Continuing on from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, The Secret of Dumbledore once again follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who is approached by Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law).  This time, Dumbledore learns new information about Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) and his plans and desires that threaten the entire world.

Naturally, to defeat Grindelwald once and for all, Dumbledore needs help.  He soon reaches out to Newt, a highly obsessed and skilled magizoologist.  Newt will lead and assemble a new team that includes a few familiar faces from his past, both wizards and witches.  But this mission is unlike anything this team have ever done before.  It’s also a highly dangerous mission, and it could cost the lives of those closest to Newt’s heart.  Newt and his team begin their most dangerous (and magical) journey.

I’m excited to announce that Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is a fun and entertaining feature filled with intense moments of fantasy, adventure and, most importantly, mystery.  Fans of the previous instalments will have the most joy here, especially when seeing the many returning characters that many love and adore.  The story here feels more engaging, and the many mysterious aspects will keep viewers guessing along the way.  For the entire runtime, I found the plot and outcomes for characters highly unpredictable.

Visually, this film is flawless.  Everything on-screen is beautiful, creative and stunning to see.  Viewers will certainly enjoy the escape this film provides as our leads visit various locations and encounter many new creatures/beasts.  The soundtrack by James Newton Howard, like the visuals, is highly memorable and powerful.  It’s a musical score that is sometimes soft and gentle and then transforms into something more bold, dramatic and suspenseful.

As for performances, again, they can’t be faulted.  Eddie Redmayne as Newt is charming, fun and likeable once again.  His interactions with Dumbledore (Jude Law) deliver many fun moments with witty comedic vibes.  Many fans will ask whether Mads Mikkelsen was the right choice to assume the mantle of the villain, Grindelwald.  I felt the actor nailed this role perfectly, just as expected (come on, it’s Mads Mikkelsen!).  The actor has managed to deliver a likeable Grindelwald while introducing a few minor aspects of his own, which only improved the character.  In a nutshell, he’s highly pleasing right from his introduction on-screen and brings a rather fitting presence to the story.

Overall, this is an excellent follow up to the Fantastic Beasts saga.  It delivers a whole new fun story that is also mysterious, engaging and exciting.  The pacing is fast and snappy to the point I didn’t even feel the lengthy runtime.  Returning characters are wonderful, and the new addition of Mads Mikkelsen as Grindelwald is excellent.  Visually, this film is marvellous, and its soundtrack is nothing but stunning and powerful, delivering many on-screen moments with perfection.  The film successfully transported me to another time, place and world, and that’s the magic of cinema I live for each day.  Hardcore fans of Harry Potter may find some minor issues to pick on, but there’s no denying it’s truly a strong and worthy instalment.  

8.0/10

6th April 2021

Written by Peter Walkden

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