Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law and Ezra Miller in the David Yates movie ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’

It’s my contention that the low grades offered by other reviewers of the David Yates directed Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) were harsh and not completely fair. As the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and Fantastic Beast: The Crimes of Grindlewald (2018), this third installment into the wizarding world pre-dates the Harry Potter world by approximately seventy (70) years.

(From left, Oliver Masucci as Anton Vogel and Mads Mikkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald in the David Yates movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore).

Writing credits for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore rested with J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, with Kloves reemerging after several successes as a screenwriter for many of the novels written by Rowling for the Harry Potter movies. That Gellert Grindelwald appears in this Fantastic Beasts movie in a third incarnation is perhaps the biggest distraction entering this movie. *Remember that Colin Farrell had portrayed American auror Percival Graves in the original movie, only to be revealed as Gellert Grindelwald in disguise as portrayed by Johnny Depp for the remainder of the first and second movies. Mads Mikkelsen entered that role with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

(From left, Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, Jessica Williams as Eulalie ‘Lally’ Hicks, Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander in the David Yates movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore).

The central story of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore in large part continues to focus on the theme of blood relationships coupled with the future of the magical world. The central action for the movie transitions from Paris, France with Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald to Berlin, Germany with touchpoints in Kweilin (also spelled Guilin), China, Scotland (Hogwarts), and New York City, New York, United States. Grindelwald looks to gain control of the International Confederation of Wizards, which is due to elect a new head in Berlin.

(From left, Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore and Richard Coyle as Aberforth Dumbledore in the David Yates movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore).

The pair of secrets that informs much of the conflict are, indeed, the conflicts among siblings that inform much of the Fantastic Beasts world. The nature of the blood pact between Albus Dumbledore, as portrayed by Jude Law, and Gellert Grindelwald keep the two from acting in opposition to one another, despite contrasting world views. With the notion of a fantastic beast known as a qilin central to the Grindelwald’s ambitions, Grindelwald had dispatched Credence Barebone to the birth of a qilin in Kweilin to interfere with some special qualities for the birdlike creature. Barebone beats Newt Scamander to the quick in protecting the qilin’s birth, with much to come from the exchange. Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander as Ezra Miller portrayed Credence Barebone.

(From left, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein and Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein in the David Yates movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore).

The relationship that Credence Barebone has to the Dumbledore bloodline invokes brotherly questions between Albus and Aberforth Dumbledore, with Aberforth Dumbledore portrayed by Richard Coyle. Newt Scamander and his brother, Theseus Scamander as portrayed by Callum Turner, must join forces to with non-magical helper Jacob Kowalski, American Charms teacher Eulalie ‘Lally’ Hicks from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Newt’s assistant Bunty and French wizard of Senegalese descent, Yusuf Kama. Dan Fogler, Jessica Williams, Victoria Yeates and William Nadylam portrayed Kowalski, Hicks, Bunty and Kama, respectively.

(From left, Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone, William Nadylam as Yusuf Kama and Victoria Yeates as Bunty in the David Yates movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore).

The goals of Dumbledore’s group overlapped in opposition to those in some ways as the roles portrayed by Anton Vogel and Queenie Goldstein. Oliver Masucci and Alison Sudol, portrayed Vogel and Goldstein, respectively. Tina Goldstein, Queenie’s sister as portrayed by Katherine Waterston, had a small role with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore that did more for the Fantastic Beasts franchise than it did for this particular movie.

(From left, Steve Kloves and J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay for the David Yates movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore).

Lynn, my wife and significant fan of the Harry Potter books and movies, rates Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore as the third movie for her in the Fantastic Beasts movies currently released. There’s an early and difficult scene with a qilin that was arguably too graphic for this franchise that I think set the stage for the larger movie experience for her. The emotional impact that this action had for the larger story is understandable, yet could have been depicted with more subtlety, in my personal opinion. The larger story did work for me, however. I grant Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore as directed by David Yates 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, July 13, 2022

W. Somerset Maugham and the book ‘The Magician’

British writer W. Somerset Maugham wrote a horrific novel of manipulation, romance and frightening manner first published in 1908 named The Magician. The work accomplishes much with respect to character, which is reason for some to take a closer look. That the book offers an authenticity for this genre with a stylistic quality that captures me like works by Ray Bradbury or H.P. Lovecraft; to be clear, my comparison is one of quality rather than explicit development within the stories.

(Alternative covers for The Magician, a book by British writer W. Somerset Maugham released in 1908).

The Magician delves into the notion of sorcery, setting its action both in England and in Paris, France. Starting within Paris, English surgeon Arthur Burdon visits his fiancée Margaret Dauncey and her friend, Susie Boyd. The scene for where the novel will go in sullying this begins quite innocently with the introduction of one Oliver Haddo, a vile and completely unlikable character behind much unexpected and unexpected mystery and motivation to follow.

(British author W. Somerset Maugham‘s book The Magician was originally published in 1908).

