Guuuyyysssssssssssssssssssss

It's ssoooooooo prettyyyyyyyyyy

I laughed
I cried
It moved me, Bob.

Newt Scamander is so precious. Protect him.

Ohmyword the Beasts.

Ohmyword all the characters.

It did feel a little disjointed? Like...lots of complicated stuff going on here but not really explained and lots of side characters and no 3 Act structure?

Discuss!

I can't wait to see this! I just have to catch up on work first...

I really want to see this!

I'll withhold erudite critique 'cause it ain't my thing. I enjoyed it, even missing most all the HP references save AD as a teacher at Hogwash. Recommended, even if you don't have HP 1-7 memorized. Fun by itself.

That said, it does point out something that I want to implement in my books; a sense of familiarity for former readers. Places and people that are familiar, letting the reader spend more time with old friends.

I'm just at the cinema waiting for this to start, so excited!

Below are my thoughts as best as I remember them:


Newt Scamander is my new favorite protagonist. He's so sweet and clever, but also insecure, shy, and awkward. And, at least in this first film, he doesn't have to "overcome" any of these in order to be a strong character and an impressive hero. The way he loves and protects the creatures under his care is beautiful. I was pretty much crying through most of the movie (it had been an emotionally exhausting week anyway) but especially when the MACUSA took them from him and he was pleading for them to not be harmed. I love that he seldom looks at anything head on, especially when you know that for almost any animal, especially predatory ones, direct/prolonged eye contact is seen as a threat or challenge, and the fact that this practice has developed to the point where that sideways, "don't look em in the eye" attitude has become a part of Newt's character is just perfect.

I love Jacob. Oh my word, he's precious. I ship him and Queenie so hard. I was also crying at the end when the rain was going to Obliviate him. (bonus: the umbrella spell is. the. best.)

Side note to those complaining about how the American magic seems to break canon rules, especially the wordless spells and the fact that people just apparate left and right: these are English rules . If you read up on what J.K. has said about the way magic is introduced, taught, and developed in the States, you can find the differences and the reasons for them. It comes from two completely different schools of thought - both literally (Hogwarts and Ilvermony) and figuratively. So. That's all on that.

I felt so bad for Credence. Wow. All those children. I cringed whenever Mary Lou Barebones came on the scene. However, if you noted the wisp of black fluttering away after the main confrontation, and read anything from the movie creators, it looks like Credence might be alive, and possibly back for the next film. I hope he does, I'd love to see his character get more development, and hopefully, redemption.

Aris and I talked a little about the physicality of the relationship between Credence and Evil Mr. Graves. It made both of us slightly uncomfortable while watching, especially given the day and age in which we life. I noticed though that this was something that was on display through all the characters in the whole film. Physical touch was an integral part in the relationships we see, and especially with Credence's character: the person he was supposed to be able to receive and love and outward displays of affection from was his adoptive mother, and she viciously abused him instead. So, to me, it made perfect sense that Credence, a boy who was taught fear instead of kindness, would definitely respond to a powerful, almost paternal figure like Graves, especially if Graves showed his interest in Credence and that he "cared" by being physically close, and affectionate. So. Any one else notice or have thoughts on this?

I LOVE THE WORLD. THE MAGIC. THE CHARACTERS. THE BEASTS. I cannot wait for the next film, and guys I've only read up to The Goblet of Fire in the original series so far. XD

Discuss.

We loved the niffler. He had us rolling in stitches.
Kowalski was the best though I did like Newt a lot, too (that exact same scene struck me in the heart, too) – he was a unique hero – not confident or awe-inspiring but someone reclusive, perhaps with aspergers or some such.

But I did feel that, unlike the HP series, this movie lacked a lead that we could really identify with and root for. And without those stakes, it was just a bit harder to really care about the outcome. So I liked the movie but was semi-disappointed, too. Especially at the cameo at the end…

I have since heard this was the first in a planned series of at least 4 movies? Which makes me even more conflicted over that ending cameo as it likely won't be a cameo in future movies.

I finally got to see this movie. Yay!

It was definitely the movie that we were hoping for, and the movie that was advertised to us. A darker, grittier, more adult Harry Potter. I love the choice of setting--not only is the story in the past, featuring historical New York, but it allows us to see a whole new era of magic and all the delicious politics that go along with that. I think it's a great direction for the series, as it opens up a new universe and a lot of story potential without disrupting the original. I hope this is a series, not only because I'd take more of all the characters, but because where were enough loose ends and hints in the first movie that require a sequel.

I agree, though, that there were a couple of places where it felt slightly disjointed. I think it was namely in the characters. The characters were all brilliant, and the story as a whole made sense--so it wasn't a fatal flaw--but there were a few places where the characters took leaps of logic, or things were not justified, that was mildly jolting. I am not sure if this is a fault of the script (lack of context and explanation) or a result of the acting. Again, the characters were brilliant the majority of the time, so I don't have any complaints--it was just a bit disruptive at times.

J. K. Rowling has announced a 5 film plan, last I was aware, so we'll definitely be seeing more of Newt and the gang in the near future.



I love Kowalski sooo much, and the niffler is hysterical.

I've heard a lot of fandom debate and meta over if Newt may be autistic or something similar. On the one hand, it would be nice to see this aspect of his character explored in the future, but on the other hand, I kind of hope they don't - at least not at a technical level. Let him resonate with the viewers he resonates with, that's one of the beauties of creating characters.



Although, agreeably, Newt isn't an Everyman kind of character like Harry, there are ways I resonate more with him as a lead than I do with the English wizardy schoolboy we have all grown to love so dearly. Harry also had the full development of 7 novels to back him up. This is technically Newt's first outing. Admittedly, his somewhat careless attitude - oh yes my beasts are running loose in the city, but I'll take some hot cocoa first - did not help move the plot.

But, again, for me personally it felt more like the plot of a particular style of "adventure" novel more than a movie plot. Case in point: Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Actually, no, that's perfect. It felt like Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Veerrrryyyy much like that. So I had more issue with the wayward plot structure (no recognizable three act structure) than character development. This is Rowling's first true foray into screenwriting, and I'm willing to chalk a lot up to that.

If by cameo you are referring to Johnny Depp, idk if this is reassuring or irritating, but that actor has been announced as playing a more definite onscreen role in the immediate sequel.

It's soooo good. I mean, it has issues, but soooo pretty, and the world-building is phenom.

And we get 5 movies! *happy dances*

*nods* Having seen many of these actors in other things before, I'm willing to say it was probably more a problem with the script. I could be wrong about that, but that was just my feeling coming out of the movie. It was almost like Rowling got too caught up in the characters and the wonderful magical world again herself and neglected some plotholes and took some leaps along the way. XD