Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald-A Crime of Early Franchise Fatigue

The Scamander Brothers

When I watch a penultimate or middle chapter like The Empire Strikes Back, The Two Towers, Infinity War, or even The Last Jedi and Attack of the Clones, I'm excited for what happens next. They all have a sense of closure with a beginning, middle and end despite knowing that more is on the way. Evil, whether defeated or triumphant heavily lingers, and the heroes whether beaten or victorious know that the war is far from over.

Newt and Jacob arriving in Paris via Portkey Express.

The Harry Potter movies followed that formula until they fumbled with the last few installments especially with splitting the last chapter. Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them got the series back on track but with The Crimes of the Grindelwald, the second installment of this prequel series, that potential is starting to falter.

Gellert Grindelwald with the Elder Wand

Our titular villain Grindewald (Johnny Depp), escapes prison after his capture in the last film. He gathers his supporters and prepares his master plan of taking over the wizarding and muggle world. This brings us to story number two: the key to Grindelwald's success lies with Credence (Ezra Miller), the adopted son of a magic-fearing matriarch now searching for his magical heritage, accompanied with Nagini (Claudia Kim) a cursed shape-shifter. This brings us to story number three, four, five and six: not only is Grindlewald after him but so is Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) the American Auror and a French-African wizard (William Nadylam) with his own personal agenda. Also tracking Credence is the British Ministry of Magic lead by Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner) and Letra Lestarnge (Zoe Kravitz) who are both engaged. Newt (Eddie Redmayne), who still harbors feelings for Leta, joins in the hunt to find Tina and Credence under secret orders from Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to stop Grindelwald. Almost forgot to mention story number seven and eight with Tina's sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) and her muggle beau Jacob Kowalski (Dan Folger) who are roped in this Hocus-Pocus predicament.

You will have better luck on IMDb or Potterpedia on knowing every character.

My biggest problem with the first movie was the many storylines that overshadowed its main lead. As you can tell, its been multiplied. Instead of wonder and enchantment of the wizarding world we are left with mountains of talking and exposition that prevents the plot from advancing. I get its essential and can perhaps work in a book or TV show, but cramming everything a two hour and thirteen minute runtime results in a tedious and cluttered mess. You have three more movies on the way, did it all have to be squeezed in one movie?

Nagini and Credence: Bearers of a dark curse. 

Newt continues to be a likable character but is once again overshadowed with too many characters to count; half of which I don't even know their names. I still don't buy the romance between Newt and Tina who continues to be wearisome character. The love triangle adds a bit of punch when Leta is around especially for Harry Potter fans who know the meaning of her surname. Queenie and Jacob who were the best part of the first Fantastic Beasts movie is given quite the fruitless turnaround that would have worked better in a later film. Johnny Depp looks more goofy than menacing in his albino get-up and while he does commit his aforementioned crimes he lacks Colin Farrell's more subtle and insidious approach to the character. Jude Law is well-cast as a young Dumbledore but is reduced to more of a cameo with hints of his connection to Grindelwald.   

Pickett the bowtruckle.

Magical beasts continue to impress but don't have the same wow effect as the first film unless you count the nifflers and bowtruckles. Fans will enjoy other eaters eggs to the Potter series particularly the appearance of an old alchemist and a brief return trip to Hogwarts.

Young Newt in Professor Dumbldore's Defense Against the Dark Arts Class.

I won't be that harsh as we still have a few more movies before it all comes in a full circle but so far, The Crimes of Grindlewald commits the crime of being the weakest in the Wizarding saga.

Final Verdict: C-