Haddo introduces himself as a magician and acquaintance of an influential member of Arthur Burdon’s profession. The acquaintance to a member of Burdon’s past was claimed to occult scholar Dr. Porhoët; things advance between Haddo, Burdon, Dauncey and Boyd in an uncomfortable manner for several days, eventually witnessing Arthur Burdon fighting Oliver Haddo when the purported magician kicks Haddo’s dog.

(Additional covers for editions of The Magician, a 1908 book written by W. Somerset Maugham).

The intense cruelty and revenge motivation of one Oliver Haddo, following the above fight, consumes Burdon, Dauncey and Boyd in an incredible and unlikely plot against the fidelity between Burdon and Dauncey. Despite her initial revulsion to him, Haddo uses seduces Margaret with magic and the force of his personality. Leaving nothing but a note to Arthur, Susie and Porhoët behind, Oliver Haddo and Margaret Dauncey flee Paris and marry.

(W. Somerset Maugham wrote The Magician in London, England, after having lived in Paris).

The story includes much in terms of attempts to reconcile the suddenness and callousness of the above shift. The incredulity of the circumstances, the subterfuge and pettiness underpinning the change, and efforts to resolve the seemingly lost love and get to something just follow these initial and petty motivations. Comparisons to H. G. Wells and others follow with the subsequent plot points that follow.

(The plot of W. Somerset Maugham‘s The Magician is said to bear some resemblance to the George du Maurier 1894 novel Trilby).

While some of the underlying sense of manner and decorum within The Magician are clearly rooted in the years in which the story was written, there remains plenty of adventure and intrigue that sustained my interest through the reading. I found the underlying emotion and character deeply drawn and believable, while I needed to suspend some of the doubt in the magic and intrigue that hardly feels different than some popular storytelling of the modern day. I rate The Magician as written by W. Somerset Maugham at 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, April 23, 2022

Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson in the Christopher Nolan movie ‘The Prestige’

Magic was in the air when it came to the Christopher Nolan directed film named The Prestige (2006). Based on the 1995 Christopher Priest novel named The Prestige, this screenplay co-written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan follows a pair of magicians through London of the late nineteenth century as their careers separate into rivalry following a tragic stage accident early in their collective careers.

(From left, Michael Caine as John Cutter, a stage engineer who works with Robert Angier and Alfred Borden with Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier, aka Lord Caldlow, aka The Great Danton, an aristocrat magician in the Christopher Nolan movie The Prestige).

Rival magicians Robert Angier and Alfred Borden began their early careers working for Milton the Magician and stage engineer John Cutter. Cutter follows the careers of Borden and Angier after a tragic accident on the stage of Milton the Magician, wherein Angier’s wife, Julia McCullough, drowns in a water tank accident wherein she could not free herself from a tied knot around her wrists and execute the escape. An escalating obsession with developing the best illusion and blame forms between the two from that moment, which informs the remaining direction of the film.

(Christian Bale as Alfred Borden in the Christopher Nolan movie The Prestige).

Hugh Jackman portrayed Robert Angier, opposite Christian Bale‘s portrayal of Alfred Borden and Bernard Fallon. Ricky Jay portrayed Milton the Magician to Michael Caine‘s portrayal of John Cutter. Piper Perabo portrayed Julia McCullough, Milton the Magician’s assistant and Robert Angier’s wife. Through the magical rivalry of the careers of Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, Scarlett Johansson portrayed Olivia Wenscombe, an assistant to both magicians.

(From left, Piper Perabo as Julia McCullough, an assistant to Milton the Magician and Robert Angier’s wife, beside Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, an assistant to Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, in the Christopher Nolan movie The Prestige).

In the aftermath of McCullough’s death, Angier and Borden launch their own magic careers. Angier works with Cutter as Borden works with the mysterious Fallon. The rivalry takes an insidious turn to sabotage when Angier slips a live bullet into Borden’s gun for a bullet-catch trick. The sabotage leads Borden to lose two fingers in the incident, later sabotaging the disappearing bird act for Angier by killing the bird on stage and injuring an audience member that had volunteered to assist.

(From left, David Bowie as Nikola Tesla, the real-life inventor who creates a teleportation device for Angier, and Andy Serkis as Mr. Alley, Tesla’s assistant in the Christopher Nolan movie The Prestige).

The competitive illusion rivalry escalates to an act called the Transported Man, wherein the performer appears to travel instantly between two wardrobes on opposite ends of the stage. Angier asks his assistant, Olivia Wenscombe, to spy upon Borden’s version of the trick while approaching real-life inventor Nikola Tesla, as conjured through the beauty of the fictional story of The Prestige, to build a legitimate form of transportation. David Bowie portrayed Tesla. Andy Serkis portrayed Tesla‘s assistant, Mr. Alley. Olivia in part led Angier to Tesla, despite Angier’s obsession to surpass Borden having moved past a sense of love by Angier for his deceased wife.

(Christian Bale as Bernard Fallon and Rebecca Hall as Sarah Borden, as Alfred Borden’s wife in the Christopher Nolan movie The Prestige).

