Fantastic Pokemon (Beasts) and Where to Find Them [Spoilers]
I've recently got around to watching Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. While I don't think the Harry Potter series needs anymore world building than its already eight book long series, I had to find out what an American version of Harry Potter would be. But after watching, I couldn't help but think about how easily this could have been more of a Pokemon Origins type of film.
Short(-ish) Review
Fantastic Beasts, in my opinion, is not a good movie. It's maybe a fun spin-off, but in no way does it effectively establish a prequel universe of the beloved Harry Potter series. The main characters intention and goal is never fully realized or even really discussed until half way through the movie. The plot is clunky and doesn't really gel together. The plots dwells too long on the fact the damn suitcase gone missing. "Yes, Newt Scamander (the main character) has the exact same briefcase as this other dude trying to get a loan at the bank. (Fight Club anyone?)"
After the suitcase fiasco, we get introduced to the brass and bureaucracy of the MACUSA (Magical Congress of the USA, yeah, real original). The MACUSA is a great representation of what a magical society would look like in the late industrial revolution. It's conveyed very well with brass pipes, Gothic architecture, and smoky hazy windows. The mess of the office is paired with the soot and grease of machinery. But at the same time, it isn't as fantastical (heh, ironic) as Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic. Maybe Harry Potter spoiled me, but nothing really filled me with wonder. I also really detest the word "no-maj" which is the equivalent to muggle in America. It just seems so generic. But then again, the only other option would have been "anti-magitarian" which doesn't sound too good either. Hm, I wonder if this is a purposeful jab at America from J.K. Rowling...
You're introduced to Colin Farrell as the main villain. I don't even remember his name in the movie because it doesn't matter. Just by knowing Colin Farrell is the villain tells you everything you need to know about him. He's subtly aggressive all the time, talks quietly, and really has no personality what so ever. Colin starts the movie by working with the MACUSA but is found out to be the one who was orchestrating the crimes around New York the whole time. On a side note, I have to hand it to the creepy anti-witch family that was exploited by Colin. They really creep me out.
Somewhere in the mix of this, there are introduction to side characters, friendships and well...beasts However, I am greatly disappointed with the beasts section of this movie because contrary to the title's name, I felt like the movie barely focuses on beasts. I mean, a suitcase opens, supposedly letting out the Pandora's box of creatures Newt had collected and yet he's only missing three beasts? It takes him like fifteen minutes in movie-time to catch two of them. The last one doesn't even do anything, it just chills in a skyscraper until the end of the movie.
Yes, Newt does show a lot of beasts when they enter his magical suitcase, but the movie wasn't, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them...Oh Wait There In My Suitcase." I want to learn more about other fantastic beasts. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire showcased beasts better than this movie.
One last point before I move onto the second part of my post, I never got the point of why this movie existed. As I recall, the movie is based off an encylopedia so the plot was made from scratch. So why did it feel the the plot of the main character and the plot of the movie never connected? Nothing ever had urgency. The characters relationships felt strong, I'll admit, but goal of the movie seemed cobbled together. Newt's main goal is to go to Arizona, and while that is a dumb reason to go to the United States in general, it is his goal. The issue is that he never even left New York City. He gets roped into the situation but not in an exciting way. It just sort of happens.
Pokemon Link
But what if the movie was about a young Professor Oak coming to a new land where new Pokemon were just discovered? Maybe it's in a newly settled town where the outskirts are filled with unknown and mysterious Pokemon that are not welcomed the city's population. Or maybe it could just be his first visit to Lavender Town (cue creepy music). Or maybe it's the quest to engineer a Pokedex. Who knows.
The main point of Pokemon is to learn about them (...and the power that's inside...) and the main driver of that point is Professor Oak. Oak literally forces you to take a Pokemon so you can help his research. yet there is barely any backstory to him. That's why a movie focusing on him and how he obtained his vast knowledge of Pokemon would be pretty fun to see. And he could still "fall" into the plot. He'd be exploring new areas and finding new Pokemon but he'd run into Team Rocket from time to time. Eventually their tension would apex into a grand Pokemon battle at the end.
Or imagine a young Professor Oak touring some archaeological sites and witnessing the first Aerodactyl in Pokemon existence. Or maybe it could do a reboot of the original Pokemon animated movie that goes into the secret conception of Mewtwo (though I think sci-fi has been done to death this past decade). Imagine him doing the exact same thing as Newt except he actually performs his goal of discovering an unknown Pokemon (or he actually goes to Arizona). And with just the sheer amount of Pokemon out there, the possibilities are endless.
Hopefully, one day, Hollywood will be able to deliver on this idea. I'm not movie director or script-writer, but I would definitely check a live action Pokemon movie out. And though it sounds too cartoon-y, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them proves that it can work. It just needs a focused story, an established universe to really ground the story and give it depth, and no Colin Farrell.
