The Secrets of Dumbledore, the third installment in the Fantastic Beasts film franchise and the lucky eleventh Wizarding World movie, opens today in North America with its essential success-or-fail market in the theaters of the United States. It is also Holy Friday on the Gregorian Calendar, a day of obligation in the Roman Catholic Church and which Magisterial Reformation protestants also observe. I doubt that this choice to open on Easter weekend will affect box office totals significantly; traditional Christians who consider Pascha a feast day above all others, to include Christmas, are not a significant percentage of the American population and are an invisible quantity in movie fandom. If anything, the freedom of students attending schools that still plan their Spring vacations around these holy days may boost the attendance.
I am, in addition to the most edifying and challenging church services of the year, up against several writing deadlines which preclude my taking in Secrets until after Pascha, the Sunday after Western Easter this year. The other staff members, faculty and adjunct, here at HogwartsProfessor will be leading the conversation on these pages about the new movie, sort of a Rowling product (but not really?), in the coming week, discussion in which I trust our international collection of Serious Readers will join.
For today, though, I want to turn the microphone around to this audience and ask you for your answers to the following seven questions:
(1) When and where did you see Secrets of Dumbledore?
(2) Was the theater full, empty, excited, subdued? What was the audience reaction to the film where you saw it?
(3) What was the best part of the film, the scene or sequence that is the take-away you will treasure and re-visit?
(4) What was the worst part of the film, the bit you thought, “Well, that should satisfy [x or y group] Warner Brothers felt it had to appease”?
(5) What were the best and worst performances by the ensemble of actors and actresses? Did the newcomers Exceed Expectations? Any Trolls? Was the new Grindelwald a step up or down from the bizarro Depp interpretation?
(6) What line of dialogue or story twist made you think, “Oh, that’s from Rowling; no way Steve Kloves came up with that beauty”?
(7) Assuming the five movie cycle is a ring, Secrets of Dumbledore is the story-turn or pivot that should reflect the first film and foreshadow the finale. What echoes did you hear of the New York City based Fantastic Beasts? What is the core question or drama the next two films must resolve the way Voldemort’s re-incarnation in Goblet’s Hangleton Graveyard set the storyline of Prince and Hallows?
Please don’t worry about spoilers in writing up your answers. Everyone who reads the comment thread will have already seen the movie or not give a fig (or apple) about learning the plot points in advance. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts — and feel free, if you’d rather write a review than answer questions, to share whatever it is you like. I confess to looking forward to this conversation and exchange of ideas more than seeing the movie…
(1) last sunday during a marathon with all of the 3 movies, 3 days before releave date here (France)
Same cinema later today
(2) I was disappointed as spectators were really calm during the first 2 movies but the audience seemed happy during SOD and lot of laught (I really really enjoy this aspect in the FB series, the emotion switch)
So good reception I guess
(3) The prison/labyrinth just so much. Brotherhood bonding (and switching leadership), fun, myths, magnificent light, and twist at the end. Love that
Loved the Mother qilin death too, because that’s the why of FB and the red line of the plot (despite a lot of criticts)
(4) qilin bowing in front of Dumbledore
Seemed so wrong !
Would have expected Jacob or Kama to be honest (2 differents plots). My only real big piece of disapointment …
Timeline is so messy too…
One year or month ? They are grieving fast.
Credence birth year ?
MC Go ? And how she is treated by Albus.
Wedding despite the law being here (but it can make a great plot and symbolism so …)
Didn’t liked Newt saying he will fight again. Just so not the character. In all movies and in particular this one all is do is by love (creatures, Tina, Theseus) and also because I think I believe he ows Dumbledore (but not his major motivation in my point of view)
But I can deal with those ones
(5) loved loved loved Lalie ! Such a great characters. Loves how she can bond easily with Newt because interest in books, love how books are important in the movies (and powerful)
Really loved the new GW. Didn’t liked how with JD he was so burtonian. Really prefer the new interpretation
Candidates to the election are really too smooth. They don’t exist. A pity
(6) won’t answer that as I saw the movie in french and translation is always awful with sometimes important informations just skipped. So I’ll answer when I’ll have access to the movie in original version (or the script)
But loved a lot of scenes between Dumbledore and Newt, and Newt being Newt
(7) hum difficult one
Despite what a lot of people say, beasts central aspect.
