Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A Review

This is the first film from J.K. Rowling’s Wizard World that I didn’t know the ending to. All the Harry Potter films came out after the books so we knew where the story was going before stepping into the movie theater. This one I purposely avoid reading about or watching the videos or seeking spoilers out on line. The only thing I saw, other than the commercials on TV, was Eddie Redmayne’s defense of being a Hufflepuff which was pretty amusing but had chuck-all to do with the film.

Caroline has been speculating with her friends since she first heard that they were making this film and they came up with some pretty wild theories based on the book the movie is named after.

The movie is based on a book that Ms. Rowling wrote for the Comic Relief charity and was published first back in 2001. It was published with another book entitled Qudditch through the Ages proving that Harry Potter fans want more information about the world she created. Ariel got these books when they came out. Caroline got her own set and the Tale of the Beetlebard when the books came out in hard cover back in 2013.

I wondered how they were going to take a book that is basically a guide to magical creatures and turn it into a film. It would be like taking the Star Wars guide to lightsabers and turning it into a cinema experience.

They did a fine job of it and I, as a customer, and quite satisfied with my experience.

Using the author of the book, Newt Scamander, as the main character was very clever. Setting it in America was an interesting idea and expands the franchise to our shores. Setting it in the 1920s was an excellent idea not only because it is before Harry Potter even existed much less James and Lilly but it is a time period that we know about but not too well. You could see this sort of adventure happening at that time.

Overall I though the story was enjoyable. The characters and creatures were introduced in good fashion so I was able to follow who was who without difficulty. The set design was sumptuous and the costume design better be up for an Oscar this year.

There were the off jokes about what British people call something and what an American calls it. There was the fish out of water character when a Muggle gets dragging into the whole situation. There were family secrets revealed and a lot of set up for further films but none of it felt like setup for the next film but very much a part of this film.

Now I understand why everyone is hot on Eddie Redmayne. He is a fine actor who does a lot with what could have been a one note character but between the writing and his acting, I enjoyed finding out more about someone that is best known as the author of a book in the Wizarding World. His quest is a noble one and I will go see more of it if they make it. I especially enjoyed how he interacted with people and then how he interacted with the creatures. The contrast was amazing.

The rest of the cast did a fine job. Dan Folger was a lot of fun as Kowalski who finds out the hard way that magic is real. Ezra Miller is an actor to watch. I foresee a long and diverse acting career for him. Alison Sudol was a find for me. I loved how she played her character. Katherine Waterson was good as Tina. The writing served her well in revealing her character’s past.

I do think it needs to be seen on the large screen especially when we are introduced to the creatures because there is a lot going on in the corners. 3-D was interesting and there were a couple of scenes that looked cool but it is not necessary to really enjoy the film.

I didn’t find out until after I saw the film that this is the first of five films planned for this series and I am looking forward to all five.

I am grateful for an enjoyable film that entertained me and left me wanting more.

LJ Idol Season 10 Week 1 I need the struggle to feel alive

I am a puppeteer by trade. I have been building puppets for close to 40 years now.

One thing you need when you craft or paint is a steady hand especially for straight lines and the like.

One thing I don’t have is a steady hand. I have a condition called Essential Tremors and, from what my neurologist told me, have probably had my entire life. It is a condition that is not going to impact my length of life one iota. I call it a life-annoying situation rather than a life-threatening situation.

Essential tremors are where the brain is firing to the muscles without me telling them to do so. I basically am on vibrate all the time. It gets worse with stress. Exercising makes them worse but exercise is also one of the few things that relieve them. The other thing that makes them slow down is the depressive effect that alcohol has on the nervous system. So I can shake because of tremors or because of alcohol withdraw. I think I’ll stick to the tremors.

I have learned over the years how to compensate for my hands while I am working. I have various tools and tricks that allow me to complete things without too many screw-ups. I also know that I have good days and bad days. There are days that sewing isn’t going to happen because I can’t get my hands to cooperate. Those are the days that a spasm can send a glass or plate flying or a bowling ball into the gutter.

So there are good days and bad days and I take each in stride. On the good days I try to do a little more not knowing when I won’t be able to do as much. It does sometimes make it difficult if I set my phone to vibrate because I can’t tell if it is the phone or me.

Right now I am sitting at the keyboard and I am very aware of the vibrations going through my body. Like I have an electrical charge always on. It tells me in a strange way that I am still alive and still moving. Always moving.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz