Grindelwald is loose in the latest installment of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald as Johnny Depp officially joins the Harry Potter franchise. In the next wave of the Wizarding World, Grindelwald is forging his army of purebloods, determined to purify the world of the muggles/nomaj. But Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), along with his nomaj sidekick Jacob Kowalski, is caught up in the rebellion while trying to rekindle their loves with sisters Tina and Queenie, currently caught between the two worlds.  

Ultimately, The Crimes of Grindelwald is packed with action, special effects, and of course the magic of JK Rowling, known for the previous Harry Potter Franchise. Fans of the genre will find various hidden gems and questions will be answered, including one from the very first Harry Potter: “who is Nicolas Flemel” and “What is the meaning behind the Pheonix to the Dumbledore family?”.  That, along with the CGI, made the film visually stunning to watch. It is especially stunning if you add the 3D element as objects are literally flying toward you with one wave of the wand. Even those who are not diehard Harry Potter fans, and perhaps may not know the full story of the Wizarding World, will be captivated by the realism and artistry of the film.

However, looking at the story, there’s not a lot of depth. Though Rowling does explore many different plots, the overall the story of Grindelwald is still a mystery. The audience ultimately never fully sees the crimes that Grindelwald supposedly committed that led to him being arrested, and by the end of the movie, there are even more questions than before going into the film.

Of course the acting is spot-on exceptional and audiences will definitely feel the power of Depp as he fully embraces his wizarding roots, especially as he seeks out orphan Credence (Ezra Miller) as a means for his dastardly plan, of which we the audience never fully understand. Furthermore, Miller embraces the character of Credence, fully understanding who he is and how he too is connected with the revelation of his sister Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz), who has a deeper twisted history herself. Like before, the cast of Fantastic Beasts, from Redmayne and Fogler, to Kravitz and Depp all seem to mesh well. The dialogue, though some might find it rushed, does contain a certain element of interest and appeal that will have audiences on the edge of their seats to see what the characters will do next and what creatures will come out of Scamander’s briefcase.

Verdict: 3 out of 5

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is exceptionally stunning to the eye.  It captures the the magic of the Wizarding World for an overall pleasing visual. Just don’t go looking for a clear story, because that might cause audiences to get tangled in an out-of-control web.  The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second installment in the Fantastic Beasts series and marks the tenth film of the Wizarding World Franchise.