That “dance” and escape in the labyrinth (central Park scene and , the case confusion, opening on travel, closing in Jacob’s bakery
Some kind of a fall of GW at the end
Blue coat … and is there some symbolism (exception for Newt, blue is obvious for him), because except of Laly they are all wearing blue.
Lot of plots closed (partialy) but with opening possibles : who is Credence’s Mother, is he really dead (and is there a meaning for the mirrors conversations related to the journal/books conversation in HP), what about Jacob and Queenie’s wedding with the ban of relationship (it may be a great trigger plot), Tina being promoted (to auror at the end of FB, to the head in SOD. Lot of perspectives here for politic and plots).
Talking about Tina… I would have loved to see her more. But it also makes sense she isn’t there. It allows Newt to grow in her absence, to do things for love but his brother’s. I really like the evolution of the relationship between the 2 brothers and it wouldn’t have be possible if she was there.
+ Queenie is a legillimens. Of course the 2 sisters have this bond. If Tina was there Queenie could know the plan, even if they want to make it unpredictable
Last having her in such a high position in MACUSA can just be for information. I really see perspectives for a lot of things here
Where is Nagini ? Just for this, we need the others movies (I have many more reasons but this one …)she can’t just vanish here … yes, hudge frustration
I really enjoyed myself despite some disapointments and really hope for 4th and 5th movies to happen…
Thank you for this! Excellent to see something on all of John’s points.
In my cinema likewise the audience were happy – plenty of laughter, and the odd gasp.
Agreed re: Dumbledore – surely it should have been Newt? No-one purer of heart. But it does make sense given that he will be chosen as Supreme Mugwump in the future?
And also agreed about too smooth moving over of the other candidates – it would have been nice to have been more invested in Vicência Santos. She is clearly played by a wildly popular actress in Brazil, and it would have been nice to capitalise a bit more on that prior to her freeing Jacob from the Cruciatus curse.
Also – yes! – lets see more of Nagini and Credence’s mother, and the possible move of the authorities against Jacob and Queenie in FB4.
Agreed that Laly is a great new character – and I’m also hoping for a Eulalie/Theseus relationship – they had the classic opening ‘quarrelling couple’ on the train (remind you of anyone?!), and then worked really well together.
FB4 to end with Newt & Tina’s wedding, FB5 with the duel.
(1) My family and I saw this movie Easter Sunday at Universal Studios – Orlando.
(2) The theatre was about half-full for the 4:45 pm showing. They clapped enthusiastically at the conclusion.
(3) There are so many for me, but possibly my favorite was the breaking of the blood oath. The power of love, once again, wins the day.
(4) I felt they did a good job telling the story and not appeasing anyone. It was well done. I didn’t feel like I watched any overtly “political” moments. That is my personal take. I thought all lines were done in good taste and I appreciated the crafting of the story and movie together.
(5) Loved the new Grindelwald! I loved the previous 2 as well. Mags is a fabulous actor and it was easy for me to adapt to him in this role. He is a classy villain – and that feels “right” for this story. I felt Bunty was fabulous – and missed Tina. I’m curious why her role was so small and Nagini wasn’t there at all. I’m assuming movies 4 and 5 will finish those story arcs. There were a few places where I felt the story was incomplete – or I had “missed something”. I am wondering if that is due to some scenes being taken out, possibly or I really did miss something? I need to see it a few more times to be sure.
(6) The “Always” line – that could have come from either write, but is classic to the story. I can’t remember the lines that very well because I have only having seen it once, but there was this beautiful and moving moment between Albus and Newt when Albus confesses what happened to his sister. Newt’s response was powerful and I wish I could remember it. I will know it by heart – with the year, I am certain of that. 🙂
(7) There was a lot more use of the animals in this movie, hints of what could happen if the case accidentally was opened, and the beginning and end was at Jacob’s bakery (outside of the tea scene).
