end here, but perhaps his condition tips us off to the true story of Ariana Dumbledore?
3. The Fantastic Beasts
These magical creatures pulled my heartstrings as well. Specifically the adorable little thief the Niffler, the sometimes invisible seer the Demiguise, and my personal favorite – the Bowtruckle.
I was full of anger and sadness when Newt had (temporarily) given his green buddy to the slimy barman for more information. I know if they kill him off, it will be a ‘We Are Groot’ moment for me all over again and the tears will never stop.
2. Jacob Kowalski and Queenie Goldstein
These two characters were my absolute favorites. If we had a spin-off movie with just these two I would still be just as excited to see it as I will be when Fantastic Beasts 2 hits theaters. It was amazing and heart warming watching these two fall for each other despite being from two different worlds. The very last scene at the bakery will always make my heart swell.
1. “Because You’re My Friend”
Those 4 words made me openly weep in a movie theater. Even thinking about it now, I’m starting to tear up. The ending was bittersweet and I cannot wait until part 2!
What was your favorite part of the film?
Nerd-Base 