The second installment of the Fantastic Beasts series, The Crimes of Grindelwald, saw Aberdeen’s Vue cinema nearly sold out on the opening evening, packed with fans ready to be taken back into the wizarding world.
David Yates lends his style to the 'Harry Potter' franchise once again, returning to direct his 6th wizarding film.
Eddie Redmayne returns as Newt Scamander, along with the other main characters from the first film; Tina and Queenie Goldstein, and the lovable Jacob Kowalski. The movie also introduces Jude Law as a young Dumbledore and develops Johnny Depp’s role of Gellert Grindelwald.
Despite the controversy around Depp’s private life, his acting skills shine as the famous dark wizard. It comes as no surprise he makes a miraculous escape early on in the film, and then begins to gather followers to his cause, echoed by Voldemort's actions a few decades later. Grindelwald’s character is powerfully charismatic, and the viewer can almost allow themselves even to be persuaded by his rationale.
The film follows our characters to Paris, even giving us a sneak peek into the French Ministry of Magic. Despite critics' claims that the plot is needlessly complicated, audiences are entranced throughout the film. Lots of references to the books can be seen, and being an avid fan would definitely help viewers understand some of the more complex points.
The special effects team seem to be stretching ever further to outdo themselves, creating an array of spellbinding visuals. It’s a wonder if they will be able to top it in the next film. No details have been released about the third installment of 'Fantastic Beasts', so viewers will likely have to wait a year or two at least for the next masterpiece to bewitch them.