FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD

UK, 2018, 134 minutes, Colour.
Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, Zoe Kravitz, Callum Turner, Ezra Miller, Alison Siddol, Claudia Kim.
Directed by David Yates.

The Fantastic Beasts series is written by J.K.Rowling. After her extraordinary success with the Harry Potter novels and films (and her alternate career as a crime writer, R.K.Galbraith), and the adaptation of the theatre story of Harry Potter, she has turned her energies to this series. The first film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was very popular. Here is the second instalment.

And while there are some fantastic beasts, the most beastly character is the evil villain from the first film, Grindelwald, played by Johnny Depp, almost unrecognisable in appearance, gaunt, aged, white hair, distorted coloured eyes, but certainly with Johnny Depp’s voice.

For those who don’t remember all the details of the first film, it is probably a good idea to do a bit of revision before seeing this one, reminding oneself about Newt Scamander, played with a boyish and innocent raffish charm by Eddie Redmayne, the hero of the stories, as well as his American associate, Tina, Katherine Waterston. And, there is his hefty friend, Jacob, Dan Fogler. They all come into the action which becomes quite complicated, especially with flashbacks to Hogwarts and further flashbacks to the origins of Leta (Zoe Kravitz) and of Credence (Ezra Miller).

Fortunately, for comprehension, there is a meeting of a lot of the central characters in the latter part of the film, a discussion about origins, sorting out lost brothers and sisters, past stories in Africa and shipwrecks, sorting out who was who. (And it also emerges that Dumbledore, Jude Law, seen in flashbacks to earlier days teaching at Hogwarts, also has a lost brother…).

At the opening, Grindelwald is in prison in the US, to be deported to the UK, using his magic to defy the authorities, escaping to Paris where he institutes a huge plan to proclaim his leadership and draw his disciples to him – which he does, in a huge arena at the Pere Lachaise cemetery.

In the meantime, the British Ministry of Magic is pursuing him, Newt originally refusing, not liking to take orders, but persuaded by a visit from Dumbledore. There is also the complication of a new character, Newt’s brother, Theseus, Callum Turner who is engaged to Leta.

There are mysterious goings-on at the French Ministry of Magic, the visit to an exceedingly elderly alchemist for advice, Jacob reuniting with his old flame, Queenie, Alison Sudol, and her being feted by Grindelwald.

So, if this is all attractive and interesting, then it is on with the journey of the fantastic beasts. The final sequence is set in a castle in Austria, Grindelwald and his disciple, more than a touch of the fascist, hints of Hitler…

1. The popularity of the series? This film in itself, as a sequel? The title and the fantastic beasts? The focus on Grindelwald?

2. The work of J.K.Rowling, her sense of magic, the 1927 setting, the US, Britain, Paris? The sequences at of Hogwarts, exteriors and interiors? The Austrian Castle setting?

3. The US and the Ministry, the prison, the UK and its Ministry, the interiors and offices? The recreation of Hogwarts? Paris, the city vistas, apartments, the Ministry and its magic, the home of the alchemist, the Pere Lachaise cemetery, the arena? The musical score?

4. The title, the focus on Grindelwald, his appearance in the original film, evil? In prison, surviving, to be deported, his appearance, clothes, look, age, face and eyes? His use of Abernathy? The preparation for the flight, the guard, the battle in the air, his transforming himself into Abernathy?

5. The Magic sequences, the fantastic beasts, the special effects, gigantic and terrifying, minute, the pledge was lookalike (and its obtaining the blood back between Grindelwald and Dumbledore)?

6. The UK, the Ministry, the authorities, the meetings, Theseus and his role? Summoning Newt? His unwillingness to help? The bond with Leta, her engagement to Theseus? Her presence and participation in the plan?

7. Newt, in himself, his experiences in America, his appearance, his hair, manner of speaking? With the creature, little and agile, capacity to unlock? His friendship with Jacob? Confronting the beasts, in the streets, getting the beasts within his suitcase? Going inside the case, taming the beast? Finding Tina, the discussions? Seeing the son of L’ Estrange, the attack on him, reviving him, his help in the search?

8. Meeting Jacob again, Jacob and his character, the past romance with Queenie? Jacob and his work with Newt? The reuniting with Queenie, her going over to Grindelwald?

9. Dumbledore and his appearance in Paris, commissioning Newt? The later visit to Hogwarts, discussions with Dumbledore, the flashbacks to his teaching, Newt and Leta as young, the classes, the magic? Miss Mc Gonigle? Dumbledore and the blood pact with Grindelwald? Dumbledore not able to confront Grindelwald?

10. Credence, as a character, his identity, the woman accompanying him, the spells, the puzzle?

11. Theseus, as Newt’s brother, with the Ministry, the officials, commissioning the investigator (and his surrendering to Grindelwald)? The relationship between the two brothers, hugging, sharing a mission? The engagement to Leta?

12. The visit to the alchemist, his personality, his participation in the search? His later appearance at the arena?

13. The sequence for explaining the plot, all those present, Leta and her missing brother, Dumbledore and his missing brother, the discussions about L’ Estrange, in Africa, stealing the wife, her death in childbirth? L’ Estrange and his further marriage, his son? And the child crying, the boat, Leta taking the other child, the shipwreck? The visit to the nurse in Paris, her information, her death? Credence and the emergence of his identity as Corvis L’ Estrange?

14. Paris, the buildings of the Ministry, Tina and Newt, their search for the documents, missing? Leta and her pursuit? The magic in the office?

15. The assembly at Pere Lachaise cemetery, the message to all the supporters, their assembling, the arena? Grindelwald and his speeches, his plan? Calling his followers, their claim, going through the fire, disappearing in smoke? Queenie and her decision? Corvis and his decision, siding with Grindelwald?

16. Newt, Tina, Theseus, Jacob? The decisions, the fights? The explosions? The escape?

17. The sequence in Austria, the Castle, Grindelwald and Corvis – and his destiny? Anticipation of fascist leadership in the ensuing years (and overtones of Hitler and Austria)?