Movie of the week: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

After the UAE premiere of the latest movie from the wizarding world of Harry Potter, we absolutely loved the movie. The IMAX screen at Novo Cinemas in Dubai Festival City Mall made the 3D experience even more memorable. Here are five facts you should know before you go watch this movie.

1. Plot

The plot and screenplay is written by J.K.Rowling. Newt Scamander, a magizoologist (zoologist of magical creatures) arrives in America for his research. Unknown to him, America at the time is plagued by some unknown creature, leading to escalating tensions between Muggles and wizards. MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America) is struggling to keep peace even as no-Majs or Muggles organise rallies to oust witches and wizards from their midst. Newt gets arrested by ex-Auror Tina but they turn allies along with Tina's legilimens (mind-reader) sister Queenie and an unsuspecting Muggle, Jacob Kowalski. 

2. Cast

Unless you were living under a rock, you would know that Newt Scamander (author of Hogwarts textbook of the same name) is played by the award-winning star Eddie Redmayne. Three new characters, one of them a Muggle (called a no-Maj in America) assist Newt in his adventure. Tina and Queenie, played by Katherine Waterston and Alison Studol, are witch sisters while Jacob Kowalski, the no-Maj played by Dan Fogler, brings some humour into the plot. Other key characters are played by Ezra Miller and Colin Farrell.

3. Pottermore website

If you haven't already, there is no better time to visit the official Harry Potter website - Pottermore. With snippets of magical history and information on magical life outside Europe, Pottermore helps fans find more about wizardry around the world. Pottermore is the answer to your questions of 'what after Deathly Hallows'.

4. There's more coming

There are four more movies coming up in the 'Fantastic Beasts' series and honestly, we can't wait for more. The next movies will hopefully show more about Grindelwald and Dumbledore, and their lives before Voldemort entered the scene. 

5. Johnny Depp

The award-winning and much loved actor plays a small cameo in the movie. All we are going to say is that the casting for the character he plays couldn't have been better. His 10-second screen-time in the movie is what will make you look forward to every other movie in this series.