Ladies and Gents, I have a confession to make: I know nothing about Harry Potter. There I said it. I am a member of the reading public who has never read, seen, or cared about Harry Potter. To be honest, part of my problem is rabid fans. My first attempt at introduction to the Potter-verse was in college during a creative writing class in which a fellow classmate made fun of the people picketing and saying that it was a tool of the devil. As a rule, I avoid most things with rabid fans or anti-fans unless it is something I am already familiar with. The current surge in Dark Tower fandom brought on by the oncoming movie doesn’t bother me because I’ve already read the Dark Tower series several times and have some settled opinions about it. All that being said, I went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
It was a beautiful, wonderful, captivating movie. I hesitate to say I love it, but I just might.
What about it did I love? Well, having an autistic leading man, perfect. Having two love stories, one of which doesn’t pan out and another which does, beautifully done. Granted Newt/Tina turns out exactly the way I expected in dealing with two characters with social interaction problems. Both myself and the fiance were nearly screaming at him to kiss her in their ending scene, but I knew it wasn’t going to happen because that was not where he was yet and while she’s confident in her decisions about work, she’s less confident in her decisions about people so she wasn’t going to make that move either. Awkwardly awesome. Jacob the no-mag’s resignation of losing something that has given his life meaning, it was an AWWWW scene. (There’s also the interesting fact that though he was obliviated, he still partly remembers what he saw and uses it in his pastries. I wonder if that means there is a chance he could regain his memory?) Collin Farrell as Graves was amazing. Of course, I adore Collin Farrell in an ‘he could narrate me the phone book’ kinda way, so yeah. Part of me wonders though: Was Grindelwald Graves the whole time, like that was a complete alter-ego of his or was there once a real Graves that Grindelwald killed and took over his identity? Either could be interesting.
After doing a bit of reading, I am made to understand there will be more movies in this franchise. As of right now, I am very interested to see them and where this goes.
I know, I know, you’re wondering so I shall put you out of your misery. Kinda. Harry Potter has been on my radar as something I might consider reading for a number of years. Seeing this film has not catalyzed that into being anything more than a whim. It might happen. It might not. Who knows?
