Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts The Secrets of Dumbledore

I really enjoyed the 1st Fantastic Beasts movie when I watched it back in 2016. Knowing the Harry Potter storyline had finished, I enjoyed how we had another lens into the Wizarding World which wasn't restricted by being bound to Hogwarts. I really appreciated how mature and well thought out the societies and cultures across different regions of the world were when it came to magic. At the heart of it all though was Newt Scamander and his briefcase full of magical creatures, he played an integral role in keeping the films emotional core going. My positive reception of the first movie did not carry over to the 2nd entry; The Crimes of Grindlewald however. That film felt like it left behind all the charm and allure of the original film in hopes of establishing several more sequels for WB to cash in on. Plus I just couldn't get behind Johnny Depp as Grindlewald, he just didn't suit the mold of that character for me.  So after having 1 good experience and 1 bad experience, I was unsure on how the 3rd entry; Secrets of Dumbledore would turn out, thankfully I think this film leans back towards the good side of things as I had a rather enjoyable time with this installment.

Following directly on from the events of Crimes of Grindlewald, we see Newt Scamander continuing on his mission to aid Dumbledore in opposing Grindlewald and his army of followers. After a successful recruitment in France, Grindlewald now has more influence and power over the magical world and he seeks to lead it into a war with the muggles. In an attempt to stop him, Dumbledore asks Newt to recruit a bunch of new and familiar witches and wizards to oppose him. This films narrative is decidedly more focused compared to the prior film which I appreciated considerably. I like how it still kept an inherent focus on Newt and his collection of magical creatures throughout the duration of the films ever-shifting locales. It was nice to see the film strike a great balance on magical set-pieces as well as character driven sequences. I didn't like how little we got to truly see of Jude Law as Dumbledore in the prior film, but in this entry we see the man's vulnerabilities put on full display. It's great to see a bit more of the world we were only given the faintest of glimpses to in Deathly Hallows be a be a bit more fleshed out. His conflict with Grindlewald is given a more clearer focus here too and it's great to see how capable a foe Grindlewald can be for the characters as the film progresses.

In terms of action and adventure, there's a fair bit in the film to enjoy. It's not nearly as grande as the original Fantastic Beasts film though, as it seems to keep the narrative focus on a more subtle political power grab as apposed to all-out war. That doesn't mean what we do get in terms of action isn't enjoyable though. I feel there's a nice variety of moments throughout the running that showcase new and different aspects of the wizarding world beautifully. One of my favourite segments has to be halfway through the film where Newt attempts a prison break out, the entire sequence is hilarious and captivating from beginning to end and it embodies the core reason I really enjoy these stories. There's also a nice few nods and references to the world of Harry Potter too, which is always appreciated and it never feels in your face or too much in my opinion.

A lot of what makes this film work for me though is in it's characters. I wanted to see more of Dumbledore and Grunewald's complicated relationship and the film accomplishes that considerably. Jude Law has so much incredible range as an actor that he really fits that layered yet endearing character Dumbledore was so well known to be. Mads Mikkelsen as Grindlewald is fantastic as well. I'm not going to talk about the reasons Depp was replaced, that is a rabbit hole I have no desire to go down, but I'm honestly just amazed at how much better a fit he is in the role. Mikkelsen plays the role with so much more nuance and mystique. He is capable of being calm and concise yet utterly terrifying and unpredictable and it's a testament to his ability as an actor to nail so many attributes so well. I think a key thing the films get down brilliantly is the casting of it's characters. Everyone fits their roles so well (Apart from Depp obviously) and I think there's a wonderful dynamic between all of the characters, good and bad.

I'm happy this film made me excited for this franchise once more. I was so let down by the 2nd film in the series that I was worried the magic (No pun intended) has truly been lost in this franchise. What Secrets of Dumbledore does is revitalise the story it set out to tell and reengage the audience with a cast of compelling characters in a world brimming with potential. As I grew up with Harry Potter it makes me so happy to see this world still so alive and I hope it will be for many decades to come.