Fantastic Beasts, in my opinion, is not a good movie. It's maybe a fun spin-off, but in no way does it effectively establish a prequel universe of the beloved Harry Potter series. The main characters intention and goal is never fully realized or even really discussed until half way through the movie. The plot is clunky and doesn't really gel together. The plots dwells too long on the fact the damn suitcase gone missing. "Yes, Newt Scamander (the main character) has the exact same briefcase as this other dude trying to get a loan at the bank. (Fight Club anyone?)"
 |
| The Traveling Brotherhood of the Suitcase Filled with Magical Creatures was too long, I guess |
After the suitcase fiasco, we get introduced to the brass and bureaucracy of the MACUSA (Magical Congress of the USA, yeah, real original). The MACUSA is a great representation of what a magical society would look like in the late industrial revolution. It's conveyed very well with brass pipes, Gothic architecture, and smoky hazy windows. The mess of the office is paired with the soot and grease of machinery. But at the same time, it isn't as fantastical (heh, ironic) as Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic. Maybe Harry Potter spoiled me, but nothing really filled me with wonder. I also really detest the word "no-maj" which is the equivalent to muggle in America. It just seems so generic. But then again, the only other option would have been "anti-magitarian" which doesn't sound too good either. Hm, I wonder if this is a purposeful jab at America from J.K. Rowling...
 |
| I don't think he changed from this expression the entire movie |
You're introduced to Colin Farrell as the main villain. I don't even remember his name in the movie because it doesn't matter. Just by knowing Colin Farrell is the villain tells you everything you need to know about him. He's subtly aggressive all the time, talks quietly, and really has no personality what so ever. Colin starts the movie by working with the MACUSA but is found out to be the one who was orchestrating the crimes around New York the whole time. On a side note, I have to hand it to the creepy anti-witch family that was exploited by Colin. They really creep me out.
Somewhere in the mix of this, there are introduction to side characters, friendships and well...beasts However, I am greatly disappointed with the beasts section of this movie because contrary to the title's name, I felt like the movie barely focuses on beasts. I mean, a suitcase opens, supposedly letting out the Pandora's box of creatures Newt had collected and yet he's only missing three beasts? It takes him like fifteen minutes in movie-time to catch two of them. The last one doesn't even do anything, it just chills in a skyscraper until the end of the movie.
 |
| These specific creatures are in the movie for a total of thirty seconds. |
Yes, Newt does show a lot of beasts when they enter his magical suitcase, but the movie wasn't, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them...Oh Wait There In My Suitcase." I want to learn more about other fantastic beasts. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire showcased beasts better than this movie.
One last point before I move onto the second part of my post, I never got the point of why this movie existed. As I recall, the movie is based off an encylopedia so the plot was made from scratch. So why did it feel the the plot of the main character and the plot of the movie never connected? Nothing ever had urgency. The characters relationships felt strong, I'll admit, but goal of the movie seemed cobbled together. Newt's main goal is to go to Arizona, and while that is a dumb reason to go to the United States in general, it is his goal. The issue is that he never even left New York City. He gets roped into the situation but not in an exciting way. It just sort of happens.
Pokemon Link
But what if the movie was about a young Professor Oak coming to a new land where new Pokemon were just discovered? Maybe it's in a newly settled town where the outskirts are filled with unknown and mysterious Pokemon that are not welcomed the city's population. Or maybe it could just be his first visit to Lavender Town (cue creepy music). Or maybe it's the quest to engineer a Pokedex. Who knows.
The main point of Pokemon is to learn about them (...and the power that's inside...) and the main driver of that point is Professor Oak. Oak literally forces you to take a Pokemon so you can help his research. yet there is barely any backstory to him. That's why a movie focusing on him and how he obtained his vast knowledge of Pokemon would be pretty fun to see. And he could still "fall" into the plot. He'd be exploring new areas and finding new Pokemon but he'd run into Team Rocket from time to time. Eventually their tension would apex into a grand Pokemon battle at the end.
Or imagine a young Professor Oak touring some archaeological sites and witnessing the first Aerodactyl in Pokemon existence. Or maybe it could do a reboot of the original Pokemon animated movie that goes into the secret conception of Mewtwo (though I think sci-fi has been done to death this past decade). Imagine him doing the exact same thing as Newt except he actually performs his goal of discovering an unknown Pokemon (or he actually goes to Arizona). And with just the sheer amount of Pokemon out there, the possibilities are endless.
Hopefully, one day, Hollywood will be able to deliver on this idea. I'm not movie director or script-writer, but I would definitely check a live action Pokemon movie out. And though it sounds too cartoon-y, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them proves that it can work. It just needs a focused story, an established universe to really ground the story and give it depth, and no Colin Farrell.
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| Credit: Unknown |
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