The best decision the filmmakers made was moving the action to Prohibition-era New York. The art deco aesthetic, the jazzy score by James Newton Howard, and the smoky atmosphere of speakeasies made the magic feel fresh. It wasn't about Quidditch robes anymore; it was about magical mobsters and wizards hiding from No-Majs in plain sight.
Unlike Harry Potter (reluctant hero) or Luke Skywalker (eager farm boy), Newt is awkward. He doesn’t want to save the world. He wants to feed his giant platypus-like creature (the Niffler) and de-escalate situations. Eddie Redmayne’s skittish, shuffling performance made him an unlikely hero. He represents the autistic-coded, deeply passionate naturalist, and the world needs more heroes who prefer beasts to people. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2016 10...
Don’t let the cute creatures fool you. This movie goes to dark places. The Obscurus (a parasitic, parasitic magical force created by repressed children) is one of the saddest and most terrifying concepts in the entire Potter canon. Credence Barebone’s storyline—a child abused by his adopted mother for having magic—is heartbreaking and adds a weight that many blockbusters lack. The best decision the filmmakers made was moving