Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
PG -13 ‧ Fantasy‧ 1 hour 42 Minutes

Written by David Heyman

• J. K. Rowling
• Steve Kloves
• Lionel Wigram
• Tim Lewis

Directed by ‎David Yates

THE CAST

• Eddie Redmayne
• Jude Law
• Ezra Miller
• Dan Fogler
• Alison Sudol
• Callum Turner
• Jessica Williams
• Katherine Waterston
• Mads Mikkelsen

THE STORY

(In their own words) Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.

THE REVIEW

Returning to the world of Harry Potter created by JK Rowlings is always a treat.  The third film in the Fantastic Beasts spin off franchise welcomes us back to the magical universe as Newt Scamander delights us with even more fantastic beasts as he and his companions, including Dumbledore, set off to foil the plans laid out by the notoriously evil wizard Grindelwald.

I really did enjoy the fim. It is always fun taking a journey in the Wizarding World that Rowlings created. Fans will have a great time continuing this story. The pacing is fast, the characters are interesting, the special effects are surprising and delightful,  and the story is one that really hooked me in for the film. 

That said, overall it feels like a rushed story. The film doesn’t know if it’s a middle act or the end of a trilogy. We have many subplot lines from previous films wrap up as if it’s the end, despite them still having more that could be worked on, but major plot lines are still up in the air.  Originally planned as a 5 part film series before the creator of the world JK Rowlings’ offscreen Twitter antics have somewhat put a damper on the value of the Wizarding World property and potential future. So it may be that they tried to finish off some of the stories prematurely in case they don’t get a fourth or fifth film. 

The other spot hurting the film is the events around the casting of Grindelwald. The first two films the part of Grindelwald was played by Johnny Depp, but because of offscreen events, Depp was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen, which is disappointing on several levels. While Mikkelsen’s take on the role is fine, he is a completely different energy than Depp and it makes his storyline a bit disconnected from the previous. I really would’ve loved to see the chemistry between Judd Law (Dumbledore) and Johnny Depp as we’ve waited for three movies to see them together but are let down with that never getting to happen.

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

1. It’s just an amazingly fun world to get to see people play in. 
2. The Character’s journeys
3. Jude Law’s Dumbledore is very impressive

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

1. It completes too much without finishing the story. Odd to know whether this is the final film or more to come.
2. Unfortunately Johnny Depp’s presence is missed. Mads Mikkelsen is too big of a change of actor to keep continuity.
3. A little bit overdone in its comparison to modern day politics. Could have been more subtle
   

THE LESSON

Never underestimate the ability of the general public to be easily manipulated.

THE FINAL WORD

This visit to the world of Hogwarts is still fun though not extraordinary. It is a fun world to see the world further explored, though from a story point of view the film struggles not knowing if it is the final act or the middle of the story. 

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore gets a Like It.

THE TRAILER

THE REVIEWER

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.