Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

The movie has two things going for it. The visuals are cool. And the cast is fun. Johnny Depp plays the villain like only Johnny Depp could. That's about it cause the plot is all over the place full of holes and exposition with no payoff. We are introduced to a slew of new characters with familiar names for no apparent nor believable reason.  Remember the name Lestrange? Like Bellatrix? Well the central conflict centers around whether there are more of them. The opening scene is a prison transport gone wrong. But who would be so stupid as to hand over a wizard's wand for prison transport? And you expect me to believe that wizard transportation is so primitive as to be using carriages? Dumbledore has a seen at the mirror of erised, showing his utmost heart's desire...spoiler alert it's Grindelwald. Is this the homosexuality that Rowling has alluded to in interviews? Also what's the deal with Nicolas Flamel? There's a few too many needless references to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

From the wizarding world of Harry Potter comes a prequel that no one really asked for. But it is a pleasantly enjoyable film. Other than a brief mention of Hogwarts and some familiar spells, the film bears no resemblance to the films we know and love from our childhood. This film brings us to the wizarding community in America, under the rule of the Magical Congress which forbids interaction with muggles, or No-Maj as the Americans so unelegantly put it. The costumes and period production design tinged with a magical aura and special effects transport you to another world as the old films used to. The film is self contained, with a clear beginning, middle and proper end. There is no need for a sequel but we're going to get it. Eddie Redmayne is delightful as Newt Scamander. I thought he was already in Harry Potter. I guess he just seems like he was a student at Hogwarts. Call it good casting.