Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Rowling travels back in time to the early 1920s to serve up another helping from the Potterverse. I was sceptical about trying this given the turgid mess the  original book series became (for me, only the third book and film really hits the spot).

Here the action wisely shifts to the US and a few peripheral historical characters from the original books to appeal to Stateside audiences and provide enough separation.  Redmanye makes for a compelling Scamander - a socially awkward wizard with a suitcase of wondrous creatures.  Sadly the creatures don't seem to be as grounded in folklore as the original series, but some of them are no less fun to watch.

Watching this I was reminded of sources as diverse as Ghostbusters and Men in Black - but with a wizarding gloss.

It's interesting to reflect on the clever choices Rowling has made here to give herself the ability to expand her canvas as widely as possible without breaking previous rules and to compare them with a series such as Doctor Who.  The principle character has a suitcase which is bigger on the inside and many characters can climb inside it. There's a near infinite supply of monsters which are largely unseen to the rest of us as they either inhabit a separate magical plane deliberately hidden from us or ordinary folks routinely have their minds wiped after an encounter Man in Black style.  There's a Gallifrey like bureaucracy in the form of the various Ministries of Magic to be avoided or circumvented. The ability to travel pretty much anywhere (even a limited ability to revisit the past).  Sonic screwdrivers - sorry wands - which can act as weapons or do pretty much anything else.

Verdict: Fun expansion to the wizarding world