Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Review - Now in Theaters!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Rated PG-13)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an all-new adventure returning us to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling.

Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) stars in the central role of wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four Harry Potter blockbusters.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them also stars Katherine Waterston (Steve Jobs, Inherent Vice) as Tina; Tony Award winner Dan Fogler (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Jacob; Alison Sudol (Dig, Transparent) as Tina’s sister, Queenie; Ezra Miller (Trainwreck) as Credence; two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (In America, Sweet and Lowdown) as Mary Lou; Oscar winner Jon Voight (Coming Home, TV’s Ray Donovan) as Henry Shaw, Sr.; Ron Perlman (the Hellboyfilms) as Gnarlack; Carmen Ejogo (Selma) as Seraphina; Jenn Murray (Brooklyn) as Chastity; young newcomer Faith Wood-Blagrove as Modesty; and Colin Farrell (True Detective) as Percival Graves.

Hawaii Dad Blog Review:
I saw the first Harry Potter movie when it came out 15 years ago, so when my son and I went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the prequel to the Harry Potter series, I did so with a near-blank slate. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to follow along and would miss all the references to the hugely successful franchise.

The movie takes place in 1926 New York. An Englishman, Newt Scamander, arrives on a ship carrying a bottomless suitcase full of rare, magical creatures. He brings them into the states although such beasts have been outlawed by MACUSA, the American magicians organization. Newt wishes to release a giant phoenix-like creature into the wilds of Arizona to prove that these fantastic beasts are not the danger that they are thought to be. This is not a good time for his mission because MACUSA is trying to lie low amidst growing anti-magic sentiments from No-Maj Americans. Leading the fear-mongering against wizards is Mary Lou Barebone, who preaches with her adopted children around town. Her creepy "son," Credence, meets secretly with the powerful Percival Graves who seems to be playing for both teams.

Newt Scamander is followed around by Tina Goldstein, who has been recently demoted by MACUSA, but feels that Newt may be her ticket back into their good graces. Newt runs into Jacob Kowalski, a No-Maj who inadvertently releases the fantastic beasts from the suitcase. Together, the three try to capture the creatures before they get into too much mischief.

MACUSA has bigger worries than Newt's escaped beasts. There is an evil force wreaking havoc around town. Does this have anything to do with Gellert Grindelwald, the dark wizard whose name is dropped throughout the movie, but is only briefly seen? Or is someone else not who he appears to be?

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was an entertaining movie even for a Harry Potter newbie. It was a visually fun movie to watch and the story was definitely setting itself up for the sequels to follow). My son enjoyed the humor throughout the film, and said his favorite part was when the portly Jacob struggles to fit into Newt’s suitcase. I do wish that he and I had seen the original eight films because I think we would’ve appreciated this movie even more. That being said, Fantastic Beasts was able to stand on its own and promises to be the start of something magical.

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Doctor Strange Review - Now in Theaters!

Doctor Strange Synopsis:
Marvel Studios presents “Doctor Strange,” the story of Doctor Stephen Strange, the Master of the Mystic Arts, who made his first appearance in Marvel comics in 1963.

The story follows world-famous neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange, whose life changes forever after a horrific car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he is forced to look for healing, and hope, in an unlikely place—a mysterious enclave known as Kamar-Taj. He quickly learns that this is not just a center for healing but also the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying our reality. Before long Strange—armed with newly acquired magical powers—is forced to choose whether to return to his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange” stars Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game,” “Black Mass”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave,” “Triple 9”), Rachel McAdams(“Spotlight,” “Southpaw”), Benedict Wong (“The Martian,” “Prometheus”), Michael Stuhlbarg (“A Serious Man,” “Jobs”), Benjamin Bratt (“Traffic,” “Piñero”) and Scott Adkins (“El Gringo,” “Expendables 2”), with Mads Mikkelsen (“The Hunt,” “Casino Royale”) and Academy Award® winner Tilda Swinton (“Michael Clayton,” “Julia”).

Hawaii Dad Blog's Review:
Doctor Strange is an origin tale, which is good because I had no idea about the character's back story. Stephen Strange is a brilliant, but arrogant neurosurgeon who gets into a horrific car accident in which he mangles his hands and loses his ability to do his work. In self-pity mode, he lashes out at those who try to help him, including fellow doctor and former girlfriend, Christine Palmer, who seems to still care for Strange. Doctor Strange soon learns of a man who was able to heal himself after breaking his back. This promise leads Strange to Kathmandu where he meets Mordo and his master, the Ancient One. Despite Mordo's advice to "forget everything you know," Doctor Strange is skeptical. That is until the Ancient One takes him on a psychedelic mind trip through time and space that leaves the Doctor begging to learn.

Doctor Strange's brilliance and competitive nature combine to make him a fast learner. Combine that with the feeling that he was somehow destined to be a master sorcerer and it's easier to buy his rapidly advancing ability. He needs to be a quick learner because he soon has to match up with the Ancient One's traitorous former student, Kaecilius, who has stolen pages from her ancient, mystical book. He uses the rituals in these pages to summon the powerful Dormammu of the Dark Dimension where the laws of time and nature do not exist.

The visual effects in this movie are stunning.  During fight scenes, buildings are turned and manipulated to create an avalanche of bricks and mortar. Traveling through time and space is visualized as a kaleidoscope of hallucinogenic shapes and color patterns. All of these special effects are even more enhanced with the use of 3D. I don't think I've ever seen a movie where the use of 3D technology was better used or more vital to the visual feel than with Doctor Strange. I strongly recommend paying the extra money to get the full experience!

My 7-year old son enjoyed the movie, often referring back to how Doctor Strange would "teleport" and fight a "big alien face." However, the concepts and dialogue were definitely over his head when the movie delved into the mysticism and mythology that only a true comic geek could love. There is also quite a bit of cursing in the movie.

I think the Doctor Strange story will be an interesting one to watch over future, inevitable sequels. I am also curious to see how Doctor Strange will be integrated into the Avengers world, as a mid-credits scene hints at.

Doctor Strange is in theaters now.

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