Review: 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald', A Messy And Mature Sequel That Still Captivates

The wondrous thing about magic, and J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, is that anything can and usually does happen. Rowling made us wait five whole years before she returned to the Potterverse for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and while we were just as spellbound as before by her fun, creature-filled spinoff it was clear that she had missed being away more than anyone. What had looked like an airy return to the franchise, led by Eddie Redmayne's quirky magizoologist Newt Scamander, was a densely-plotted bit of fan service, with Rowling tugging on every loose thread that had ever seen ink in one of her books. Anything that could happen, did happen, and in the messy but often dazzling Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Rowling rains down so much lore we may need a semester at Hogwarts to keep up.

The sequel, which is still a much earlier prequel to the Potter years, picks up shortly after the controversial conclusion to the prior movie. Controversial in casting, mind you, not in plotting, as Johnny Depp was revealed to be the villain Grindelwald, when he had been played by Colin Farrell up to that point. Unsurprisingly, Grindelwald has escaped from his magical confines and let loose on a path of destruction, which he believes can only be completed with the help of the destructive orphan Credence (Ezra Miller), who is desperately in search of a family to call his own.

The rest doesn't so much unfold as apparate like a traveling wizard. Rowling drops us right back into the life of the pacifist Newt Scamander, who is more concerned with caring for his many amazing creatures than he is marching off to war with Grindelwald. Why he's chosen by a young Albus Dumbledore, played with impish charm by Jude Law, is anybody's guess. Newt is quite against it; Dumbledore even admits his former student can't take orders very well, and when pressed by his auror brother Theseus (Callum Turner) to join the fight, Newt flatly says "I don't do sides."  So...uh, why do they need him again?

Newt's also still holding a torch for Ministry of Magic investigator Tina Goldstein (Katherine Robertson), who along with no-mag buddy Jacob (Dan Fogler) join the hunt. They must not only find Credence to thwart whatever plan Grindelwald has, but they must also locate the wayward Queenie (Alison Sudol) who may have fallen in with a bad element. This is only the barest drop of the complicated potion Rowling has stirred up. Newt's journey takes him from New York to Paris and London, with all sorts of fantastical places that exist between the folds of our reality. And yes, we even get to pay a visit to Hogwarts itself, which comes with its own share of Easter Eggs for eagle-eyed muggles.  A magical traveling circus of oddities is a special treat, bringing a Tim Burton-esque sense of the macabre and twisted.

So much is going on that the story barely stops to allow us to catch a breath. With a story is complex as this with a couple dozen characters to follow (including some welcome surprises best left unspoiled) it can be exhausting just trying to keep up. And then Rowling and director David Yates will pull something jaw-dropping out of their hat, or out of Newt's suitcase. Whether it's the sea dragon Kelpie, those thieving but adorable Nifflers, the Chinese-born Zouwu, or Newt's trusty bowtruckle pet Pickett, the film  lives up to the franchise's moniker.

That said, the human characters could all use a little more attention. There are just too many to follow, and some I haven't mentioned are especially important, or we know they will become important. Rowling, in her second outing as screenwriter, doesn't bother holding anybody's hand. Either you're up on your Wizarding mythology or you're not, and that includes reading every page of every book she's written in that universe. I found myself anxiously waiting to learn every new character's last name, because names have real value in the Wizarding World.  Rowling has also matured her writing to match her audience, who are no longer children fascinated by the idea of a Quidditch match. This is a very dark, violent movie with shocking twists and startling deaths. I think it's fair to call this the Empire Strikes Back of the series but considering her five-movie plan perhaps that's a poor comparison. Adding to the mature theme is a tease of the past relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, one that possibly crossed from friendship into something romantic. How far Rowling plans to go with that will be one of the most intriguing questions going into future films. That Rowling explicitly invokes the Holocaust in one scene shows that she is willing to step into more adult territory and draw some stark parallels.

While undoubtedly chaotic, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald creates a strange, wonderful world overstuffed with the exacting details we've come to love and expect from Rowling. She continues to weave a captivating spell that shows few signs of fading.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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New 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald' Trailer Reveals A Shocking Voldemort Connection

Oh my. Currently I'm reading through J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books for the first time, falling in love with the characters for a second time after they won me over on the big screen. What I've loved so much about her stories is how rich in myth they are, and how Rowling keeps finding new ways to drop surprises where you least expect them. That ability did not leave her as she brought us back to the wizarding world with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and if the new trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is any indication, she just dropped one Hell of a shocker on fans that nobody could have seen coming.

