A new Grindelwald, an old callback, and a mysterious absence.
What do all these things add up to and do we ever find out the secrets of Dumbledore?
Here are the best and worst things about "Fantastic Beasts 3."
Fans have waited for the Wizarding World franchise to officially address Dumbledore's sexuality
ever since writer J.K.
Rowling stated that the headmaster had a love affair with Grindelwald in his youth.
But with Rowling never offering any canonical confirmation, and two Dumbledore/Grindelwald
centric "Fantastic Beasts" prequels having come and gone, fans had begun to think the
day would never come.
Yet, at the beginning of "Secrets of Dumbledore," the love affair between Grindelwald and Dumbledore
is explicitly confirmed.
During a dinner chat with the burgeoning dictator, Dumbledore admits that he had previously gone
along with Grindelwald because he was in love with him.
Though the lines confirming a romantic connection only amassed about 6 seconds and were cut
from certain international markets, that might be enough for fans.
"It was you who said we'd reshape the world.
That it was our birthright."
Fans were elated to see muggle Jacob brandishing a seemingly-functional wand in the film's
trailers.
Alas, deceptive editing has struck once again, as the film elaborates that Jacob's weapon
is made of snakewood and doesn't even have a core.
On one hand, it makes far more sense that Jacob isn't a no-maj born wizard yet to tap
into his powers.
However, if he had just a teensy bit of lingering magic from an ancestor, it would explain why
he so easily recalled magical events after getting obliviated.
Neither "Harry Potter" nor "Fantastic Beasts" have explored this possibility — but it
makes sense that there are varying levels of powers in wizards.
We already know that some wizards struggle with spell work, while others soar.
So, who's to say there aren't people with a dollop of latent magic that can be used
in a pinch, but isn't powerful enough to board the Hogwarts Express?
Technically, the movies could still explore this down the line, since Jacob's wand is
a dud to begin with.
But overall, the bait-and-switch is pretty lame.
The "Fantastic Beasts" films gave fans an adult glimpse at the wizarding world that
offers a different perspective than what audiences got from the original movies.
Nevertheless, it sure is nice to come home.
While the first two "Fantastic Beasts" movies featured Hogwarts minimally, "Secrets of Dumbledore"
recaptures the unbridled magic from the "Harry Potter" films.
The adult fandom can now relive their youth with a nostalgic homage that doesn't take
away from the plot.
The movie treats fans to gorgeous aerial shots of Hogwarts, filled with nods to the original
series.
These moments will transport fans directly back to their childhood, providing valuable
reminders of why this battle is so important.
While the "Fantastic Beasts" films have adults waging this war against tyranny rather than
children, they are fighting for the future that will give those children their moment
in the sun; there's a certain generational beauty to that.
Hogwarts will never stop being home for fans, and these reminders of what's at stake puts
the overall battle into grand perspective.
"If we're to defeat him, you'll have to trust me."
The romanticization of Snape and Dumbledore was bad enough in the "Harry Potter" series
when Harry named his son Albus Severus after "the bravest men he ever knew."
Fans know that although both Snape and Dumbledore had their moments, Snape only turned away
from Voldemort's murderous mission after the death of Lily, a woman he essentially stalked
for years.
Prior to his redemption, Snape was perfectly content to let Lily's son and husband die
at the hands of Voldemort.
So, his rebellion against Voldemort wasn't exactly noble; he even went on to bully his
supposed love's son for seven years.
Yet, despite Snape's behavior toward Lily and his selfish, obsessive love for her, fans
still romanticize the word "Always."
The line references a time when Snape uses his Patronus in front of Dumbledore.
When Dumbledore sees that Snape's Patronus is still Lily's stag, he asks,
"After all this time?”
“Always."
Cut to "The Secrets of Dumbledore," when Aberforth meets his son Credence who asks, "Did you
ever think of me?"
Aberforth says, "Always."
Not only is it an unnecessary nod to Snape, but it's also more proof that Aberforth knew
about his son and did little to nothing to find him.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald are two of the most compelling, mysterious, and utterly confounding
characters in the Wizarding World franchise.
With their epic plotline that has played out in these three films, it's easy to sometimes
forget that the series is called "Fantastic Beasts" — Newt Scamander and his little
critters often feel like an afterthought.
"The Secrets of Dumbledore" brings the creatures back to the forefront of the story, making
their appearances integral to the rapidly-darkening overall storyline.
"Harry Potter" has always been heavy on mythology, and the Qilin's mythos in "The Secrets of
Dumbledore" is directly tied to the film's upcoming election.
In the new movie, these creatures aid in choosing the leader of the magical world, bowing to
someone worthy of the title.
While being integral to the story, the Qilins' birth is also a stunning, impactful moment
for the franchise as a whole.
Given that Dumbledore was Harry's hero and mentor in the original series, which takes
place from the young wizard's point of view, it's only natural that he would glamorize
the headmaster's behavior.
However, "Fantastic Beasts" is an adult series, and it's time to hold Dumbledore accountable
for his actions.
For starters, why is it that after it's been established many times that Dumbledore should
avoid power, the Qilin kneels down before him?
The Qilin bowing to Dumbledore undoes all those lessons, and feels like pure fan service.
