Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, by J.K. Rowling - Screenplay and Movie review

Hey all! 

I just finished reading the screenplay for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them! I also watched the movie on Friday. So I thought I could review both at once! 

When I heard that JK Rowling was making a new addition to the wizarding world that was all about the magical creatures you hear about, I could not wait to see it and read it! Honestly I would read anything that she publishes that relates to magic. The world that she created is so incredibly vast and beautiful that it is hard not to go back to it. 

Note: I would like to thank the Dominicanen Boekhandel in Maastricht for giving me a copy of this! Thank you so much! This does not alter my opinions in any way. 

So I won't stall any longer - here is my review for Fantasic Beasts! 

Gorgeous covers are my weakness

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best. 

Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader's bookshelf.

Non-spoilery part

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a prequel to the much-beloved Harry Potter series. It takes place in 1920's New York, where the Salem Witch Trails have been brought back to light, and where witches are shunned by the general public. The peace between the humans and magic folk (no-majes vs wizards) is balancing on a thin line - any evidence of wizardry in New York could start a war between the two groups. 

Enter Newt Scamander, a magizoologist who has a suitcase full of magical creatures that escape into New York City. Naturally, this causes mayhem. He his helped by Tina, Queenie and a muggle (I really have to get used to saying no-maj now ^^), Jakob, to find the creatures before too many people can notice them. 

At the same time, Grindewald is on the loose - he is a notorious wizard, known for murdering muggles in Europe. 

I absolutely loved it. This movie shows you everything that you learn about with Harry Potter in a real-world setting, basically how magic is used in a wizard's adult, every-day life. Some of my favorite spells like alohomora are used and it makes you warm and fuzzy on the inside to hear such spells again! There's the Harry Potter theme song playing from time to time, and references to the original series that made me smile!

It was really interesting to see the Wizarding world in another country - muggles become no-majes, the Ministry of Magic is MACUSA, Hogwarts is Ilvermorny, etc. It makes you think, what about other countries? It also makes you realize how big the wizarding world is - just as vast as our own. 

The beasts were incredibly creative! They were some mixes of animals that are common to us, such as stick insects or manta rays, but with a twist to them. Honestly the movie put them in such a beautiful way! 

This is all I will say without spoiling the rest of the story! Go ahead and read the rest if you want! But from now on, the review will be full of spoilers! 

I loved all of the references to Hogwarts! And the intrigue with the Obscurus and Grindewald and the Second Salem! 

Didn't you guys just love it when all of the Hogwarts references come up? Dumbledore and Hufflepuff? And is it just me, or is the teacher who was fond of him was maybe Hagrid? I'm pretty sure they are connected in some way, as Hagrid was also kicked out of Hogwarts for having endangered students with magical creatures! 

I always had a hunch that Cadence had some magic in him. It wasn't logical, I know, but at one point I thought that he was voldemort when he was young? I know he wasn't, but that would have been cool! 

I actually really liked Newt Scamander as a character. He's really nervous and sweet and curious, and I can't wait to learn more about his background! And I kinda hope that Jacob gets his memories back and joins the group agian! 

I was so surprised how they used memories as a torture method! o.o That was so crazy and scary yet really cool! And the whole idea of the Obscurus was amazing as well! Although it was scary, it really made for a good plot for the first movie! 

I already have to stop, sadly, but I cannot wait to see the second part of this quintology! I might expand on this later :) 

I'm giving this a 5/5 feathers!! 

Have a great day! :D