movie thoughts: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

[orangerful]

I had no intention of watching Fantastic Beasts. I had fallen out of love with the HP fandom after the 7th book. When it was announced it would be a 5-film series, I decided I wasn't interested in committing to yet another story set in Rowling's magical world. But then rogueslayer452 linked to Pop Culture Detective and I started watching the videos on that

Comments

[nemophilist]

I would have watched the sequel if they hadn't gay baited and took Colin for Johnny. Ugh.

[orangerful]

Watching the sequel now. I shall report back but I can already tell you I was annoyed about 20 minutes in LOL

[_profiterole_]

I watch Netflix movies in chunks. It's much more practical this way.

[orangerful]

It really is since editors don't seem to exist anymore

[eiffels]

The second film isn’t as great as the first but definitely still watch it whenever you get the chance!

[orangerful]

Going to watch it now. Well, finish it. I started it this morning. I have feelings already. :\

[meathiel]

At least you can also watch the 2nd one right away ... *lol*

[orangerful]

That is true! Watching it now. Though I'm realizing how little HP lore I remember. I was lamenting some story issues on Twitter and another friend starting referencing deep cuts from the books and I was like "Yep, don't remember ANY of that."

[meathiel]

I didn't notice all of them either. I read up a lot on the interwebz after I'd watched the film.

[rogueslayer452]

I'll be honest, I only watched the first Fantastic Beasts because of Colin Farrell. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with it at all, lol. He was brilliant in the movie, even though he deserved to be in it more and to have stayed on instead of that terrible bait-and-switch with someone reprehensible, ugh. Still, I have no interest with this franchise, but I enjoyed people tearing about the second movie.

In hindsight, the first movie had potential but unfortunately missed the mark on several things which become glaringly obvious when the second movie apparently happens.

I'm not really attached to Newt as a character. He's alright, not the typical "chosen one" kind of protagonist, but from what I hear he's not even going to be a main character in this franchise anyway. I think he'll be placed on the back burner later on or disappear entirely with Dumbledore being the main character for the remainder of the series (at least, that was what was rumored). Otherwise, I found him sort of bland because we don't really know his character

[chocolate_frapp]

"Queenie?" oh well, JK always did like weird names for her characters

[orangerful]

Yeah, going to finish watching the second movie right now, but talk about a bait and switch - I wanted a story about Scamander's adventures and instead I was tricked into a Dumbledore prequel movie :\

So far, in the second movie, we have POC but they are all baddies, or at least not trustworthy. Yeah. And the Nagini problem. I HAVE FEELINGS! I accidentally started live tweeting as I watched because I couldn't contain them but I will translate it all over to here once I finish the movie. Which probably won't have an end because 5 movie series ugh.

Your last sentence is spot on. She needs a Lawrence Kasdan to step in and say "ok I see what you're doing here, but we are writing a MOVIE."

Or, if WB had been smart, this could have been a stronger TV show.

[rogueslayer452]

I wanted a story about Scamander's adventures and instead I was tricked into a Dumbledore prequel movie :\

Yep. I mean, I wasn't that interested in this but many wanted this to be something like Newt's adventures with finding magical creatures and educating people about them and fighting for their protection. It would have been educational and important about preserving wildlife in general which would've been far more interesting, but nah, apparently JKR/Warner Bros just wanted to do another "wizards vs dark wizards" and it being the next epic Harry Potter 2.0 or something.

Which I'm positive that's what they wanted this to be, since before it was announced this to be a singular movie, and then a trilogy, before adding two more to make it a five-movie franchise that nobody really asked for. And with how underdeveloped everything is so far, it's just further evidence that this is just another cash grab (along with the screenplays that have zero substance to them that JKR releases with each movie, like, is that even necessary?)

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