The world Fantastic Beasts takes place in is a dark and David Yates wastes no time in showing off this fact.
The backstory in Warner Bros.Fantastic Beasts hides a troubled political time in the world and part of it is revealed in Secrets of Dumbledore. I firmly believe these movies are setting the stage for showing the Nazi’s rise to power. The visual motifs are there and my prediction is that Grindelwald will become one of Hitler’s elite. He’ll have his own department to wrangle the war so one social order dominates the world.
It’s a concept fans of Hellboy (and Indiana Jones) are familiar with. I’m hoping that’s the finale JK Rowling’s navigating towards. Although my prediction for this third film is wrong, I’m okay with it. There’s two more films that may address it, and wrap up the story.
If Fantastic Beasts is retconning the Wizarding World as we know it from the world of Harry Potter, fans are likely to complain. The Crimes of Grindelwald is The Two Towers of this spinoff saga. It sets in motion a quest to stop the deeds to which this nefarious character, played by Johnny Depp, has plans to commit. The actions he committed in the past are a concern, but in this sequel, this villain’s future goals will shake up the world in devastating ways. At the same time, we are teased with glimpses of the tools he has at his disposal. He possesses at least one-third of the Deathly Hallows.
It’s Christmas time, that time of year with a magic all it’s own. But one doesn’t need to be a wizard to whip yourself up a Harry Potter Christmas. Two fans of the Harry Potter series of books, created by J.K. Rowling, have created the ultimate wizarding tree complete with Hogwarts’ Sorting Hat where an angel or star would be.
This first tree is designed by Hanah Lee Keirsey, owner of Keirsey Kreations of West Helena, Arkansas. Hanah made all of the ornaments, the Hogwarts house flags and the tree skirt herself.
A tiny bit of that familiar Harry Potter magic is all that’s needed to spin Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them into its own yarn.
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
* Spoiler Alert
A tiny bit of that familiar Harry Potter magic is all that’s needed to spin Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them into its own yarn. While most of the music is original, the signature tune from the Potter films reminds viewers about where this new series fits in a greater whole. The movie has all the intrigue from, say The Untouchables (1987), but when that familiar formula from the books J.K. Rowling wrote about the titular character, the young man in this new film has hints of Nicholas Rowe (ala Young Sherlock Holmes) feeling lost, embroiled to his own world, until reality hits him hard.
The wizarding world J.K. Rowling invented is expanded upon. With this new film, the very precocious Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is getting the spotlight even though a bigger issue (which will span several movies) is afoot elsewhere. He arrives in America by boat (through New York) and meets Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), Porpentina “Tina” Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) and her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol). An accidental switch of suitcases belonging to the two men opens up a Pandora’s Box of problems.
The love for Harry Potter has never waned for many a fan, and people of all ages lined up Saturday night for the midnight release of J.K. Rowling’s look at the adult life of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. No spoilers are going to be offered about this book, as it’s fresh in this author’s hands who decided not to look at any info online leading up to this release. While I would love to see the play, not everyone can afford to travel to London just for a show. As much as I’d like to, well, if only magic was real so I could apparate there!
Bolen Books at Hillside Centre in Victoria held its own celebration, and they had the Paper Street Theatre Company, an improv theatre group and the University of Victoria Valkyries Quidditch Club, playing a short game, to entertain 400 folks here for this book. A local stage magician appeared to entertain the masses with his tricks and may have been the same person who demonstrated his talent previously at Cherry Bomb Toys. Unfortunately he disappeared before I could get his name! The enthusiasm was everywhere and the excitement shows we still love the boy who became … well, an adult. Now a new generation is going to the school and I suspect the tale will be about him growing up under the shadow of a very famous father. At the same time, the energy is there for another item of note. All three Pokemon GO teams were vying for control of the virtual gym that existed at the bookstore. The battle was intense, and even I tried to participate. The battle for wireless is just as competitive as my cell could not decide between Telus and ShawOpen.
The backstory in Warner Bros. Fantastic Beasts hides a troubled political time in the world and part of it is revealed in Secrets of Dumbledore. I firmly believe these movies are setting the stage for showing the Nazi’s rise to power. The visual motifs are there and my prediction is that Grindelwald will become one of Hitler’s elite. He’ll have his own department to wrangle the war so one social order dominates the world.
By Ed Sum
By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)