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MOVIE REVIEW

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for some fantasy action violence.

Reviewed by: Charity Bishop
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Average—with caution
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Teens Adults
Genre: Action Adventure Fantasy
Length: 2 hr. 13 min.
Year of Release: 2016
USA Release: November 18, 2016 (wide—4,000+ theaters)
DVD: March 28, 2017
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Relevant Issues

The sin of physical and mental abuse of children


Differences and similarities between fantasy magic and real witchcraft and sorcery

Sorcery in the Bible

Magic and magicians in the Bible

Witches in the Bible

Witchcraft

Enchantments

About Wicca and Paganism

Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright, Warner Bros. Pictures
Featuring Eddie RedmayneNewt Scamander
Ezra Miller … Credence
Colin FarrellPercival Graves
Zoë Kravitz (Zoe Kravitz) …
Ron PerlmanGnarlack
Katherine WaterstonPorpentina Goldstein
Jon VoightHenry Shaw, Sr
Dan FoglerJacob Kowalski
Carmen Ejogo … Seraphina Picquery
Christine Marzano … Exterminator
Alison Sudol … Queenie Goldstein
Samantha Morton … Mary Lou
Gemma Chan
See all »
Director David Yates — “Harry Potter…” franchise
Producer Heyday Films
Warner Bros.
J.K. Rowling
See all »
Distributor Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures. Trademark logo.Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company

One of the most talented and controversial (among believers) authors of the last decade, J.K. Rowling never fails to cast a spell over her audience—and the box office. The global phenomenon of the boy wizard and his friends left no family untouched, creating fans and critics alike. Now, she launches into a new franchise depicting the adventures of Newt Scamander, known in the Potterverse as the author of a book on Hogwarts’ “required reading” list.

New York City, 1926.

Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) doesn’t know magic, wizards, or magical creatures exist. He works in a cannery and dreams of owning a bakery. Dressed up, with a suitcase full of pastries, he enters the bank to apply for a loan… but Newt (Eddie Redmayne) plops down beside him. When Newt dashes off in pursuit of an escaped magical creature from his case of fantastic beasts, he leaves an egg behind. It hatches—launching Jacob into a mythological world where pretty girls bake dinner in midair before his eyes, suitcases are much bigger on the inside, goblins run nightclubs, and where the ugly truth of the unseen horror wreaking havoc on New York comes to light.

Newt is on a world tour, intent on doing research for a book. Alas, his escaped creatures inside the bank lands him a one way ticket to “the authorities.” The auror who arrests him is Tina (Katherine Waterston), whose recent behavior earned her banishment to the basement and suspension from her duties. She hopes this capture will put her back in the good graces of the higher-ups. It doesn’t. Then, they realize Jacob has Newt’s briefcase. And he’s just popped the locks.

Several things kept circling through my mind while watching this film. The first is what Jesus said, “Better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is many things, but at its heart, is a story about child abuse. It’s about losing oneself in the pain of suffering and the devastation of the soul. It’s about turning pain into uncontrolled anger, and lost innocence. It’s about injustice, cruelty, and redemption. Rowling has tackled these topics before, but never with such raw depth. This is a more mature world than Harry Potter. Abuse no longer is sleeping in a cupboard; it’s red welts, lowered heads, and fear behind children’s eyes as they remove their belt and hand it to “mother.” Scenes where an abused young man is emotionally manipulated by Graves (Colin Farrell) are equally difficult to watch. He offers love to a boy desperate for any sign of human kindness, only to tear it away when he doesn’t get what he wants.

Newt and Graves represent the forces of good and evil within the story. Newt is the savior, who loves all creatures and tries to save the lost. Graves is the devil who manipulates, twists the pain deeper, and turns his back on suffering. Though prevalent, these scenes doesn’t overwhelm the story; they’re part of a larger narrative scope, which shifts between comedic beats, delightful explorations into new places and creatures, and an underlining mystery. Entertaining, engaging, and memorable, it’s an assault on those who inflict harm, an exploration of the pain it causes, and an appeal to the audience to care about “the least of these.”

