19 years ago, a portal into another world was opened, in the form of a novel called 'Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone'.
This world would go on to be explored by millions worldwide, and the people within it would be idolised and adored more and more with each new instalment of their adventures.
Flash forward to now. It's been nine years since the last book of the 'Harry Potter' series, and five years since the last film, but the magic has stuck around. In the brand new film 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them', witches and wizards are back on the big screen.
Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a Magizoologist, is an inquisitive wizard with a keen eye for exploration and adventure. His quest to find – and save – the creatures that live in his world is, in his eyes, limitless.
Newt arrives in 1926 New York – 70 years before 'Harry Potter' – and has some interesting and life-threatening experiences during his time there.
He accidentally meets Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), a No-Maj (American for Muggle, a non-magic person) who dreams of opening a bakery. From that point onwards, all kinds of chaos ensues.
The performances in this film are stellar. Katherine Waterson, who plays Porpentina Goldstein, is the perfect combination of gentle and fierce. Her relationship with Newt starts off uneasy, but the pace and fashion in which it grows is beautifully realistic and at the same time rather enchanting.
Dan Fogler's non-magical, clueless character Jacob is perhaps the most loveable and innocent in the film, creating a comedic and light side to an otherwise deep and rather dark few hours of cinema.
Alison Sudol plays the kindhearted Queenie, Porpentina's sister. She's bubbly, stunning and flirty. Queenie has the magical ability to read minds, and she uses this to her advantage sometimes, especially when it comes to her fascination with Jacob. The on-screen chemistry between the two of them is captivating and completely adorable.
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I could go on to mention and congratulate the remainder of the cast, because it would be warranted, but I'll just acknowledge a few more. One honourable mention goes to the terrifying and striking Ezra Miller as Credence, who portrays fear, loneliness and anxiousness masterfully.
Carmen Ejogo is awarded my second honourable mention as the powerful, sneering Seraphina Picquery, President of the Magical Congress of the United States. Seraphina's dominant and influential position in the wizarding world gives Carmen the opportunity to push her acting abilities to the limit, and she does it astoundingly well.
The visual effects in 'Fantastic Beasts' are nothing short of spectacular. Masses of dark magic are brought to life, buildings explode and crumble, spells emerge forcefully from wands and a delicious strudel is even baked and served in mid-air. These are all familiar sights, and sights that 'Harry Potter' fans are sure to recognise after the incredibly beautiful film series that accompanied the books.
The real stars of the film are, of course, the gorgeous (and sometimes kind of ugly but still somehow cute?) creatures. We have bowtruckles: tiny stick-insect-like things that have facial expressions, one in particular having attachment issues with Newt.
There's a niffler: an adorable, furry animal that is attracted to anything shiny... Which gets it into hilarious situations throughout the film.
Perhaps the cutest of all is the demiguise: something that looks like a cross between a monkey and a sloth, with long, silver hair all over its body. All the fantastic beasts within the film have their own likeable qualities, which only makes Newt's fascination with them all the more understandable.
'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' is as much of a trip down memory lane as it is a brand new insight into the world that so many know and love.
There are tear-jerking moments (including the first few seconds of the whole thing where an all-too-familiar theme song plays) and heart-racing moments (who doesn't fancy a fast-paced dash through Central Park?) that make up what is, ultimately, a dazzling film.
If you slept in a bed of your own tears back in 2011 when 'Harry Potter' ended, don't despair: the wizarding world is well and truly alive, and it's more stunning, nostalgic and tremendously beautiful than ever before.
★★★★★
