SFX

FIRST CONTACT

-

Dim the lights. Your controvers­ial opinions are getting it on with our innocent pages. Frisky!

Tjas Debeljak, email I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed The Crimes Of Grindelwal­d. It could get a bit confusing at times, as they were introducin­g new characters left and right, but they were by and large great. Jude Law as Dumbledore was a brilliant piece of casting, and he captures the twinkle in his eye from the get go. Yusuf’s story was a bit rushed, but captivatin­g, and Leta was a definite standout, as a complicate­d character who has a history with Newt that’s largely left unexplored. I hope we get at least a few tidbits about their past relationsh­ip as the series continues.

The only new character that felt a bit wasted was Nagini, whose main purpose seemed to be to look sad, so I hope her story will be better explored in the future. I loved Credence’s story and the reveal of his true identity, which I thought was very exciting for the future of the saga. I’m glad they didn’t pull a Star Wars, which hyped up the reveal of Rey’s parentage, that ultimately fizzled out with a twist that fell flat (at least until Episode IX…). The eponymous beasts were wonderful, especially the adorable zouwu, and I can’t wait to see what’s next, when Grindelwal­d and Dumbledore’s fight ramps up. Bring on the next one!

Alan Adam Johnston, Facebook Awesome film, even better than first one! SFX At least the first one had the benefit of surprise and the excuse that it was starting a new franchise – for me this just felt like it was treading water until something exciting happens in part three. Fingers crossed...

Jane Harris, email At least we’ll always have Paris – the film looked absolutely stunning from beginning to end. I want to go to there!

Paul Cunningham, Facebook Great talent let down by terrible writing, so no different to any other modern blockbuste­r in that regard. It’s worrying how bad screenwrit­ing has been over recent years. SFX Bit harsh. Have you not seen an MCU movie?

Vinay Jain, Facebook Honestly, the second act was the weakest link with the Lestrange storyline, but the opening and the climax at Père Lachaise were brilliant – what’s a shame is that the journey from that opening to the final act is marred by a disappoint­ing execution of some truly brilliant ideas. I wished the movie was longer, as that would sort out the meandering middle act. The strongest scene in the second act is at Hogwarts, with Leta and Newt’s friendship.

Carol Ashman, Facebook Plot holes galore, slow boring moments, a big disappoint­ment!

Simon Litton, Facebook Little in the way of entertainm­ent or fun to be had. Pretty boring for all but the most devoted Potterhead­s. Neither Redmayne nor Depp are given much to do, as most of the plot (and there isn’t even much of that) involves delving into the back stories of secondary characters, new and old, to reveal dark family secrets. The big revelation­s involve finding out who is related to whom, which has long been my least favourite twist. Characters make nonsensica­l decisions to serve the plot, events from the previous film are convenient­ly ignored or reversed, and it’s generally a very lazy piece of writing. Even David Yates seems to direct half-heartedly, staging underwhelm­ing action scenes. There aren’t even very many beasts. Tom Gilbert, email Grindelwal­d was an absolutely useless villain. After he escaped from prison at the beginning, he did nothing at all to suggest why the whole Wizarding World was scared of him – there’s certainly nothing to come close to Voldemort executing Cedric Diggory in cold blood in The Goblet Of Fire. Why go to the trouble of casting a star as famous as Johnny Depp – a decision that’s proved massively controvers­ial – for such a damp squib of a baddie? SFX Voldemort would take Grindelwal­d in a fight any day. I’d wager he was better at crimes, too.

Tony Row, Facebook Tried to name drop too much, Nagini was pointless and the final “twist” was dumb, and not needed. Other than that I liked the film.

Bjarki Steinn Pétursson, Facebook It should have been more similar to X-Men: First Class, focusing on the relationsh­ip between Dumbledore and Grindelwal­d. The mystery in this didn’t work at all for me and I’ve forgotten most of it already. SFX Hogwarts: First Class? Set in the ’60s? I would definitely pay to see this movie.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia