FILM: FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM

Spread your wings and fly!

Swooping evil (a devilish name for a metamorphic wonder), Thunderbird (of flying creatures, my personal favorite) and Billywig (tiny wasp-like insect) will take you on a dazzling trips. These aviators hold their own among other magical creations via J. K. Rowling's imaginative screenplay. Since Avatar's release in 2009, many 3-D films have disappointed with limited effects but not Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016). At last, I felt as if I were in the story not a casual observer of sparse 3-D tidbits and welcomed Billywig's buzzing near my face.

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J. K. Rowling's writing more assured; her setting ripe for political intrigue, the height of the Roaring Twenties in New York, Rowling and director David Yates entertain but also evoke pathos. A sunlight skyline morphs into a dark metropolis of corruption, child abuse (Dickensian nod) and unrelenting evil emanating from the righteous who choose not to spare the rod to politicians that instill fear without substance and undermine the disenfranchised. Careful not to inundate audiences with too much dreariness, Rowling inserts playful, unexpected moments, e.g. a jazz club with a swarmy owner, Gnarlack, (versatile actor Ron Perlman delivers the voice cameo) that attempts to outsmart our hero.

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And, anticipating longing for a character-driven fantasy, Rowling's story delivers. The movie opens with Newt (Eddie Redmayne) passing through Ellis Island with a briefcase filled with beasts, including one ready to spring at any moment, but Newt has the upper hand when he encounters a customs' inspector. A hurdle conquered, Newt tentatively resolves to find his way amidst the dizzying crowds, skyscrapers and din of early 1920s' New York. His intent becomes clear as he encounters Kowalski, a No-Maji (Rowling's American parlance for Muggle) and would-be-baker whose ended his dreary factory shift, and unwittingly helps Newt and the wizard's "fantastic creatures." Completing the foursome of reluctant heroes are two witches: Tina (Katherine Waterston), a disgraced, former Auror, who enforces the law for the Wand Permits Office and her alluring sister, Queenie (Alison Sudol), who works in the same office doing menial tasks yet cloaks an enchanting talent.

(Carmen Ejogo as Seraphina Picquery -
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Other notable performances and characters include a restrained Colin Farrell as Graves dancing on the edge of dark forces as a high-ranking Auror; a regal Carmen Ejogo as Seraphina Picquery, President of the Magical Congress of the United States; Samantha Morton as Mary Lou Barebone (perfect surname for this cold-hearted mother), and a "break-out" appearance by Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone, soon to join the DC franchise as The Flash in Justice League (2017).

Some critics have balked at the character, Newt, and Eddie Redmayne's portrayal, as if a meek and socially awkward man shouldn't take center stage. My response? Tolerance, people, as fans of shows such as The Big Bang Theory or Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series will applaud Newt. Within the span of the film (2 hrs, 13 m), David Yates cautiously reveals Newt's transformation so that the character grows as the film unfolds. Sympathetic movie-lovers will appreciate Newt's eccentric ways. Besides, given pieces of Newt's background (Newt's heart has been broken by a mysterious woman in his past) the man retains his child-like qualities, endearing him to anyone who wants to believe.

Discover a fanciful adventure that will entertain your weary mind and touch your open heart.

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them may be disturbing and sometimes frightening for young children (I recommend tweens and older).