After three long years, it’s time to return to magic with the third installment in the Fantastic Beasts saga which finally gives us the long-awaited answers to Dumbledore’s past.
Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magi-zoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.
Fantastic Beasts is known for introducing a variety of extraordinary mystical creatures, and the creatures that we do get to see in the movie are still as cute and endearing as ever. Secrets of Dumbledore brings in a small mixture of new critters to enjoy, while still giving you some of the lovable scamps in Newt’s case. I have to hand it to the person whose imagination crafted such mesmerizing creatures because they definitely belong in Rowling’s world.
As dark as this film is, there are plenty of laughs in this movie. Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) has some stellar lines with a comedic punch delivery that will really make you laugh in your seats. Newt has this awkwardness to him that works in the situational and awkward delivery you love. Throw in Dumbledore’s wit, the animals have a few good laughs, and some new characters and you get some good moments. This helps lighten up the movie and balances out the film’s darker moments.
One of the things that these films are known for is knowing when to start transitioning into the darker side of the wizarding world. This film starts to turn in that direction, which gives it some edge, ambiance, and drama that will keep you engaged in each character. Dumbledore’s secrets, as well as Grindelwald’s, add spice back into the franchise and puts the stakes that this world is famous for. This makes for a more engaging story with a lot more character pieces to move around and explore.
Jude Law is brilliant as a younger Dumbledore and his performance has a lot of layers as the film explores his past. With Secrets of Dumbledore, we finally get to dive deep into the hidden depths of his character, and this is by far the strongest piece of this film. Redmayne still knocks it out of the park as our bighearted, compassionate, and awkward Magi-Zoologist. Ezra Miller is alright, but his character isn’t really going anywhere that is exciting. I want to give some props to Mads Mikkelsen as he steps into the role of Grindelwald, taking over for Johnny Depp. Mikkelsen’s performance isn’t as terrifying as Depp’s, but there were still some shocking moments that gave me chills.
I’ve always been a big fan of the visual telling of this world, and the updated technology continues to be utilized well to make advanced-level magic immersive and mystical. The magic and spell interactions with the environment are phenomenal as they make liquids move, storms erupt, and so much more come alive. The film’s blend of computers and live set location filming really captures the culture and mood of the areas.
Overall, The Secrets of Dumbledore is a fun experience with plenty of elements to get you into the theater and return to the wizarding world. The film is still the tale of seeing some interesting creatures, some sun antics, and heroes working together to defeat the big bad. Throw in some good acting and certain character stories, you’ll have enough to enjoy Rowling’s latest installment. However, the film still suffers from being too much of a fan service trying to get more money, but not quite delivering on the full magic and experience that we look for in these films.
Fantastic Beast: The Secrets of Dumbledore is now playing only in theaters.
What did you think of the film? Drop a comment below.