Through the story, the full commitment that Alfred Borden and his assistant, Bernard Fallon, have to their own obsession with illusion exacts a price between Borden and his wife, Sarah Borden, and their child, Jess Borden. A further price is exacted on Borden himself, which reveals legitimately dark and exacting truths for the three Bordens, Fallon, and Angier himself. In an exactness and execution of story that truly strikes me as magical, the layers of truth, lies and commitment to personal truths that come to light only through a murder trial give this movie a true impact and resonance for me. Rebecca Hall portrayed Sarah Borden. Samantha Mahurin portrayed Jess Borden.

(From left, director Christopher Nolan and actor Hugh Jackman in the Christopher Nolan movie The Prestige).

The Prestige serves as a definitive achievement of storytelling that deserves your viewing and appreciation. The underlying story itself is an accomplishment, with enough of a departure in the fictional means of what was accomplished within to allow me to recommend reading the book as well. My rating for The Prestige as directed by Christopher Nolan is 4.5-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Review of the film ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’

The film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) has arrived at a cinema somewhere near you! Lynn and I saw the movie Wednesday afternoon with a decent fellow audience for what is the second installment in the Fantastic Beasts series movies by J.K. Rowling, with a review of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (2016) available here. To warn you ahead of time, this review includes spoilers from the movie. Our recommendation is to see and enjoy the movie, yet read on before or after at your own risk.

(Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald.)

At the end of the first Fantastic Beasts movie, we see that Gellert Grindelwald (played by Johnny Depp) had been captured in New York City after posing as the auror Graves to acquire an Obscurus that had been terrorizing that city in the 1920s. Grindelwald, who figures in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, escapes to Paris.

(Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore.)

Albus Dumbledore, introduced to the Fantastic Beasts movies in Crimes of Grindelwald, is played by Jude Law. Dumbledore enlists his former student, Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne), to intervene against the villain Grindelwald and his plans. It is only later in the film that some of the context for why Dumbledore cannot combat the threat posed by Grindelwald directly.

(Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski and Eddie Radmayne as Newt Scamander.)

In roughly 1927, the sequence of the second Fantastic Beasts movie takes on the largely European setting suggested by Grindelwald fleeing to Paris. Albus Dumbledore does not leave London or Hogwarts in the movie, though obviously Paris is a featured setting. It is in Paris that Grindelwald sets about actions intended to raise pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings. Zoë Kravitz as Leta Lestrange and Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone are enlisted in that campaign.

(Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone and Zoë Kravitz as Leta Lestrange.)

The storyline with Crimes of Grindelwald calls into question where the lines of love and loyalty exist among characters and family members within the story. Themes explored in the divided wizarding world of the Harry Potter movies are taking their contextual voices within the prequel movies of Fantastic Beasts to a fuller level than seen in the Where to Find Them movie.

Without getting further into the plot of Crimes of Grindelwald, there is much to appreciate about the tension and building story of the Fantastic Beasts franchise. The two stories in this franchise to date are complementing the Harry Potter world that we know without taking things away from it.

(Carmen Egojo as Seraphina Picquery.)

We get to see legitimate questions about where the story of Newt Scamander and his brother (Theseus Scamander as played by Callum Turner) are going. We get to see society place pressure on the relationship of Queenie Goldstein (played by Alison Sudol) and Jacob Kowalski (played by Dan Fogler), and the wedge it places between these two as well as Queenie and her sister Tina Goldstein (played by Katherine Waterston). What is the full nature of the relationship between Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, and how did they get the place where it is now and into the future. Will we see more of the Tom Riddle story in the Fantastic Beasts storyline?

Many questions are raised, for sure. Interesting intrigue is also raised for the Crimes of Grindelwald movie of its own accord to suggest that you see it. On a scale of 1-star to 5-stars, I rate this movie highly at 4.25-stars.

Matt – Saturday, November 24, 2018

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie review

Set upon arrival in the 1920’s New York City where witchcraft and sorcery are synonyms for Prohibition and poverty of the age, the hard times of 1920’s New York City are central to place for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016). The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, that people recognize from the books and movies, are clearly presented and present in this movie.

Almost glancing references are made to Hogwarts and Albus Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts story, which is accurate to the backstory of Dumbledore (supposedly born in 1881). With Fantastic Beasts existing before the more contemporary stories of Harry, Hermione, their parents, or even Tom Riddle, the timeline is satisfying for ringing true. The glancing references to language between the sides of the Atlantic Ocean (the United Kingdom versus the United States) was for my part a cute touch.

Fantastic Beasts is a good family movie, which is the focus of this post. I liked the movie and enjoyed it.

The tone hits you as less intense / dark than the last three Harry Potter movies, which are based on the books Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Scamander does a respectably British in mannerism protagonist through the movie, with mates, foils, and fantastic beasts in Kowalski the baker, Graves, Chastity, Modesty, and Credence Barebone, the Shaw family, and others. The Grindelwald mystery, which scores as a background story for our hero through much of Fantastic Beasts, does reward the clever viewer in search of a mystery.

Finally, remember that while Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is definitely of the Harry Potter universe, my strong recommendation is that this movie works in isolation. That is, the movie is an uplifting standalone experience. I’d be amiss for not mentioning that the movie does earn its PG-13 rating in the United States. Grade = B+.

Matt – Friday, December 30, 2016