In the latest trailer we see more of awkward magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), and his mission to stop the evil Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) before he can commit whatever crimes he'll become infamous for. We also see more of Jude Law as a younger, less white, less bearded version of Albus Dumbledore, and it will be interesting to know how this fight against Grindelwald changes him at this stage of his life.

The biggest surprise comes when the shapeshifting character played by Claudia Kim is revealed to be Nagini, who eventually becomes Voldemort's pet snake/horcrux. How does that work?  The answers should be forthcoming, but already that bit of news has sent the Potterverse reeling, so much so that Rowling has had to issue one quick clarification on Twitter...

Not an Animagus. A Maledictus. Big difference. https://t.co/JwVVNnvVQU

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 25, 2018

Not at all. The slow transformation into a beast is beyond their control, but they aren't destined to be evil.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 25, 2018

Glad to set that record straight? I think Nagini's storyline could be the one I'm most curious to watch unfold.

Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th.

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Comic-Con: Magical New Trailer For 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald'

As hoped, Warner Bros. released a brand new Comic-Con trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, a film that has a ton of questions surrounding it. The sequel stars Jude Law as a young Professor Dumbledore, who asks his former student Newt Scamander (the returning Eddie Redmayne) to help him track the evil Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) before he can recruit an army to start a war throughout the magic and non-magic worlds.

Even with this trailer there remains questions about Depp, who has been in the background for most of the early marketing. Law recently admitted that he doesn't share any scenes with Depp, which is odd but makes sense if Dumbledore and Grindelwald don't battle until a later movie. Also, the question of Dumbledore's sexuality won't be addressed at all, even though it's a component of his life that fans are very interested in.

Directed by David Yates with a script by J.K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th.

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'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald' Trailer: Johnny Depp Is The Darkest Of Evils

You never know how good you've got it until it's gone. When Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them arrived it served as a reminder of how special J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World truly was, retaining the magic of the earlier movies better than we could have hoped from a prequel. Now it's time to ready our wands and prepare for another adventure with magizoologist Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, a film that ties into some key events in Harry Potter lore.

Eddie Redmayne is back as Scamander, who journeys to Paris to aid a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) in his mission to capture the escaped villain, Gellert Grindelwald. While there has been some controversy surrounding the casting of Johnny Depp as the dark wizard, it remains to be seen if it will have any impact at the box office. Something tells me it won't. If it makes you feel any better just imagine that Depp is a really bad guy getting his comeuppance at the hands of powerful mages.

The new trailer walks us right through the doors of Hogwarts, in itself very cool, and reintroduces us to characters played by Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Ezra Miller, Carmen Ejogo, and Zoe Kravitz. Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, Jessica Williams, and Brontis Jodorowsky are just a few of the new additions. Here's the synopsis:

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne).  But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead.  Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th.

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Fans Really Want 'Fantastic Beasts 2' To Show Dumbledore As Gay, But It Won't

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has already had to put up with its share of controversy just by casting Johnny Depp in the role of villain Gellert Grindelwald. With charges of spousal abuse against him, plus the fact is star has really faded of late, having him in the movie in such a big role seems like it could be a mistake. Well now there's a new issue, and frankly I find this one pretty weak even though some have strong feelings about it.

Jude Law has been set to play a young Albus Dumbledore in the sequel, and this is significant because Dumbledore was revealed some years ago by author J.K. Rowling to be gay. She totally outed him. Anyway, this is significant because his attraction was to Grindelwald and they shared a romantic and intellectual attraction. However if you thought maybe there'd be some overt acknowledgement of Dumbledore's homosexuality in The Crimes of Grindelwald, you'd be wrong. Director David Yates tells EW...

“Not explicitly,” Yates replied when asked if the film makes it clear that Dumbledore is gay. “But I think all the fans are aware of that. He had a very intense relationship with Grindelwald when they were young men. They fell in love with each other’s ideas, and ideology and each other.”

Yates then added a bit more about what Dumbledore is like in the new film: “He’s a maverick and a rebel and he’s an inspiring teacher at Hogwarts. He’s witty and has a bit of edge. He’s not this elder statesman. He’s a really kinetic guy. And opposite Johnny Depp as Grindelwald, they make an incredible pairing.”

I get that this may be disappointing to some, that Rowling and Warner Bros. are missing a chance to present the Wizarding World as an accepting, inclusive place. But why does Rowling have to do it now, in the second chapter of what may be a five-part story? Based on what I can gather, this is all building to quite the showdown between former friends/lovers Grindelwald and Dumbledore. When that happens we'll see how Rowling chooses to handle it, but choosing not to in the second movie is not an indication she is avoiding the subject of Dumbledore's homosexuality or is somehow ashamed of it.  This might come as a shock but the author and screenwriter has a story to tell. Let's let her tell it. Then complain if she mucks it up.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th.

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'Fantastic Beasts' Director Defends Casting Johnny Depp As Grindelwald

In the post-Weinstein era, certain stars and filmmakers have become radioactive. Had plans to make a movie with Kevin Spacey? Might want to hold yer horses there, bub. Some have managed to skate on by relatively unscathed, though. Mel Gibson's offenses came so early that he's already been forgiven, which is sorta weird. And there's also Johnny Depp, who continues to appear in movies like it ain't nothin' despite allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

Despite this, and that he hasn't had a non-Jack Sparrow hit movie in ages, Depp is busier than ever. And one of his most prominent roles is coming up when he plays the evil Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. There are plenty of voices out there condemning Depp's continued presence in the world J.K. Rowling built, a world that is fairly wholesome, but director David Yates has nothing but good things to say in his comments to EW...

“Honestly there’s an issue at the moment where there’s a lot of people being accused of things, they’re being accused by multiple victims, and it’s compelling and frightening. With Johnny, it seems to me there was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something. I can only tell you about the man I see every day: He’s full of decency and kindness, and that’s all I see. Whatever accusation was out there doesn’t tally with the kind of human being I’ve been working with.”

Yates continues to back him up by saying Depp has defenders in some of the past women in his life, and because there aren't multiple accusations against him...

“By testament, some of the women in [Depp’s] life have said the same thing — ‘that’s not the human being we know. It’s very different [than cases] where there are multiple accusers over many years that need to be examined and we need to reflect on our industry that allows that to roll on year in and year out. Johnny isn’t in that category in any shape or form. So to me, it doesn’t bear any more analysis. It’s a dead issue.”

If you're talkin' about it, it's not a dead issue. Anyway, it's not up to Yates to decide Depp's guilt or innocence, but the court of public opinion can be quite lethal. They better hope nothing else about Depp becomes public.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens November 16th 2018.

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Review: 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them', A Spellbinding Return To The Potterverse

The players may be different but the magic of J.K. Rowling's wizarding world remain the same in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The boy wizard's name is never uttered once in author J.K. Rowling's spinoff, but this is unmistakably the Harry Potter franchise that we grew with and loved through seven movies. But 'Beasts' is, not to put too fine a point on it, a totally different beast that both strips down and expands the extensive continuity Rowling has created, and does it with a light-hearted spirit that is sure to cast a spell over audiences.

Not being the 'Potter' aficionado some of my friends are, I had no idea what the heck the film was actually about beyond the basics. A perfectly nerdy Eddie Redmayne plays Newt Scamander, who arrives in 1926 New York carrying a magical briefcase full of fantastic creatures. Newt is a terrific character unlike any we've seen from Rowling so far; think of him as the Steve Irwin of mages. He only wants to protect these creatures from harm, and later we learn he feels that humans are their greatest threat. He isn't wrong, especially considering the tumultuous time for America that he's stepping into. But it's also a complicated period for wizards, as the evil Grindelwald is on the loose and stirring up trouble. A difficult relationship with the No-Majs aka the American muggles has the majority of the wizards living in the shadows, governed by the stern hand of the MACUSA  and its President Seraphina Picquery (Carmen Ejogo). Rowling has always allowed for politics to play a part but it's more prevalent and structured here, denoting a clear contrast between the European and American wizarding systems. Fear-mongering is running rampant throughout the No-Maj and magical communities, used as a tool to serve nefarious needs.

But that's not where the fun lies, it's in Newt's scampering around the city to recover the many amazing creatures that have escaped his care. How'd that happen? Thanks to another of the film's many great characters, Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), a No-Maj with a love of baking and a knack for finding trouble. When he and Newt inadvertently swap briefcases, Jacob unleashed some of the creatures who proceed to cause mischief all across New York. Along the way Newt also encounters a rebellious MACUSA detective, Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), who thinks him a danger before realizing there are worse things out there. Along with her mind-reading sister Queenie (Alison Sudol), the foursome set out to find the creatures before they expose the magical community once and for all.

As for those beasts, they are as fantastic as advertised and more. The film's visual highlight finds Newt dragging Jacob inside the briefcase to experience a mesmerizing menagerie of creatures in an ever-shifting landscape. There are dragons, plant creatures, giant (and very horny) rhino-things, regal griffins, all gifted with Rowling's wondrous attention to detail. You could spend an entire movie there just watching these animals and experiencing the same amazement as Jacob. All of them stand out for different reasons, but the one that I suspect will be this year's Groot is the Niffler, a fuzzy platypus-like creature that can't resist shiny objects. He escapes Newt's capture more than once and in a place like New York City has plenty of riches to steal.

Rowling manages to juggle (I almost wrote muggle) the merriness of Newt's monster-hunting with a worrisome darkness that hopefully won't overtake the upcoming sequels. Colin Farrell plays Percival Graves, a powerful mage of the MACUSA who guides a troubled young pupil named Credence (Ezra Miller), the abused adopted son of a No-Maj cult leader (Samantha Morton) on a witch hunt. These sections are some of the least effective because they mess up a fairly tidy plot, but also because they feel beholden to the needs of a franchise. Part of what makes the film work so well is that it manages to be a self-contained story while also dropping a few familiar names that will make 'Potter' fans' ears perk up. Rowling makes the use of the period backdrop that combines elements of the old jazz age style, era-specific architecture, and supernatural elements making for a truly unique visual experience. It's another feather in the cap of director David Yates, who led the maturity of the 'Potter' franchise and keeps finding new ways to astonish, although his gloomy is becoming gloomier by the movie.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first of what will be five movies when all is finished, shows that Rowling's Potterverse has a limitless potential for growth. There are so many wonderful characters and concepts introduced that any one of them could branch out into something new and spectacular. While we know where Rowling plans to take Newt's adventures next, we have no earthly idea what else her incredible imagination will come up with. Whatever it is I'm in for the ride. Just let me pack my suitcase.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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David Yates Hopes To Direct All 5 'Fantastic Beasts' Movies, Timespan Revealed

While the Harry Potter franchise may have begun with a pair of lackluster movies directed by Chris Columbus, it truly took off when Alfonso Cuaron took over with the third movie, then hit greater heights when David Yates helmed the rest of the series. Yates put his visual stamp on J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World in such a way that he became the obvious choice to return for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and it looks like he'll be sticking around for the duration.

THR and Collider both have Yates confirming that he wants to direct the entire franchise, which recently expanded from three to five movies.

"You know, it’s lovely being part of it and I love doing it. How long will I stay with it? I’d like to say I want to stay with it for the whole thing. The only thing that makes my knees wobble a little bit is just the sheer volume. Five movies over eight years is a massive undertaking, so I have to be careful that I’m able to give everything. If there’s any point in that period where I go, “You know what, it might be wise to step away for a bit,” I would, to give someone else a shot. But you do become slightly proprietorial. On Potter, once I’d done one, I enjoyed it so much I felt I had to do another one. Then to finish it, I couldn’t let anyone finish it. I had to finish it. I was territorial. With this, especially as I’ve started it, I sort of… I don’t know … I feel committed to it."

It turns out Rowling, who wrote her first screenplay on the upcoming film, will also write the scripts for the sequels, which she says will span a total of 19 years. I guess that means a cameo by the boy wizard himself is out. The first movie takes place in 1926 New York and star Eddie Redmayne as magizoologist Newt Scamander. We know further stories will be set in Europe and include the return of Albus Dumbledore. Johnny Depp has signed on to play Dumbledore's friend-turned-foe, Grindelwald.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens November 18th.

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Johnny Depp's 'Fantastic Beasts' Character Confirmed, Dumbledore's Return, And More

Next week we'll finally be brought back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but already we are learning details on the sequel. The big shock was finding out that Johnny Depp was coming board in a role that had fans speculating up and down. Some said he could be a young Dumbledore, but that isn't actually the case. Instead he will be one of Dumbledore's greatest enemies, Gellert Grindelwald.

Depp will be making a cameo in the first movie before taking a larger role in the sequel, which will also feature the return of Albus Dumbledore. David Yates and producer David Heyman spoke with The Leaky Cauldron about the casting of Depp, and the direction the five-movie franchise will take...

Yates: “The whole principal of casting the movie was go with the best actor. Go for the most inspired, interesting, right fit for that character. And as we approached Grindelwald we thought, ‘who’s going to take this in an interesting direction?’ In this business, it’s a weird old business. You’re brilliant one week, people are saying odd things the next, you go up and down. But no one takes away your pure talent....Johnny Depp is a real artist. He’s created several characters who have really resonated in our popular culture. He’s a really brilliant, brilliant actor. We were excited about seeing what he would do with this guy, the character. He’s fearless; he’s imaginative; he’s ambitious. We thought he would do something fun and special. So we went for him, purely on that selfish basis. We don’t care if he’s famous or not famous. We just know he’s interesting."

Grindelwald was a former friend (and possible lover) of Dumbledore's when they were young. They had a falling out that included a three-way fight with Dumbledore's brother. Dumbledore's sister was accidentally killed in the battle and Grindelwald fled, growing more power and gaining command of the Elder Wand which he used to commit terrible atrocities. Dumbledore eventually defeated him, however, and took possession of the Wand.

Heyman: “Grindelwald is an iconic character, so it was important to have someone who had that weight. There’s a reason why he has that weight. It’s because, you know, he’s a fine actor who makes unexpected choices.”

It turns out that Grindelwald is going to be such a presence in latter films that the titular beasts will have a much smaller role...

Yates: “...currently the beasts feature slightly less in the second film, and Grindelwald takes more of a foreground. Currently. But we love the beasts so much. There’s an amazing beast in the second movie–a Chinese beast, actually–that is featured. We’re exploring how we can get a couple more beasts into the second film, with Jo (J.K. Rowling).”

The sequels will also move the action from New York back to Europe, with the U.K. and Paris the primary setting. Will we see Grindelwald and Dumbledore have a confrontation there? If so, the latter will be played by someone who will follow in the footsteps of Michael Gambon and Richard Harris...

Yates: “In the second movie Dumbledore comes back. There are a couple good scenes with Newt. We just have to find out who would play him? No it’s not going to be Michael Gambon. No, we need a younger Dumbledore."

This may be a great role for Depp. He's always been far better as part of adventure franchises than working on his own. He'll at least give the character some flavor, for better or worse. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens November 18th.

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The Magic Is Back In New 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' Trailer

Y'know, there are rumors out there that Warner Bros. REALLY wants to adapt J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which is so damned obvious nobody should have bothered reporting it. Of course they want to, even if so far it's been nothing but denials. They don't want to distract from the current 'Potter' franchise they're about to launch with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which promises to be huge.

Yet another trailer has dropped for what the studio hopes to be the first of a trilogy (and probably more) set decades before the boy wizard's birth. Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne takes the lead this time as magizoologist Newt Scamander as he has one magical adventure after another in the land of Muggles. Here's the synopsis:

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

Directed by the returning David Yates with  Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Colin Farrell, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Ron Perlman, and Carmen Ejogo co-starring, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens November 18th.

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'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' Sequel Confirmed, David Yates Returning To Direct

Considering Harry Potter author JK Rowling planned Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them to be a trilogy, the announcement of a sequel is hardly a surprise. Warner Bros. has confirmed a follow-up to this fall's return to the Wizarding World, and they've already locked down a date and director.

David Yates will be back behind the camera, having already directed four of the 'Potter' movies as well, with a release date set for November 16th 2018. Eddie Redmayne will be reprising his role as magizoologist Newt Scamander, who has adventures in the land of Muggles decades before the birth of the boy wizard.

The only thing interesting about this is the studio's supreme confidence 'Fantastic Beasts' will be a smash, even though blockbusters and sequels have been getting torn to shreds this summer. Then again the 'Potter' franchise has been amazingly resilient. It's like somebody cast a spell on it or something.

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Review: 'The Legend Of Tarzan' Starring Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, And Christoph Waltz

Somewhere along the way studios got the notion in their heads that audiences are clamoring for more Edgar Rice Burroughs. Disney missed badly with John Carter, a bloated sci-fi flop that made Taylor Kitch bounding through space surprisingly dull. Warner Bros. has been developing The Legend of Tarzan for years in hopes that the classic jungle hero could be revived for today's superhero-obsessed moviegoer. And maybe therein lies the problem, as the film seems stuck between the pull of tradition and the need to resemble a super-powered comic book character.

As it stands, The Legend of Tarzan is a perfectly serviceable big budget yarn, made to look sufficiently blockbustery by veteran Harry Potter director David Yates and The Golden Compass cinematographer Henry Braham. There should also be special acknowledgement given to Alexander Skarsgard's abs, which seem to be glistening and rippling whether he's swinging through the trees or standing idle. What the film doesn't do is strike a clear direction for the character. Is this a re-examination of the 19th-century colonialist politics of Burroughs' novels? That's there, but hardly much of a commitment to it. So then what's the purpose for this movie's existence? It seems that screenwriters Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer (of Hustle & Flow fame, and once eyed to direct this, which would have been very interesting) have settled on simply making a summer action movie. Period. Nothing wrong with that, but it's disappointing given the potential of the source material.

For instance, there's real drama in the tale of John Clayton (Skarsgard), the Earl of Greystoke who has forsaken his jungle past as Tarzan for a more civilized life with his beautiful wife, Jane (Margot Robbie). The story rightfully assumes we already know who the heck Tarzan is; he's the guy not named Mowgli who was raised by jungle animals from childhood. He has no desire to return to his home in the Congo, "It's hot", he says when requested to go back to Africa on a British diplomatic mission. However he's convinced by Col. George Washington Williams, a real-life African-American scholar, Civil War veteran, and adventurer played by Samuel L. Jackson in all his Jackson-ness. Williams tells him to forget the diplomatic crap and go because of devious machinations by Belgian King Leopold, who has sent envoy Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz) to enslave the natives with the aid of mercenaries. Rom strikes a deal with tribal chief Chief Mbonga (Djimon Hounsou) who seeks vengeance on Tarzan for a past violent encounter.

There are interesting fact-based details woven in and given a fictional, often cartoonish spin, which can be frustrating.  Williams was a real guy who actually did expose Belgium's brutal and inhumane treatment of Congo natives. He was a true hero and a gentleman. Here he's mostly comic relief, struggling to keep up with Tarzan's energetic vine-swinging or having awkward encounters with the natives. The humor he adds is both a blessing a curse for the self-serious film. Rom was far more terrifying in reality than the dainty, mustache-twirling heel Waltz portrays him as. As the head of Belgium's "Force Publique" he was known to carry around the severed heads of Africans. In the film he has a necklace which he occasionally uses as a weapon. Eh.  It's hard to take Waltz seriously in these villain roles at this point because they are all variations of the same thing.

As the epitome of "white savior complex" Tarzan is an inherently difficult character to make work, especially right now with diversity such a major issue going around Hollywood. That makes his frequent scenes alongside the Congo natives a little awkward visually; here's this perfectly dolled-up white couple coming to save the thousands of African warriors who apparently don't know how to fight back. Good thing Tarzan and Jane are here to be held up (literally in some cases) as   It wouldn't be that much of an issue if saving the African people was Tarzan's priority but it's quickly shunted aside in favor of a rescue mission to save Jane. And once that happens it's really the only thing that matters. "He's Tarzan, you're Jane. He'll come", Rom says. And of course he's right. Speaking of which, Jane poses a problem as well. Granted, Robbie is perfectly fierce and strong as Jane, but she's every bit the damsel in distress the film attempts, pointedly, to convince us she's not.

"I need you to scream for me", Rom says.

"Like a damsel?” is her reply.

Well, yeah. Like a damsel. When the entire movie is about rescuing you, that's what you are.

As for Tarzan himself, Skarsgard is excellent in the role. Obviously from a physical standpoint the former True Blood star is a nearly perfect choice. He's tall, lean, muscular, and he captures Tarzan's animal ferocity when challenged, but also his gentle side. When in combat during the film's impressive action scenes, like one in which he battles his ape brother in a WWE-style smackdown, Skarsgard appears to be most comfortable. That fight, along with his showdown with Mbonga, teases a deeper understanding of Tarzan that the film sadly never follows up on, as he's forced to show humility and acceptance of another's superiority. It's the conflict between his animal urges and human qualities that make Tarzan interesting and The Legend of Tarzan doesn't go far enough in exploring that aspect. But we do see plenty of his powers, such as incredible speed, strength to go toe-to-paw with any creature, and the ability to communicate with the animals. He's like Aquaman's long-lost kin we never knew about.

Despite a few curious camera shots, such as a sudden fondness for Michael Bay-style 360 rotations, Yates shows the same grasp for storytelling that took the Harry Potter franchise to another level. He has to contend with CGI that looks terrific in some cases but gets awfully dicey the more animals fill up the screen, and that's quite often. The finale has about a thousand lions, gazelles, crocodiles, and other creatures waging war against those pesky human enslavers. It's an impressive spectacle, for sure, but also serves to highlight The Legend of Tarzan's inability, or unwillingness, to be more than just a standard adventure film rather than a fresh take on the character.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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Final 'The Legend Of Tarzan' Trailer Teases A War Of The Apes

Warner Bros.' The Legend of Tarzan is only a few weeks away and there just doesn't seem to be a lot of talk about it. And what there is tends to be negative, with much of the discussion focusing on the CGI, and that it looks like a poor man's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Well those comments aren't likely to change with this latest trailer, apparently the final one, which has Tarzan battling one of his simian brothers.

There's a lot of new footage in this latest cut, including a bit more of Samuel L. Jackson as the real-life Civil War soldier George Washington Williams, Christoph Waltz as the merciless (and also very real) villain Captain Leon Rom, and of course Margot Robbie as Jane. But this footage is clearly designed to push the special effects with Tarzan's ape brothers playing a huge role. The story finds Tarzan returning to the African jungles after years in civilization, only to be swept in a dangerous and greedy plot to exploit the Congo. Alexander Skarsgard, in a totally different kind of war than he's fighting in War on Everyone, more than looks the part of Edgar Rice Burroughs' jungle hero, and the action appears to be what we'd expect from a summer popcorn flick. But has director David Yates (of the Harry Potter films) made it a little too dark, too grim? Only time will tell.

The Legend of Tarzan opens July 1st.

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Greystoke's Origin Revealed In New IMAX Trailer For 'The Legend Of Tarzan'

Do you think Warner Bros. is concerned about The Legend of Tarzan? Buzz on the potential blockbuster has been incredibly quiet, which is rarely a good sign, and with franchise flicks getting killed at the box office this summer it looks like a candidate to be another failure. That said, the trailers have been pretty impressive, and the latest IMAX cut may be the best one yet by combining ape-sized spectacle with clues to Tarzan's origin.

Alexander Skarsgard gets his first franchise lead role as Tarzan,who is called back to the jungle after moving on to live a normal life in the city. While this trailer's big action sequences, which resemble Dawn of the Planet of the Apes in a good way, are mostly familiar footage the new stuff is about Tarzan's origin and how he became an orphan in the first place. 

It's a wonder if WB is making this film in an effort to keep Harry Potter director David Yates happy, as he'll also be at the helm of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them later this year. He'd been trying to make a Tarzan movie for years.

Also starring Margot Robbie as Jane, Christoph Waltz as the evil Captain Leon Rom, Samuel L. Jackson as George Washington Williams, plus Djimon Hounsou, John Hurt, and Jim Broadbent, The Legend of Tarzan opens in IMAX on July 1st. 

Alexander Skarsgård transforms into the King of the Jungle in our exclusive sneak peek at @LegendofTarzan.https://t.co/d8yKDSxYq1

— IMAX (@IMAX) June 6, 2016

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New 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' Trailer Brings Magic To New York

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them may officially be the ninth Harry Potter film, but don't expect it to continue the story of everyone's favorite boy wizard. Instead it's another wizard who will be casting a spell over audiences, magizoologist Newt Scamander, played by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne. As it turns out, Potter and Scamander share a lot in common; like a mutual friend in Albus Dumbledore.

The latest trailer transports us back to the Wizarding World, only this time it's about seventy years before Harry Potter's birth. The story also takes place in New York City, where Scamander has traveled to catalog magical creatures. And it turns out it's his fascination with the dangerous beasts that got him kicked out of Hogwarts, even though Dumbledore vouched for him.

David Yates returns to direct from a script penned by J.K. Rowling herself. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens November 18th with Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Ron Perlman, Carmen Ejogo, Jenn Murray, Faith Wood-Blagrove, and Colin Farrell co-starring.

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New Trailer For 'The Legend Of Tarzan' Swings Into Jungle Action

There's a notable lack of buzz surrounding David Yates' The Legend of Tarzan, and there are a couple of reasons for it. One, it arrives when there's already one major jungle movie in Disney's live-action The Jungle Book, and there's only so many stories about humans being taken in by animals audiences can stand. Second, the trailer released a few weeks back wasn't terribly impressive, suggesting another Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation that flopped a couple of years ago: John Carter.

Now a new trailer has debuted in hopes of making Tarzan cool for the modern age. Alexander Skarsgard leaps into his first big studio franchise as the civilized Lord Greystoke, now going by the name John Clayton III, who is called back to the Congo jungles with his wife Jane (Margot Robbie) to stop a greedy villain played by Christoph Waltz. Here's the official synopsis:

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left thejungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash. 

This trailer is different in that it embraces the classic story we already know, rather than going out of its way to present Tarzan as something brand new. It's probably the right approach, just as they're doing the smart thing by playing up the romance between Tarzan and Jane as much as possible.

Also starring Samuel L. Jackson and Djimon Hounsou, The Legend of Tarzan opens July 1st.

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First 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' Trailer Goes Back To The Wizarding World

Are you ready to return to the wizarding world of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter? Let's be honest, there's been a magical void left by the conclusion of the franchise back in 2011, but Warner Bros., Rowling, and 'Potter' director David Yates are ready to fill it with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which has just conjured up its first glorious trailer.

Starring Eddie Redmayne as famed magizoologist Newt Scamander, the story is set way before the birth of the boy wizard, 1926 Manhattan to be exact.  It's then that Scamander arrives with a suitcase full of extraordinary creatures that somehow manage to escape into a world that isn't so tolerant of wizards or anything magical.  This footage sets up the basic plot and also gives us a glimpse at Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice) as Scamander's love, Porpentina. The film also stars Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton, Colin Farrell, and more.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens November 16th 2016.

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David Yates Returns to Harry Potter for 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'

The Harry Potter franchise is one of the most successful of all-time, if not the most successful, spanning eight movies and nearly $8B in total box office. In short, every studio wants their own Harry Potter, but what if you're Warner Bros. and you already have access to it? How do you ensure a new 'Potter' series like J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them reaches the same heights? One way is by luring David Yates, director of four Harry Potter movies, back into the wizarding world.

Yates, who is currently directing another potential blockbuster in Tarzan, has agreed to helm Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This would be his fifth Harry Potter film after he took over with 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Rowling is writing the screenplay for what is expected to be a brand new trilogy taking place decades before the arrival of Harry Potter and centering on magizoologist Newt Scamander. The story, which begins in New York rather than London, will follow Scamander as he catalogs amazing creatures for his reference guide.

Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) had briefly circled the directing job but one has to believe Warner Bros. is more than happy with Yates. While the book doesn't include Harry, Ron, and Hermione, don't be surprised if they find a way to fit them in somehow. [THR]

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David Yates to Direct Spy Film 'Who Is Jake Ellis?'

Harry Potter director David Yates took his time deciding on his next project, but when he did he settled on another blockbuster franchise with Warner Bros.' Tarzan. While that seems to still be next on his schedule, Yates is looking forward by agreeing to direct Who is Jake Ellis?, based on the 5-issue Image Comics miniseries by Nathan Edmonson and Tonci Zonjic.

The story is a pretty clever one, set in the European criminal underworld and following spy-for-hire Jon Moore, the most sought after asset in the world. The secret to his success is Jake Ellis, an invisible psychic guide only he can see and whose expertise helps him through impossible situations.  20th Century Fox picked up the rights and they probably see franchise potential. The comic was followed up by a sequel, Where is Jake Ellis?

Writers are still being sought so this is a long ways off. That should give Yates plenty of time to finish up Tarzan which begins filming early next year. [THR]

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Christoph Waltz To Play 'Tarzan' Villain; Emma Stone, Margot Robbie Eyed for Jane

 Warner Bros. has apparently decided enough time has past since the last Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation, the box office dud John Carter, and now it's time to get swinging on Tarzan again. The studio shut down production on Tarzan earlier this year, even though director David Yates (Harry Potter) had already lined up Alexander Skarsgard to wear the loincloth of the classic jungle hero. But now it's back on and they've already found someone to play his nemesis, perennial bad guy Christoph Waltz.

After playing heels in Inglourious Basterds, The Green Hornet, and The Three Musketeers, Waltz will again wear the black hat, playing a military figure who crosses Tarzan's path. Bleeding Cool expands on that a little, describing the character as "Captain Rom, a very formidable Belgian soldier who plans to trade Tarzan to Chief Mbonga, the owner of a diamond mine."  They also add that the story will begin after Tarzan has reacquainted himself with civilization, and the story eventually takes him back into the jungle.

Missing is any mention of Samuel L. Jackson, who was being targeted for the role of Civil War veteran George Washington Williams, an ally of Tarzan's. He may have moved on while the film was in limbo. The plan now is to fill the role of Tarzan's love, Jane, with Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Emma Stone mentioned as possibilities even though no formal talks have begun.

A greenlight is expected to come in the next few weeks and assuming the cast falls into place, production on Tarzan should begin next year. Does that mean it will be part of the crowded 2015 line-up? I certainly hope not, if only so Tarzan has a better chance to succeed. [Variety]

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