Rowling tucks many delightful winks into the story for long-time fans of the books; names such as Dumbledore and Grindelwald surface, along with a subtle reference to the search for the Deathly Hallows. We meet Bowtruckles and other beasts. The film is gorgeous, an immersive experience, from swinging Twenties streets to the lovely costume design. There’s little profanity or sensuality (Queenie greets them in a slip, and sensually clothes herself; she says most men “think” about her in the way Jacob does, once they meet; Newt says a creature must “mate” and attracts her back into the briefcase with a scent that reminds her of a male of her kind). Violence includes creatures wreaking havoc. Wizards duel one another intending harm. Physical abuse is implied with a boy removing his belt and handing it to his “mother” several times; he and other children show welts on their hands. A magical force carries people up in the air and drops them from great heights, killing them.

No doubt you’ve already reached a conclusion about whether the magic in Rowling’s stories is appropriate for your family. This film contains much of the established fantasy magic from the earlier franchise (vanishing and appearing in different places, modifying memories to erase magical events, wand-waving, etc.) and emphasizes one character’s ability to read others’ minds. Small children may find some scenes (particularly the idea of an abusive parent) frightening.

Some may see the character of Mary Lou as a blow at fundamentalism, perhaps even an embodiment of the religious right (in a time when debate rages over sexual orientation, Mary Lou forcing her “children” to repress their “true nature” brings up parallels for discussion), but I see her as the personification of all that is not godly. Jesus spoke out against abuse, and offered love free of manipulation. Like Newt, he seeks to pull broken, hurting people back from their own inner darkness.

The question is whether people will accept it.

Violence: Moderate to heavy—some scary for young ones / Profanity: Minor—“h*ll” (3), “b*gger” (2), “jeez” (1) / Sex/Nudity: Mild

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—I saw this movie with my 8 and 11 year old boys. I warned them ahead of time that it would be a little creepy and “Harry Potter scary”. In the end, they both loved it, said that it wasn’t “that” scary after having seen/read Harry Potter, and now they both want to read the Miss Peregrine’s book series. I really enjoyed it myself as well. It was a movie about kids, but I didn’t particularly think it was a “kids” movie.”
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Chrystal, age 40 (USA)
Positive—I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it. This movie is the start of a new five movie series. This movie feels like a continuance same world as Harry Potter, but the world in this movie is not as fully realized as in the original Harry Potter series. It feels as if there’s a lot more to the story, which is no doubt due to the fact that it is a five movie series. On the negative side, two people are killed by a “wind monster,” who might be too scary for younger kids.

I don’t believe the “Second Salemers” is supposed to be the “religious right.” The group is more like a cult, and they don’t mention God. On the positive side, it is an overall family-friendly film. I like that it carries on the tradition of the Harry Potter films, where good and evil are well defined, and evil is punished. It’s not up the timeless story telling quality of the original series, but it’s enjoyable, none the less.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 3
Keith Chandler, age 38 (USA)
Positive—Went to see this with a friend and will admit I didn’t expect much. But the movie proved to be entertaining, funny, sweet and heart warming. Although there is a sad plot to the movie involving an abusive woman who adopts a boy who’s mother was a witch, so she beats him to take her anger out on magical people. It shows her in an extremist light, never implied to be Christian. There was no sex, nudity, little cussing, just magic and action violence. It was dark, but had a balance of jovial humor. Very well made, and I would recommend it to many others.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Paulina Vitale, age 23 (USA)
Positive—While not as great as the previous eight Harry Potter movies, it’s fascinating to watch. Eddie Redmayne shines as Newt Scamander, a good-hearted guy who wants to save the titular “Fantastic Beasts.” The film is a great addition to the Harry Potter universe and the audience is treated to wizardry in the USA, instead of Britain. Mr. Scamander’s “bigger on the inside” suitcase reminds me so much of the TARDIS from “Doctor Who.” There are some intense scenes in the film that are inappropriate for a younger audience, but should be ok for older kids.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
Shannon H., age 35 (USA)
Positive—I saw this with my husband and 3 kids… ages 11, 11, and 8. Everyone loved it! We can’t wait to see the next one!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
CKS, age 40 (USA)
Negative
Negative— The whimsical creatures are fun, but unfortunately this is a dark film. Moviemaking quality was good, with wonderful actors and special effects. The story itself was all over the place. Confusing at times, and we never really get to know these characters. In the beginning of the movie, we see a woman warning a group of people outside about witches living among them. She asks a man if he is seeking the truth. Though she is never called a Christian or mentions God, but this seems to be what is being suggested. Later we see this same woman being abusive to children.

