Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (spoiler alert)

Just so you undetstand ...my daughter Jen was 11 years old when the first Harry Potter movie was released.  If you know anything about the Wizarding world, you know that 11 is the age when witches and wizards get their letter from Hogwarts and head to Ollivander's to get their first wand. Before we saw the movie, Jen read the book and then handed it to Becca, who was 9 at the time.  Both girls were instantly in love.  And so was I.  We anxiously awaited each new book in the series, each new movie. And when Harry Potter and the Dealthly Hallows Part Two brought the series to a close, we felt bereft.

Then, two years ago, came the charming prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, the first in a new series of adventures in the Wizarding World.  I really enjoyed the film.

So of course I had to see Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

The second installment is much darker than the first, beginning with Grindelwald's escape while being tranferred from one prison to another, his ability to bewitch wizards into following him, and the  horrific crimes he is willing to commit to achieve his goals . 

The Grindelwald story, especially his relationship with Albus Dumbledore, can be confuisng, especially if you haven't read  Harry Potter and the Dealthly Hallows (there's a lot of back story in the novel that never made it into either movie).  And the film tends to drag in spots. 

But overall it was an enjoyable film.  I especially enjoyed the scenes at Hogwarts, the brief cameo by Professor McGonnegal.  Leta LeStrange is clearly the most interestig character in the movie, pity we won't see more of her.  and did you happen to notice that Grindelwald was using the Elder Wand?

Can't wait for the next installment.