Moguls and Wizards united to save the world in Fantastic Beats-The Secrets of Dumbledore

by Kathia Woods

The Harry Potter Universe has been a part of our lives for a quite some time. Fantastic Beasts are the prequels based on our favorites characters from that magical world. Fantastic Beasts "The Secrets of Dumbledore" is the third chapter in the five chapters planned saga.This adventure isn't entirely dependent on Albus, but rather on the Dumbledore family's secrets. We learn more about his life before becoming Hogwarts' headmaster.

The film's opening scene sets the table for the tone of the film. Albus (Jude Law) is having tea with his rival, the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen). Grindelwald is a different type of villain, not as mystical as Voldemort but still cunning. Mikkelsen as Grindelwald has elevated the role giving it more of a calming menace than its predecessor Johnny Depp.

The romance between the two men also is on the table via the blood oath. Neither can attack the other to keep things balanced in wizardry. As in previous Wizard storylines, Albus believes in living harmoniously with the moguls, while Grindelwald wants to burn them down.

Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller) is behind some of the mysteries. Is he a friend or a foe, adding the of the plot twists.

The film also better shows the various aspects of the relationships between humans and the wizarding world. Rowling and Kloves are responsible for that aspect of the story, which explains why the flow in this story is more precise. David Yates is at his 7th outing for the franchise and also has a firmer grip on the material.

Having said all the above, the main star of this vehicle isn't the wizard but a dragon, a qilin. Our reluctant hero, magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is the one tasked with saving the rare animal. The animal plays a vital role in deciding the future of the world.

Fret not; plenty of action is supplied by our favorite wizards. It seems what's causing all the chaos is an election. The person picked to be in charge will decide how the wizards continue in their relationship with those slippery humans. Three candidates are vying for the coveted spot. The person picked will lead the International Confederation of Wizards. Vicencia Santos (Maria Fernanda Candido), Liu Tao (David Wong), and Gellert Grindelwald are the three making their case for leadership. Grindelwald has his charges dismissed so that he may run.  A wizardry election is very different from a human one seeing that a popular vote is not what settles the dispute but the approval of the qilin. This being can detect good in people. If Grindelwald is involved, there will undoubtedly be some deception. The election is also decided over Bhutan's sprawling mountains.

As for the cast, it truly is the franchise's most vital asset. Jessica Williams shines as Eulalie "Lally" Hicks. She is fierce, funny, and intelligent. She is the First Black woman in the franchise to have agency. Callum Turner as Theseus Newt's brother, brings authority to this band of outlaws. Also, as Yusuf Kama, the brother of Leta Lestrange that Grindelwald killed, William Sadly plays an integral part as our heroes attempt to fix the chaos. It is truly the most diverse cast in terms of roles in the Harry Potter family.

We also have our favorite mogul Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), back. He is the much-needed comic relief. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is the most entertaining film out of the franchise. It has a solid story, good vs. evil partnered with some specular special effects. It's also the type of film that is more palatable for the whole family, which is one of the strengths of the Harry Potter movies. That's a positive with kids on spring break and parents looking to get out of the house. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is far from perfect, but it reminds you that there is still magic in the world, which is its greatest strength.

Fantastic Beats:The Secrets of Dumbledore is out in theaters on 4/15/2021