I was keen to see this movie because it looked good. I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is.
This movie takes place in the Wizarding World created by J.K. Rowling. Fans of Harry Potter may recall that, at one time during the course of their studies, Harry and his classmates have to use the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander. Those two things are the only connections to Harry Potter.
In this film we meet Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne) who has traveled to America with a mysterious suitcase that appears to have something in it. Prior to Newt's arrival, the audience sees that there appears to be a mysterious something attacking various places in New York City. Whatever it is demolishes buildings and causes mayhem. It has also gained the unwanted attention of Non-Majes (the American equivalent to Muggles).
Newt has no idea and no way to know that there is anything unusual happening in the city. While he is moving through the city, he accidentally "loses" one of his creatures. He accidentally gets the attention of an American witch named Tina (played by Katherine Waterston) while searching for his creature. The creature is evidently attracted to shiny things like jewelry and coins and so Newt tracks his creature to a nearby bank.
While in the bank, Newt accidentally switches his magical suitcase with a Non-Maj named Kowalski (played by Dan Fogler) who has a very similar looking suitcase. Tina is determined to seize Newt and his magical suitcase and turn him in to MACUSA, the American counterpart to the British Ministry of Magic. After she is turned away, Newt seeks out Kowalski to retrieve his suitcase.
In the interim, Kowalski has been attacked by a frightened creature. To Tina's dismay Newt tries to help Kowalski without wiping his memory. To keep Kowalski safe and help heal him, Newt gently insists on keeping Kowalski close. As such Tina is forced to take Kowalski and Newt with her back to her apartment. While there, Kowalski and Newt meet Tina's charmingly sweet sister Queenie (played by Alison Sudol). Queenie also happens to have the ability to read minds.
During the night, Newt reveals to Kowalski that he is carrying a wide array of magical creatures from tiny twig-like creatures to massive rhino-like creatures. He is apparently passing through New York City on his way to Arizona to release a large eagle like creature who appears to be the inspiration behind the legend of the Thunder Bird.
It turns out that Newt is an unorthodox Wizard who is attempting to study, protect, and, if need be, collect magical creatures throughout the world to educate the Wizarding World. He is writing a book about his studies that will eventually become Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
While Newt is preoccupied with tending to the creatures in his protection, Tina seizes her opportunity and takes the suitcase in to MACUSA. MACUSA is in an uproar over a Non-Maj's death the previous evening that appears to be the attack from the mysterious creature that is terrorizing NYC. After listening to Tina's testimony, then Newt's testimony, high-ranking member of MACUSA named Graves (played by Colin Farrell) determines that Newt and Tina are traitors and will be summarily executed.
After escaping Graves' clutches, Newt, Tina, Queenie, and Kowalski team up to find the last of Newt's missing creature's and to help find out what is causing the destruction in the city.
While Newt and the others have been dealing with their respective situations, it turns out that there is an anti-Witch movement in New York City that has gained steam with the death of the Non-Maj. The person most responsible for the movement in New York City is Mary Lou Barebone (played by Samantha Morton). She has involved her two children, her daughter Modesty and her troubled teenage son Credence (played by Ezra Miller) in the movement.
Although I expected to like this film, my expectations were exceeded. I think that the story was very good considering the source for this movie is a fictional encyclopedia textbook. The acting was great. Katherine Waterston did a great job portraying a multi faceted character that to me started out as unlikeable but gradually won me over. Alison Sudol as Queenie was adorable and added depth, warmth, and genuine sweetness to a character that could easily have been vapid and stupid. Dan Kroger as Kowalski was hilarious. I was very pleased to see him as I haven't seen him in many pictures and I find him to be entertaining in the few movies that I have seen. Ezra Miller did a good job as the pitifully troubled Credence. Eddie Redmayne also did a great job as the shy and quietly intelligent Newt Scamander.
Considering some aspects of the subject matter, the filmmakers did an excellent job of taking the heavier darker aspects of the film and softening them enough to not bring the movie down. All in all, a very good movie definitely worth watching whether you are a Harry Potter fan or not.!
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