Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (DVD Review)

“Fantastic Beasts” is the second attempt in as many years to push out new material in the Harry Potter franchise. Like “Star Wars,” the Potter series is so enmeshed in contemporary popular culture that it doesn't need the boost, or a reboot — just excuses for new merchandise.

It's a license to print money, and dear God, the fact it hasn't been milked more is more surprising than the the fact they chose to go with “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (originally a short book released for charity that inspired the movie reviewed here) four years after the last “Potter” film, and almost a decade after the final book, as the first mass-media foray into an expanded universe. But they did, and it shows. “Beasts” is a visually and conceptually spectacular addition to the overarching Wizarding World, but it carries the weight of a franchise on its shoulders, never settling into a story worth telling.

Eddie Redmayne stars as Newt Scamander, an adult wizard in 1926 who spends his days traveling the world seeking out and studying rare magical creatures (think Thunderbirds, Unicorns, Hippogriffs, Billywigs, Boggarts, Niffles...) He keeps them in a zoo, magically accessed by his briefcase; essentially, Newt is like Doctor Who, a charismatic traveling adventurer. Redmayne is pretty great, if a little too meek.

Newt finds himself in New York City, en route to Arizona. Creatures escape his briefcase and he has to find them, while also becoming embroiled in magical intrigue with Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterson) and Percival Graves (Colin Farrell). Finding the creatures is an excuse for pushing the plot forward, but it really feels like it should've been the only story told here. The Graves plot — which is entwined with world building involving the mythical Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald (a name familiar to Potter fans as the precursor to Voldemort) — balloons to an unwieldy and impersonal climax that sets up further sequels that don't seem to need Newt. Which is a problem when you've planned five movies in the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” saga.

Selling toys, tie-in books, LEGO sets, fake wands, memorabilia, encouraging cosplay at conventions. That's where the real money is, and to its credit “Fantastic Beasts” does have a dazzling production design. It deserved its win for best Costume Design at the Academy Awards; the wizarding world fashion and its technology, as well as the aesthetic of the MACUSA (Magic Congress of the United States) headquarters, is all money on the screen, and money well spent.

Those who already love the wizarding world franchise will find a lot to like here — but those with a more casual connection will leave a little cold.

DVD Features

There are 11 deleted scenes on the blu-ray; I watched all of them, but like many deleted scenes they work better if you already loved the movie. Seeing as many high-profile releases tend to leave this kind of stuff for future releases, it's pretty nice that WB included these here.

Additionally, two special documentaries did a great job showing off the thought behind the creatures and the world, respectively. I actually enjoyed these more than the movie because there's nothing inherently lazy behind Rowling's expansion of her franchise. Its flaws rest in the story; the rest is just sweet moviemaking skill at work.

Film: 3 Yaps Extras: 4 Yaps