Fantastic Beasts- The Crimes of Grindlewald

Who's who

A film should always stand on it's own merits.
The narrative should be driven by a plot and performances and the whole thing must work without knowledge obtained outside that two and a half hour window.
The sequel to the entertaining Fantastic Beasts and where to find them tries hard but fails to stand on its own two feet which is a shame.
You just have to have a working knowledge of Rowling's book to understand the intricate plot of Grindlewald,and for me who who hasn't a flipping flying fucking idea what a muggle is or whose brother to who and who is what and why? I got lost several times during the story which is disappointing as it's quite, quite beautiful to look at .
6/10

33 comments:

  1. My daughter how has read the books numerous times was confused at times. Someone who gave a review felt the movie was just a stepping-stone to the next movie which is a shame.

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  2. I was SO bored during this movie, and I'm a big fan of the world of Harry Potter. This just didn't offer anything to me at all. I agree, it does not stand on it's own.

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  3. I think I used that same picture... Thought it was part 2 of a trilogy, didn't find until later is the 2nd of 5 planned films. Shit.

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  4. Be thankful that although you will never get the time back you will lose the memory of this indignation.

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    1. I liked the visuals mave, I just didn't understand the plot

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    2. Perhaps it will all become clear by number 5 when JK Rowling clears World debt.

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  5. I felt that exact way watching the first one so I don't think I'll bother with this one.

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  6. I had a holiday in Grindlewald once on a school trip to Switzerland.

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    1. Yes one scene was in Switzerland or was it Austria ? Who cares

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    2. Yes, who cares. I only mentioned it because my school was Hogwarts.

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  7. I loved the Harry Potter film of the books. But feel this has gone on too long and the magic is lost. I have no desire to watch this or the last one. Muggles are non witches/wizards John. My grandchildren watch the sequels avidly. So there you go.

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  8. Felt exactly the same John and came out feeling it was left open for a sequal. However, I saw it as part of a treat at what we call here an Event Cinema where you luxiurate (spelling ?) in deep leather recliner chairs and have your pre ordered drinks and/meal brought to your seat. Never been to one before so the whole thing was rather a treat and the special effects were ace :0)

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  9. I enjoyed the first movie and was looking forward to this one but now I'm not so sure. I believe these movies are a prequel to all the Harry Potter movies.(why do they have to sequence so many movies backwards these days anyway?) I've seen enough of the Harry Potter movies to be familiar with that world but I don't enjoy movies that are hard to follow. Thanks for your review John.

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  10. I agree, each film must be able to stand alone, although often viewers who know the prequels get a deeper enjoyment out of the subtle interplay of characters. Which is fair enough, as long as the newbies still can follow along without needing superhuman powers to decipher the action. Was it interesting enough for you to want to find the rest of the HP movies?

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  11. I saw this movie with my brother and my nieces. It was entertaining, but too many plot twists.

    The real question is, which Hogwarts house would each of the original Ramones be sorted into? I'm thinking Joey would be Hufflepuff, Dee Dee Slytherin, Johnny Ravenclaw, and Tommy would be Gryffindor.

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  12. I was going to - and still might - see this today, though what you say puts a dampner on my feelings. You've confirmed my fears of yet another convoluted tale requiring more effort on the part of the audience to comprehend it than I'm willing to impart. Still, don't know though as, unlike you, I do find Eddy Baby rather h-h-hot.

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    1. @Raybeard.......Hands off, he's mine!
      He's a gorgeous looking young man though isn't he?
      I first spotted him in Pillars Of The Earth, and knew then he was going to be a stunner.....I wasn't wrong!!!

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  13. Siebrie8:17 am

    I'm afraid I didn't enjoy any of the Potter movies, even though I am a tremendous fan of the books. The Harry Potter actor is all wrong, the plots are missing important links, etc.

    The first Fantastic Beasts film was fine, but only because I knew the books.

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  14. Loved the first, am told by my kids ( who saw it in New Zealand ! ) that this is setting up for the next so not so good.

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  15. Believe me, John, if you HAD been a Harry Potter fan you would have enjoyed the film even less. Facts from the first 7 HP books were ignored or changed. It has upset many a fan. The film was nothing but a money-spinner. I got bored with all the CGI. (Although I do think Jude Law makes a heart-fluttering young Dumbledore).

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    1. Oh yes he did but who would fancy jonney diepp

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  16. We saw the new Robin Hood film last week. What a pile of poo that was! Set in Nottingham (of course), with two of its leads having thick Irish accents, and one Aussie. It was like a really bad pilot for a new Channel 5 series... We loved the new Fantastic Beasts though ;0)

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  17. And the trio of leading men (Law, Redmayne and Depp) aren't that hot either. :-))

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  18. Loved the first Fantastic Beasts, didn't understand most of the second one, eg: is Credence a goodie or a baddie? Far too long and far too much CGI. 😇😇😇

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  19. I always want to say 'Clearwater Revival' when I say Credence!!!! 💖

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    1. And.......Now I have an earworm......Bad Moon Rising

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    2. Sorry Col! 😄

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  20. I loved all the HP films and Fantastic Beasts but hated the way things were left out. What I loved was giving a view to my imaginings of what the background looked like. Since I'm a bit short of money at the moment I wouldn't mind getting a snifler for Christmas.

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  21. I felt it was a good film ... I just didn't understand a lot of it, and falling asleep for 10 minutes in the middle didn't help me much either!!

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