LuckyHarry Potterfans were able to catch an early screening ofFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwaldthis weekend in a few different locations. Now that the social media embargo has lifted, early reactions to the highly anticipated sequel have hit the web. There has been some controversy surrounding the sequel, mainly around the decision to keep Johnny Depp on board, after accusations of domestic abuse by ex-wife Amber Heard were made public. With that being said, the first reactions to the sequel have been positive, for the most part.
Harry Potterfans were a bit skeptical when Eddie Redmayne’smagizoologist Newt Scamanderbecame the new leading face for the franchise over two years ago. However,Fantastic Beastswas a huge success, scoring over $800 million globally, and safely securing that more films would be made in the future. The first of the four new installments,Fantastic Beasts 2hits theaters on November 16th, and fans of the franchise have been wondering how this one stacks up to the first movie.
Some critics and fans were able to see early screenings ofFantastic Beasts 2, with Warner Bros. holding some special fan screenings in places like Universal Studios Hollywood. Much like the early reactions toWreck-It Ralph 2, which also hits theaters this month, the reactions toFantastic Beasts 2have been generally positive. One fan says that it’s a “magical must-see,” and goes on to say, “Johnny Depp as Grindelwaldis perfection.” Another reaction to the sequel heaps more praise and notes that moviegoers don’t have to be well-versed in the franchise to see that it’s an excellent film, while also giving compliments to Depp’s performance, saying that “it’s hard to resist the stunning visuals, flawless action and riveting performances.”
As with all forms of media, there is some criticism forFantastic Beasts 2. One early reaction claims that the sequel is “an erratic and overstuffed mess,” while going on to compare it to the “fan service” of Gandalf battling The Nine inThe Hobbit. The criticism of the movie continued, stating that the editing is sloppy and declaring that it is “(J.K.)Rowling’s sloppiest and probablyworst wizarding story.” Another early reaction echoes the sloppy editing claims and says, that the “poorly constructed story” is unforgivable.
While there are some early negative reactions toFantastic Beasts 2, the majority of them are positive, and some overwhelmingly so. Now that the movie has screened,franchise creator J.K. Rowlingthanked fans and critics for not spoiling any of the storyline in their first reviews of the film. As is the case with any big movie, or book, or album, the moviegoers will have to go in and make up their own minds when it comes to enjoyingFantastic Beasts 2. You can check out the thank you note fromJ.K. Rowling’s Twitteraccount and some early reactions below.
