Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/762678
DECEMBER 14-20, 2016 UCW 23 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The First of Five Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Rated PG-13) by HEATHER GRIFFITHS When I first heard about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (133 minutes) only three words came to mind. Shameless. Cash. Grab. I remembered when Peter Jackson turned a short novella into a padded monstrosity, and I shuddered. How can you base three movies on a slim textbook with no narrative structure? It's like basing a movie on the game of Battleship— and we all remember how that turned out. Well, maybe we don't. I don't think anybody saw that train wreck in the first place. Over time, I came around. I like the work of director David Yates, and once J.K. Rowling signed on to make her official screenwriting debut, I began to look forward to the upcoming trilogy. Wait, did I say trilogy? Nope, there are five movies planned now, which will result in J.K. Rowling (currently richer than the Queen of England) becoming richer than several small countries combined. We begin in the twenties, an interesting choice that serves to further distinguish this series from the Harry Potter franchise we know and love. Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arrives in New York City at Ellis Island, carrying with him a magical briefcase. Dr. Who pops up with a wink and says "It's bigger on the inside!" before heading back to the TARDIS. Scamander quickly encounters the first of several important women, Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton). Mary Lou is the Umbridge and a No-Maj. Yes, in New York, a Muggle is called a No-Maj which seems to me change for the sake of change. Since I hate change, I will go back to using Muggle. Anyway, while she distracts him, his Niffler escapes and participates in a positive orgy of theft. During the ensuing chase, Scamander meets Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler, Fanboys), and they accidently swap magical briefcases. Kowalski's briefcase is magical because it is full of delectable pastries since he is tired of the industrial-era and wants to skip ahead towards the post-industrial appreciation for artisanal goods. Imagine his surprise when he gets home and tries to drown his sorrow in buttercream, only to realize that his delicacies have been replaced with an angry zoo, because Scamander is the Hagrid, enjoying the company of creatures more than people. Meanwhile, Newt is arrested by demoted Auror Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston). It seems that she is determined to harass Scamander for being an unregistered wizard, though I am not sure exactly how that would work. In a magic society, wouldn't some amount of magic be devoted to minimizing bureaucratic nonsense? And why did Scamander travel by boat, anyway? Shouldn't he have access to a Port-Key? Um, there are certain inevitable narrative holes, so let's just agree not to notice them. Tina finds herself unable to arrest Scamander, so we return to a story that is determined to immerse us in a fantasy world of imaginary creatures that inspire wonder and whimsical delight whether it's relevant to the plot or not. Spoiler Alert: Most of the time, it's not. Also irrelevant is the budding romance between Kowalski and Tina's Legilimins sister, Queenie (Alison Sudol). I thought Legilimins was an art that could be learned, but here it seems to be written as a quality that person is born with. There are layers to explore here, so I hope they get to how nobody loves a mind reader somewhere during the next four movies. Overall, the film does a good job introducing interesting characters and creating a framework to explore some backstory only hinted at in the Harry Potter series. They even work in a mention of Dumbledore! Now showing at Patriot 14 + IMAX. HEATHER GRIFFITHS, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910 484-6200. Expires 1/31/17 $i. 50 Drinks. $i. 50 Drinks. $i. 50 Drinks. $2.00 before 6:00 p.m. $3.00 after 6:00 p.m. $1.00 extra for 3D MOVIES Movie Monday: $1.50 All Day(Holiday or 3D movies excluded) Buy one get one free! Buy one get one free! PRESENTS MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY COMPLETE WITH BY BARBARA ROBINSON DECEMBEr 2 - 18, 2016 T h e H e r d m a n s a r e B A C K I N T O W N ! Co-Producers: Cadillac of Fayetteville, Caviness & Cates Communities, Duggins Smith Builders, Hedgecoe Dentistry, Kidsville News, Raymond James - Art Hooker Max Weinstein, & The Walsh Family FOR TICKETS: CALL 910.323.4233 BUY ONLINE AT WWW.CFRT.ORG PRESENTS MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY COMPLETE WITH BY BARBARA ROBINSON DECEMBEr 2 - 18, 2016 T h e H e r d m a n s a r e B A C K I N T O W N ! Co-Producers: Cadillac of Fayetteville, Caviness & Cates Communities, Duggins Smith Builders, Hedgecoe Dentistry, Kidsville News, Raymond James - Art Hooker Max Weinstein, & The Walsh Family FOR TICKETS: CALL 910.323.4233 BUY ONLINE AT WWW.CFRT.ORG PRESENTS MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY COMPLETE WITH BY BARBARA ROBINSON DECEMBEr 2 - 18, 2016 T h e H e r d m a n s a r e B A C K I N T O W N ! Co-Producers: Cadillac of Fayetteville, Caviness & Cates Communities, Duggins Smith Builders, Hedgecoe Dentistry, Kidsville News, Raymond James - Art Hooker Max Weinstein, & The Walsh Family FOR TICKETS: CALL 910.323.4233 BUY ONLINE AT WWW.CFRT.ORG PRESENTS MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY COMPLETE WITH BY BARBARA ROBINSON DECEMBEr 2 - 18, 2016 T h e H e r d m a n s a r e B A C K I N T O W N ! Co-Producers: Cadillac of Fayetteville, Caviness & Cates Communities, Duggins Smith Builders, Hedgecoe Dentistry, Kidsville News, Raymond James - Art Hooker Max Weinstein, & The Walsh Family FOR TICKETS: CALL 910.323.4233 BUY ONLINE AT WWW.CFRT.ORG PRESENTS MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY COMPLETE WITH BY BARBARA ROBINSON DECEMBEr 2 - 18, 2016 T h e H e r d m a n s a r e B A C K I N T O W N ! Co-Producers: Cadillac of Fayetteville, Caviness & Cates Communities, Duggins Smith Builders, Hedgecoe Dentistry, Kidsville News, Raymond James - Art Hooker Max Weinstein, & The Walsh Family FOR TICKETS: CALL 910.323.4233 BUY ONLINE AT WWW.CFRT.ORG "If you're looking for a chance to spend an hour of quality time with your family, take them to see this play. There is no doubt if you see it once, you will make it part of your family's Christmas traditions." -Up and Coming Weekly