Given that the movie's title is "Secrets of Dumbledore," it would be nice if the film
honed in on the mysteries and mistakes of Dumbledore rather than painting him in a flawless
light.
Both the "Harry Potter" and "Fantastic Beasts" movies are inherently political in nature,
given that they feature dictators rising to power.
Yet, since the original series took place at a school filled with youngsters, it prevented
fans from diving too deep into the politics of it all.
Now, with adult characters hailing from various countries, "Secrets of Dumbledore" offers
the most in-depth look yet at wizarding politics and how an election is held.
The film explores ancient rituals for determining new leaders, with such elements as the introduction
of the Qilins.
The movie also rectifies the second film's mistake of glamorizing Grindelwald with new
quotes that blatantly say, in effect, dictators are bad.
All in all, the movie manages to add a touch of magic to the politics of the series while
honing in on how a megalomaniac like Grindelwald could manipulate voters and hold an election
hostage.
Luckily, Newt and his merry band of misfits make Grindelwald's reign as an official leader
short-lived; this would have been only the beginning of Grindelwald's reign of terror.
"If by tea time all of us are still alive, we should consider our efforts a success."
The recast from Johnny Depp to Mads Mikkelson is striking, but it's not just the change
in actor that is glaringly obvious.
Grindelwald's entire aesthetic, from hair all the way down to his personality, is completely
reimagined in the new film.
There doesn't even seem to be any effort to make them feel the same — which will make
it difficult to re-watch the "Fantastic Beasts" movies together someday.
Nevertheless, it might be smart; Mikkelson and Depp are two extremely different actors,
and it seems foolhardy to ask the former to mimic the latter.
So, it's refreshing to see Mikkelson play the character with more of a simmering, twisted
approach than the overt, maniacal way Depp approached it.
The plotline calls for a charming, duplicitous quality to the dictator for his rise to power
to be believable, after all.
If "Secrets" had offered a tangible reason for Grindelwald's new appearance, however,
it would have made the films flow so much better.
Magical creatures were the name of the game in 2016's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find
Them," but "Crimes of Grindelwald" was a messy mishmash of a sequel.
Now, "Secrets of Dumbledore" takes fans back to what they love most about the Wizarding
World franchise: the magic.
Most of the "Harry Potter" movies had at least one epic, wand-wielding duel, particularly
in the later installments.
"Secrets" does a terrific job escalating tension as it gets to the big election — and a final
battle in its aftermath, the first significant clash between Dumbledore and Grindelwald that
we've seen onscreen.
Witnessing Grindelwald's murder of the Qilin serves as a reminder that he is a dangerous,
ruthless man and things quickly escalate from there.
Not only does the moment show Grindelwald's murderous impulsivity, but it also offers
a glimpse at what Grindelwald is truly capable of when he declares war on the muggle world.
Grindelwald and Dumbledore's battle results in a spell vortex; for Grindelwald and Dumbledore,
that’s an added level of heartbreak when the pair audibly hear each other's heartbeats.
The result is far and away the most climactic ending to any of the "Fantastic Beasts" films.
It also carries with it an appropriate level of heart, magic, incredible special effects,
and a tease for what's to come.
If you check the website Does the Dog Die before tuning into any movie involving an
animal, you're not alone.
It can be painful and even triggering to watch creatures get brutally murdered — even pretend
ones.
With "Secrets of Dumbledore," fans are forced to bear witness to not one, but two savage
death scenes for the angelic, deer-like Qilins.
After Newt assists in the wondrous birth of the Qilin twins, a group of Grindelwald's
minions show up, firing killing curses at them.
One hits the momma Qilin, and we watch her slowly die as she sees her baby carted off
The heartbeat of the "Harry Potter" franchise has always been a threefold of love, loss,
and the will to keep fighting.
While the ending of "The Crimes of Grindelwald" seemed like it could be a final nail in the
coffin of Queenie and Jacob's sweet romance, "The Secrets of Dumbledore" reminds fans that
almost no one is beyond saving — if they choose to be better.
Despite Queenie's lapse in judgment, when she witnesses Grindelwald's cruelty firsthand,
she can no longer abide helping him.
Queenie's turn back to the right side of the war, the love she shares with Jacob, and their
wedding at the end of the film are exactly what the characters and fans need to keep
fighting for a future of love and tolerance.
Porpentina Goldstein has been a staple of the "Fantastic Beasts" films from the very
beginning.
While she's underutilized in "Crimes of Grindelwald," her absence is even more noticeable in "Secrets
of Dumbledore."
The handful of scenes she appears in consist of her simply reacting to the film's events
without much substance; given that she was promoted to the head of the US Auror office
offscreen, her absence is even more perplexing.
It's reasonable to assume that she would help out with some of the political uprisings shown
throughout the movie.
The movie doesn't even have a throwaway line that Tina is on a top-secret assignment, either.
She's just ... absent.
While some fans have guessed that Tina's absence is due to actress Katherine Waterston's unequivocal
criticism of J.K.
Rowling's controversial comments, nothing has been confirmed by Warner Bros. as of the
making of this video.
Whether that's the cause or not, it's the movie's job to have Tina's absence make sense
plot-wise, and in that respect it really falls short.
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