I don’t suggest bringing children to this film. There are intense scary scenes and more than one person is violently killed. I enjoyed the Harry Potter series, but this was a disappointment.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Ellen, age 49 (USA)
Negative—I seriously wonder how many people are ACTUALLY reading their Bible and, if they do read it, do they ACTUALLY BELIEVE it? This movie screams out: witchcraft, demonic activity and so many more things which the Bible clearly WARNS TO STAY CLEAR OF IT!!! I watched it with a “christian family,” looking after their kids, and they have never actually read the Bible! If people would, they might have understood how massively damaging that movie is to your soul. It’s so clearly portrayed there, where we have come to regarding the last book of the Bible! The “father of the lie” is advertising the living daylights out of it, to devour as many as he can, with, also, fancy made movies!

Don’t we tend to WARN the kids about the stranger with the candy? Here we bring them straight TO him! In the end, I waited for the sentence that the movie suggests, and, promptly, the little one (9 years old) said it: “Wouldn’t it be nice to have some magic?!” I think, THAT sentence said it ALL!

Didn’t GOD give his son to die for us so we can be saved from all these lies and deceptions? People, do you really not get it? I wonder HOW MUCH CLEARER GOD would have to spell it out for us. What is going on… The Bible tells us that Jesus is coming again. Watch the signs! Be prepared!
My Ratings: Moral rating: / Moviemaking quality: 4
Nel, age 40 (Germany)
Negative—My 15-year-old niece has become interested in the Harry Potter world, along with some even more questionable current novels such as Mortal Instruments. She loved this film, so despite my lack of interest in Rowling’s stories I gave this new one a try. My impressions of Harry Potter books and films is sheer boredom (I could barely sustain interest in the films, increasingly waning as series dragged on) and the lack of any clearly defined good and evil. The characters are famously ambiguous, right from Book 1, in which Harry’s disobedience goes unpunished because of the “greater good” of saving his friends.

In other words, there is no higher moral than one’s selfish desires. There are obvious occult symbols throughout, but I have never thought these were as dangerous to impressionable minds as the deception in calling evil good and calling good evil. I do not get any sense of “redemption” or hope from any of the stories. And again, the stories and characters have no depth or make me feel interested or touched.

“Fantastic Beasts…” is no different than the rest. A dark, disturbing world, especially its chilling portrayal of child abuse. There is no way that I would allow any child to view this film! If I had junk like this filling my mind at age 8, and craved more of the same, I might want to kill myself by age 13. The creatures were interesting, but they were not innocent wild animals. They were wicked, such as the one who robbed a homeless man on the bank’s steps, other people’s personal property, and a jewelry store. Newt is supposedly a moral person because he saw “good” in a destructive force known as Obscurial. The entire plot and all characters were indeed obscure!See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3
Ruther, age 43 (USA)
Comments from young people
Positive—I went to see the movie with my brother, and we both thought it was excellent. There was no profanity or nudity.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Charlene, age n/a (USA)

Please share your observations and insights to be posted here.

Comments from non-viewers
Negative—Avoid at all costs! J. K. Rowling said she wrote the Harry Potter books as a “download,” yet they contain EXACT incantations found in ancient witchcraft texts. Please do some on-line research about how it is an indoctrination of children to Wicca. This very Web site has great resources about this topic and how not to lead our children into spiritual bondage for the sake of entertainment. Deuteronomy 18:10
Heather, age 40 (USA)