This movie fails to explore Newt’s relationship with his brother, Theseus (Callum Turner), any more than it already has. Dumbledore and Grindelwald have a compelling relationship, but the protagonist, Newt, has his compassion and knowledge of creatures and not a single other compelling quality. The original films were filled with interesting characters, while this movie has way too many and no idea what to do with any of them. Ideally, this would have been a step in the right direction, but even he cannot make the material work. This movie brings back Steve Kloves, the writer of most of the Harry Potter movies, as a co-writer. The first two Fantastic Beasts films proved that Rowling was a better author than screenwriter.

Unfortunately, while it is nice to return to places like Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and The Three Broomsticks, the movie offers nothing more than brief nostalgia wrapped in a slightly ludicrous story and undeveloped characters. Their relationship and Albus’ past are among the most fascinating aspects of the series, revealing their flawed pasts as the movie brings in Aberforth Dumbledore (Richard Coyle) to expand their family’s story. The film begins by developing the near romantic relationship between Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law). After dipping his toe into franchises like 007, Star Wars, and Marvel, Mads Mikkelsen joins the Wizarding World for his stint as the franchise’s villain to moderately effective results. This movie features the noteworthy replacement of Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald, who resigned from the role following negative publicity. The Secrets of Dumbledore is a bland attempt at a political thriller, one that makes poor creative decisions and fails to capture the (literal) magic of the original series. While the Harry Potter films will forever hold a special place in my heart, this movie is the lowest depth this enterprise has sunk to. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is the third film in the Fantastic Beasts saga and features Wizarding World veteran David Yates in the director’s chair. So, once the film series ended in 2011, an inferior prequel series to capitalize on the success was inevitable.

The Wizarding World was a constant adventure that we all wanted to escape to. Drawing lightning-shaped scars on our foreheads, and waving around magic wands while eagerly anticipating the newest book in the Harry Potter series were a cultural phenomenons like no other. Anyone who grew up in the 2000s wanted to be a wizard.

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