Wizard’s Council: What do we think of the final Fantastic Beasts trailer?

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Philosophical Question of the Hour: The third and final Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trailer is here! What did you think of it? What new information is revealed, and what does it tell us about the upcoming film?

Image via Warner Bros.

KATIE: I love this trailer. I have found zero issue with it (hmm… that’s new for me). It’s visually gorgeous—costumes, sets, special effects, all of it. Tina and Queenie obviously have practice in kicking butt and taking names. The foursome—Newt, Jacob, and the Goldstein sisters—seem to have a great chemistry. There’s action and laughs and plenty of wow factor. I mean, they catch the Occamy in a teapot; I can’t wait to see what other measures they resort to. This movie is shaping up to be just as fantastic as the beasts for which it’s named.

Some new questions arise from the trailer, like: What are all these new creatures? Is that woman shouting about how “Witches live among us!” trying to pull a Salem Witch Trials reboot? There seems to be a major “us vs. them” mentality on both No-Maj and wizard ends, so what’s that about? Is there history there, and what does it entail? How will it affect Newt & Co.’s efforts to secure his beasts? What happened to Ezra Miller’s hair and who is responsible? Is Newt going to kiss Tina in that tender hair-touching moment (do it, Newt)?

And perhaps most thought-provoking… Near the end of the trailer, Newt says, “I won’t let another one die.” I’m assuming the “one” refers to one of his magical beasts. We know that Newt has a special fondness for the Niffler and one of his Bowtruckles. Perhaps one of them bites the dust? Pure speculation, but I’m bringing tissues to the theater, just in case.

GIF image via Warner Brothers

DAN: This movie looks fun! And I think I’d still say that even if I weren’t a Harry Potter fan. There’s something about the notion of a whole other world carried around in a suitcase that speaks directly to the imagination. Maybe it doesn’t speak as loudly as the notion of a magic boarding school, but it looks like Rowling has another winning idea here.

I also really dig what I’ve seen of Redmayne’s performance as Newt Scamander. Listen closely to the few lines he says in the trailer–he mumbles and mutters, almost more to himself than the people around him. We don’t know Scamander well yet, but he’s already coming across as guarded, shy, and highly introverted. A complete character is emerging just from these snippets, which bodes well for the film as a whole.

Of the trailers released so far, this is the most intense, almost to the point of cliche. Ending a trailer with swelling music set over images of stuff exploding and people talking about war is pretty standard. But the images themselves, all wonderfully imaginative, tell me there’s a lot more going on here. Katie already mentioned the ingenuity of catching a beast in a teapot. I also loved the image of New York City fire escapes dancing through the air and whatever was happening in that subway. That creeping shade monster looks straight out of a horror movie.

Screenshot image via Warner Bros.

RYAN: After watching the trailer three times in row, I’m in love. I think this is a film that everyone can enjoy, Harry Potter fan or not. It’s beautiful, yet fun. As Katie pointed out, Newt, Jacob, and the Goldstein sisters (Tina and Queenie) seem to have a wonderful chemistry together.

We learn more about the mysterious Newt Scamander in this trailer. Well, sort of. He is this reserved-seeming wizard that when speaking, sounds like he’s thinking out loud. He seems very fond of his creatures, like a less dangerous Hagrid. I, like Dan, love Redmayne as Mr. Scamander. And poor No-Maj Jacob, he’s just along for this crazy ride. Throughout the trailers, he always seems to be in shock and wonder when with Newt. After the creatures shown in the trailers, I wonder what else they have up their sleeves to catch them? We have already seen an ingenious capture with a teapot. But it isn’t all fun and loose magical beasts. In the trailer, it is very clear that there is tension between the No-Majs and wizards. It seems like the wizards of America are tired of hiding.

I am very excited after seeing all the trailers! A setting in 1920s New York is absolutely perfect. It has the whimsical touch of J.K. Rowling that every Harry Potter fan is familiar with. This seems like a movie I would go to the theater to see multiple times. It is also one I would probably tell everyone to go see. I think Fantastic Beasts will be able to stand out on its own from the Harry Potter series.

GIF image via Warner Brothers

MARNIFER: Most films aren’t worth seeing in the theater anymore. For the third trailer in a row, Fantastic Beasts shows us emphatically this is an experience meant for the big screen. The visual effects look spectacular. The beasts trampling through the streets and sub-terrain of New York City is a beautiful, wild adventure I can’t wait to be part of.

And yes, there is plenty of talk about war, of humans versus witches, of persecution and revolution—but I was watching the beasts. Big and small, and oh wow, really BIG…! Our second look at the Thunderbird gives a much clearer impression of its size, and beauty. The Occamy slithers across the frame like a ribbon come to life. Then there was that giant leopard-caterpillar-blossom thing. And what was that amazing, terrifying creature in the subway? This is like a magical version of Wild Kingdom.

The movie also happens to use one of my favorite story elements, that of secret, fantastical worlds hidden inside mundane real-world items. I also love the clash of magical beings against our non-magical word. You got me, J.K. You got me.

Image via Warner Brothers

AYESHA: Honestly, I’m a sucker for this kind of trailer. I love swelling music and explosions and the threat of something bigger than them all. I’m not usually one for special effects, but I can get behind this. You can tell just how vital they are to the story.

The Warner Bros. team is doing a fantastic job of creating the same kind of hype as they did for the original series. Perhaps it’s because Rowling is more directly involved this time, but I’m more excited than I ever was for the Harry Potter films. However, I’m very much into character-driven stories, so I hope the characters are as well-developed as Rowling’s first book series.

Next: Which New Fantastic Beasts Appear In the Final Trailer?

Our Wizard’s Council meets every other week, unless there is an emergency session. Check out our other entries here.