Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) - November 16, 2018

[JustinB13]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Oh damn you're young, I thought I was young lol. Both movie series debuted in 2001 is what I meant. There were just more HP books than LOTR to adapt, even without splitting up Deathly Hallows (and LOTR was shot as one big movie with tons of reshoots, rather than HP being seven distinct productions).

Yeah I understood the gist of what you were saying. Had Lord of the Rings gone on longer, I probably would have seen them in theaters. I just distinctly remember getting the dvds for Harry Potter and having the first one I saw in theaters be Half-Blood Prince because it was PG. Probably not a suitable movie for an eight year old.

[dgoswald]

As to the overall HP review discussion, in regards to intent rather than actual scores, I definitely got the impression from most British outlets at the time that the series did almost take on an air of being a beloved British institution near the end, so in that sense only a complete and utter foul-up would've caused knives to be unsheathed by the critics. As it turned out, most reviews were very kind to the series as it became clear the Potter films were held affectionately by the audience, and were going to "succeed" regardless of the nitty-gritty by which other films are measured. I wouldn't personally take those latter review scores at face value. If anything, there's almost a patronising sense of "Oh, go on then, here's your 3.5 stars." That's how it felt to me, anyway.

[levcore]

I feel like the MCU is afforded the same consideration from critics.

[JustinB13]

^I’m sure some of that occurred. But at the very least that means that the films were “respectable”. That’s how I see The Lord of the Rings movies. I respect them, they’re fine, but I don’t really connect with them besides Fellowship which is excellent.

[Vandal Savage]

Has the extended cut been released yet?

I was looking around, and it appears that all of the digital downloads (iTunes, etc) are the 2:13 runtime.

[dgoswald]

First-time watch last night.

I don't believe I'm going to say the following but here it goes: it's probably the best "Potter" film. Yup, I liked it a lot. A lot.

[JustinB13]

Oof.

[imsounoriginal]

Yeah that's a bit much lol, and I liked the movie.

[dgoswald]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Yeah that's a bit much lol, and I liked the movie.

I'm shocked at myself for how much I enjoyed it. It's not perfect but what a ride.

[imsounoriginal]

That's the main reason why I've defended it. It has some issues as far as being a "middle picture," but it's a lot of fun in the moment.

But I'd still say at least the two Deathly Hallows and Order of the Phoenix are better movies, and maybe also the first FB (but it's close).

[levcore]

I must be in the minority in enjoying the earlier Potter movies over the latter ones.

[dgoswald]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

That's the main reason why I've defended it. It has some issues as far as being a "middle picture," but it's a lot of fun in the moment.

But I'd still say at least the two Deathly Hallows and Order of the Phoenix are better movies, and maybe also the first FB (but it's close).

For me, it's the most consistently enjoyable Potter film, from beginning to end, since PoA. It's one of those very rare modern blockbuster films that didn't annoy me or make me cringe.

[doctor_who]

Originally Posted by levcore

I must be in the minority in enjoying the earlier Potter movies over the latter ones.

You aren't.

The later movies remove tons from the books, while the first 3 movies are very accurate in their portrayal of their respective books. In that way, they are much better.

I've come to enjoy the movies as what they are, and love them, but for the longest time it was difficult to create a disconnect between the books and the movies for 4 through 7.

[imsounoriginal]

Sticking so closely to the books is what kinda hurt 1-3 IMHO, they kinda had that Watchmen Syndrome of trying to recreate each and every word Rowling wrote instead of trying to be their own thing. They're not bad movies, they're just not as good as the ones that followed (minus 6, which is still my least-favorite movie despite arguably being my favorite book).

[dgoswald]

I can't stand the films for books 4-7. They rub me up the wrong way. I'm not a stickler for page-to-screen fidelity, so it's not that. It's just the feel of those later films. The first 3 films are magic, no pun intended.

[EvaDK]

The Crimes of Grindelwald to me, was a mix of roughly 70% exposition, 20% plot twists and 10% character development. So, it's definitely not for me but I have no problem with other people liking these new films.

My personal favorites are Azkaban and Deathly Hallows part 1. I very much enjoyed how part 1 is essentially a road movie that seriously tested the friendship of our main trio.

[dgoswald]

I think my low expectations probably had something to do with me enjoying the film to the extent that I did. When it started playing I was, "Okay, let's see how crap this turns out to be," but by the end I'm nearly on the edge of my seat, thinking, "Queenie!! Why'd you turn your back on Jacob?!?" Plus, I did not think much of the first Beasts film. It was ok but it was such a chore to get through. Even though Beasts 2 is a tad overcrowded at times and there's various lapses here and there, it's nothing that brings the film to a grinding halt. If I'd paid money at the cinema to see Beasts 2, I still would consider it good value. That's the litmus test for me.

[jon angell]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

I can't stand the films for books 4-7. They rub me up the wrong way. I'm not a stickler for page-to-screen fidelity, so it's not that. It's just the feel of those later films. The first 3 films are magic, no pun intended.

I am not quite there as not liking 4-7 but 1 and 3 are my favorite 2, but it's just some of the changes like in 7 what Harry does with the wand and not fixing his or who gives Harry the gilly weed in 4
Didn't like those and some other changes and saw no reason for them

[yeslek]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

First-time watch last night.

I don't believe I'm going to say the following but here it goes: it's probably the best "Potter" film. Yup, I liked it a lot. A lot.

finally - feel slike am alone with loving the Fantastic Beasts movies

[dgoswald]

Originally Posted by yeslek

finally - feel slike am alone with loving the Fantastic Beasts movies

I dunno, freeing Rowling's Wizarding World lore from the strictures of the boarding school mystery apparatus made me realise she's got gold on her hands in terms of the mythology she's created. I know we return to Hogwarts in Beasts 2, but you know what I mean, lol.