My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Notorious criminal Gellert Grindelwald has escaped a heavily fortified wizarding prison through no small amount of magic, illusion and deception. He heads to Paris to gather with his followers and reveal his plan of wizarding supremacy over the non magic world.
Magizoologist, Newt Scamander, can't even get out of his own country due to his disastrous trip to New York the year before. Despite his small amount of fame from his successful book, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," the Ministry of Magic is determined to keep Scamander under heavy surveillance at all times.
Between the lives of these to two men is war versus peace. Manipulation versus compassion. Revenge versus forgiveness. Rejection versus acceptance. Grindelwald recruits the lost, the lonely, and the unaccepted promising them a place of belonging. Newt befriends with generosity and wisdom expecting nothing in return but friendship and loyalty.
Caught in the chasm of Newt and Grindelwald are Tina Goldstein who is determined to finish the damage the Grindelwald inflicted on a child; Queenie Goldstein who is desperate to be with the man she loves, despite the Wizarding World's restrictions; Leta Lestrange, a lonely young woman from Newt's past whose sins from childhood continue to haunt her; Theseus Scamander, Newt's older brother, Leta's fiance, war hero and head auror who only wants to protect his loved ones, especially his wayward brother; Credence Barebones, a young orphan boy on a winding path to know where he comes from and where his future lays.
And finally, Albus Dumbledore, a Hogwarts professor and powerful wizard who refuses to aid the Wizarding World to capture the man who was once his closest and dearest friend. The lives of these people and others are all put on a balancing point with Grindelwald controlling every motion and Newt Scamander there to stay his hand just when he thinks he might win.
After my first screenplay reading experience with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I was very excited to get the sequel screenplay. And just like its predecessor, the book completely succeeded in bringing the film to life in my head.
I got frustrated with crimes of Grindelwald - there were so many good set ups but the Queenie stuff and the Leta stuff both felt rushed for me - I kept thinking if it had been an adaptation of a book I could go and fill in the gaps! Maybe reading the screenplay would help!
ReplyDeleteLeta's storyline really confused me when I first saw the movie. So I had to watch the movie a second time to understand her family history.
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