Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (7.4/10)

Not too shabby. I didn’t watch the Harry Potter films until 2021, so the Fantastic Beasts series was already complete by the time I got around to it. Since this story takes place decades before Harry Potter, I found myself wondering how much of it connects to the main series versus how much is simply expanding the history of the Wizarding World. I’m not a huge fan of the Harry Potter universe, so I went into this as more of a standalone fantasy film than a prequel. From that perspective, I found it to be an entertaining watch. The magical creatures, world-building, and adventure keep the story engaging, even if it never fully pulled me into the larger mythology. The film definitely leans toward a younger audience, which is to be expected given the franchise. While it may not have the depth or emotional impact I was looking for, it’s still a fun introduction to this corner of the Wizarding World and an enjoyable family-friendly fantasy adventure."The year is 1926, and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident, were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds."