Fantastic Beasts

Jean, This is a spin off of the Harry Potter stories written by J.K.Rowlings. This time a magician from England arrives in the United States in the mid 1920's with a suitcase full fantastic beasts. His adventures with the inhabitants of the suitcase is the rest of the story. This is a scary movie with some dark visions of the world. (I do not think it is for the very young.) It is much too long at 132 minutes and the middle third really drags without any advancement in the plot at all. I was not that much impressed overall but can see the need to introduce all the characters for future episodes. As to those beasts, you can look forward to quite a number including a platypus, a seedling that worries a lot and a dragon who can change his or her shape. There are some surprises within the story as teasers for things to come which can keep you awake.( In my audience I saw a good number of smart phones going on as people checked the time.)  Dad

P.S. The previews were:

Collateral Beauty

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Hidden Figures

Passengers

Power Rangers

Sing

Dr. Strange 3D

Jean, Wow, What an entertaining movie. They open the door to a new world of mysticism and what a world. It has a very commanding lead hero in Benedict Cumberbatch . He is like a young Daniel Day Lewis. The world has magic green amulets, a burgundy cloak with a mind of it's own, an urban landscape that revolves on it self in many ways. There is humor as well but many of its inhabitants do not get the lines.  With so many of the scenes involving free falling of some kind, the 3D is almost too effective to the point it becomes a little uncomfortable watching. The villains are of a different breed or are they villains?  This is non-stop fun, starting with a very intense scene before the opening credits even get to role. This presents a new world to explore.  Dad

The previews are:

XXX:The Return of Xander Cage

The Great Wall

LIFE

Rogue One

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men TellNo Tales