World of Harry Potter lives on in Rowling's Fantastic Beasts
Newt Scamander's monster hunt is just one plot point in J.K. Rowling's movie. Warner Brothers photo.
BY ABIGAIL KOVACS
While most of us Harry-Potter fans had resigned ourselves to the fact that the franchise had seen its last instalment, J.K Rowling surprised us all with her first film as screenwriter: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Released on November 10, 2016 and directed by David Yates, the script is built on the foundation of her 2001 bestiary, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” a duplicate textbook from the original series. An unexpected footnote to Rowling’s Harry Potter series, her new movie opens a new subdivision in the wizarding world, complete with a wealth of new characters and exciting backstories.
Set in 1926 Manhattan, the story begins as main character and “magizoologist” Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) enters New York with a magical suitcase containing the wonderful and eclectic creatures he has gathered on his travels. The shy, stooping Newt tries to keep to himself, yet within hours of arriving in Manhattan, he has accidentally switched suitcases with ordinary human, or “No-Maj,” Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). When Jacob opens the suitcase, several magical animals are immediately set loose in the urban jungle, prompting a gripping search to recapture the unusual creatures. Newt teams up with Tina (Katherine Waterston), a skilled and ernest ex-auror, and her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol). The search provides a spellbinding glimpse into the grubby, gothic scenery of 20th-century New York as characters dash between familiar landmarks like the Central Park Zoo to more mystical sights including a goblin speakeasy and magical ministry.
Newt’s monster hunt is only one of many plot strands however. The timing of this escape is particularly unfortunate as friction between wizards and humans has grown increasingly intense. Because of this rivalry and the fear and uncertainty brought by the shadowy dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) it is easy to forget about the fantastic beasts altogether. Alongside Newt and his friends, Rowling introduces more sinister characters like the puritanical anti-witchcraft evangelist Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) whose downtrodden adoptive son Creedence (Ezra Miller) serves as an important force in promoting inter-wizard cooperation; as well as tycoon heir Senator Henry Shaw (Josh Cowdery) whose presidential ambitions tempt viewers to make Trump comparisons, and Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), a wizard police chief. Those unfamiliar with the elaborate plot of the Harry Potter series may have difficulty following the action in Fantastic Beasts, yet the movie is still able to tell a compelling story with creative characters, whimsical animals, and breathtaking sets.
Through its imaginative range of characters and narratives, the film stands as a testament to the everlasting appeal of the Harry Potter story. Almost every scene has something ingenious and beautifully designed, while the supernatural escapades are all underpinned by Rowling’s sincere pro-tolerance message. The highly entertaining twist on jazz age America breathes fresh life into the Potter franchise – and, with its themes of society divided and the persecution of minorities, Fantastic Beasts is perfectly relevant.
While most of us Harry-Potter fans had resigned ourselves to the fact that the franchise had seen its last instalment, J.K Rowling surprised us all with her first film as screenwriter: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Released on November 10, 2016 and directed by David Yates, the script is built on the foundation of her 2001 bestiary, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” a duplicate textbook from the original series. An unexpected footnote to Rowling’s Harry Potter series, her new movie opens a new subdivision in the wizarding world, complete with a wealth of new characters and exciting backstories.
Set in 1926 Manhattan, the story begins as main character and “magizoologist” Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) enters New York with a magical suitcase containing the wonderful and eclectic creatures he has gathered on his travels. The shy, stooping Newt tries to keep to himself, yet within hours of arriving in Manhattan, he has accidentally switched suitcases with ordinary human, or “No-Maj,” Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). When Jacob opens the suitcase, several magical animals are immediately set loose in the urban jungle, prompting a gripping search to recapture the unusual creatures. Newt teams up with Tina (Katherine Waterston), a skilled and ernest ex-auror, and her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol). The search provides a spellbinding glimpse into the grubby, gothic scenery of 20th-century New York as characters dash between familiar landmarks like the Central Park Zoo to more mystical sights including a goblin speakeasy and magical ministry.
Newt’s monster hunt is only one of many plot strands however. The timing of this escape is particularly unfortunate as friction between wizards and humans has grown increasingly intense. Because of this rivalry and the fear and uncertainty brought by the shadowy dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) it is easy to forget about the fantastic beasts altogether. Alongside Newt and his friends, Rowling introduces more sinister characters like the puritanical anti-witchcraft evangelist Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) whose downtrodden adoptive son Creedence (Ezra Miller) serves as an important force in promoting inter-wizard cooperation; as well as tycoon heir Senator Henry Shaw (Josh Cowdery) whose presidential ambitions tempt viewers to make Trump comparisons, and Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), a wizard police chief. Those unfamiliar with the elaborate plot of the Harry Potter series may have difficulty following the action in Fantastic Beasts, yet the movie is still able to tell a compelling story with creative characters, whimsical animals, and breathtaking sets.
Through its imaginative range of characters and narratives, the film stands as a testament to the everlasting appeal of the Harry Potter story. Almost every scene has something ingenious and beautifully designed, while the supernatural escapades are all underpinned by Rowling’s sincere pro-tolerance message. The highly entertaining twist on jazz age America breathes fresh life into the Potter franchise – and, with its themes of society divided and the persecution of minorities, Fantastic Beasts is perfectly relevant.