(REVIEW) Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore, Dramatic but Less Exciting

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore enlivened the release of the film in April 2022. 

If you are a fan of the wizarding world of Harry Potter, of course you don't want to miss this third Fantastic Beasts film.

Although the focus is on Dumbledore's story, many new characters appear in the film made by director David Yates. 

Overall, this film has a dramatic main story, but some aspects make it feel bland, less touching. 

The following is a review of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

1. Confusing start

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is a continuation of the two previous titles, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2011) and The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018). 

If you want to watch this third film, you should watch the other two films first.

The Secrets of Dumbledore begins the story without doing any flashbacks to the previous two films. 

Even if you have watched both of them, it is possible that you will still be confused about entering this third film. 

You have to remember the scene that happened at the end of the second Fantastic Beasts movie.

At least in the first hour or so, you will be made to wonder, who the character is, why he is like that, what they are trying to do, why they are doing it, and so on.

2. The chemistry with the new characters is less exciting

This film has a number of new characters that are actually interesting, both from the protagonist and antagonist teams. 

Unfortunately, with so many characters that appear, the introduction of each individual is so short that the chemistry between one another feels less exciting.

The dialogue provided also does not support their characterizations. 

Even some of the 'key' characters don't have enough dialogue to make them look important and charming.

3. The middle of the movie starts to get interesting

Although it felt shaky at the beginning, but entering the middle of the film, the storyline of this third Fantastic Beasts began to stabilize. 

Audiences will be invited on an adventure to enjoy magical magic fantasies and reminisce with Hogwarts, the iconic school in the Harry Potter world. 

Of course, with the typical visuals of the magical world of the past here, it is very pleasing to the eye.

Not only that, apart from fighting each other's magic skills, as the title suggests, there will be a number of unique creatures that are always interesting. 

Not only are new creatures introduced, of course, you'll be reunited with Niffler, the fan of shiny goods, and the always loyal and adorable Bowtruckle. 

The parts of these creatures appear always make you excited.

4. Anti-climax ending scene

Even though it's interesting in the middle, the writer feels that the Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Dumbledore film is anti-climax, especially in the final battle. 

Their journey from beginning to end was blocked by many obstacles, but at the top, it felt normal.

Not to mention the subplot that is presented feels too much considering the many characters in this film. 

As a result, even though it's made dramatic, nothing is really solid so the ending doesn't really hit the heart.

5. Unraveling the many stories of Dumbledore

Even so, Harry Potter fans should not miss this film, because Dumbledore's mysterious past is revealed here. 

Not only showing a wise and famous Hogwarts wizard, Fantastic Beasts 3 will show his figure as Albus from the ironic Dumbledore family. 

You'll get to know more about his family, what they went through, and his romantic relationship with Grindelwald.