Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Movie Review

'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' has the tremendous task of becoming a companion piece to the very popular 'Harry Potter' series. The universe and magic is already inked to every viewers who have been following the latter's 8-film run that ended in 2011, and yet there's something new to discover and explore with this latest extension to this world.

In this new J.K. Rowling story, magizoologist (a person who studies magical creatures) Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) embarks on a mission to America to solve an ongoing threat involing a terrible creature that creates chaos. When a few creatures escaped from his magical briefcase, Scamander finds himself on a problem much bigger than he realized.

For a film that is basically an expansion of ane established universe audience around the globe are very well fond of, the focus on 'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' is not on its magical set pieces, but on its characters that are already rich and promising. It also restrains itself to focus on its own story, rather than hammering itself that this is a 'Harry Potter' prequel.

The performances were terrific. Eddie Redmayne did a great job as Newt Scamander, but the real scene-stealer here is Dan Fogler as a No-Maj (muggle/ non-wizard) whose ignorance on magic became the film's funniest moments. Colin Farrell and Ezra Miller were also great here, giving their talent as the film's antagonists.

'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' is a lot of fun. Despite making awkward tone shifts, it is refreshing, heartwarming and ultimately charming from start to finish.

'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' is now showing in cinemas nationwide from Warner Bros. Pictures Philippines. Rated PG by the MTRCB.