The blood pact has been broken. Creedence has been “saved” at the end of his life and stood up to Grindelwald, in the end (he did what was right – not what was easy). Things will necessarily get worse before they get better. There needs to be a war now – horrible bloodshed, fear and mayhem. If it mirrors HP4 – then Grindewald’ true followers will be under his command – tightly bonded, possibly by magic like the Death Eaters? Muggles will be attacked. Dumbledore – will necessarily become the opposing force, form his own “army” to fight Grindewald. After all – the cute little “chillin” (sp?) chose him too.
We know now who Creedence’s father is, but we don’t know who his mother is. That needs to be answered. Was Creedence a parsel-mouth and was that why he could speak with Nagini in FB-2 when no one else seemed to be able to communicate effectively with her? Does that connection link to her relationship later with Tom Riddle? We don’t know the role Nagini will ultimately play, nor Tina. We know Newt and Tina eventually marry and we know Dumbledore eventually defeats Grindelwald – but how?
In closing – we all felt this was our favorite movie of the 3 FB movies so far. Unlike 50% of the fans – we liked #2 – we loved #1 and this beat both! That says something. It was magical. It was moving. It was scary. It was intense, beautiful and powerful. I highly recommend this movie.
At 7.: an interesting echo from FB1 is that ‘Dougal can see the immediate future, so try to be unpredictable” is repeated in “GG can see the future, so we have to confuse him.”
(1) When and where did you see Secrets of Dumbledore?
Saw it the 13th in my local theater.
(2) Was the theater full, empty, excited, subdued? What was the audience reaction to the film where you saw it?
It was an early screening for influencers, so the theater was almost empty. Since everybody was an influencer you can’t tell if the audience reaction was real.
(3) What was the best part of the film, the scene or sequence that is the take-away you will treasure and re-visit?
Every scene with Jacob, he definitely is the heart of the story.
(4) What was the worst part of the film, the bit you thought, “Well, that should satisfy [x or y group] Warner Brothers felt it had to appease”?
Didn’t felt like they tried to target a specific group with a specific scene, guess the changes where throughout the whole movie to appeal to the regular moviegoer.
(5) What were the best and worst performances by the ensemble of actors and actresses? Did the newcomers Exceed Expectations? Any Trolls? Was the new Grindelwald a step up or down from the bizarro Depp interpretation?
Mads’s Grindelwald for my is a complete step up. The original cast plus the newcomers are all amazing. Performance wise Grindelwald and Lally are the best, closely followed by Albus and Jacob
(6) What line of dialogue or story twist made you think, “Oh, that’s from Rowling; no way Steve Kloves came up with that beauty”?
Jacob being a man with a full heart is pure Rowling, but Jacob saying his not full yet I think is Kloves. Also the opening scene is definitely From Rowling, although I think originally it was gonna happen at the middle of the movie.
(7) Assuming the five movie cycle is a ring, Secrets of Dumbledore is the story-turn or pivot that should reflect the first film and foreshadow the finale. What echoes did you hear of the New York City based Fantastic Beasts? What is the core question or drama the next two films must resolve the way Voldemort’s re-incarnation in Goblet’s Hangleton Graveyard set the storyline of Prince and Hallows?
Grindewald started the movie being persecuted and in this one end with him being persecuted again.
A creature capable of foreseeing near future and Grindelwald.
The dance to appease a magical creature.
A mythic bird.
There are some but this is where I feel the more changes. They have similar elements, but are downplayed and do not carry the same significance or action.
Sorry for not following John’s script, but these are more questions than responses:
Why the wand for Jacob? So he’s not so obviously no-maj/muggle among wizards? Since it’s a nonfunctioning stick why bother? Part of the confusion to distract Grindelwald? Is the wand a portkey for Jacob?
Why bring Jacob along? To distract Queenie? Endangering him seems unnecessary. Part of the non-plan plan to confuse Grindelwald’s foresight?
Why include Yusuf Kama? Since established Credence not Corvis Lestrange, no connection to current plot. Why include him at all? Part of the non-plan plan to confuse Grindelwald’s foresight?
More on Albus &Grindelwald checks the box but not a lot more on the subplot.
Tension between Albus & Aberforth high—expected, but not much more background that we didn’t already have.
Credence as Aberforth’s lost son plausible. His dying makes dropping the actor easier.
What about Nagini? I understand that the actress was pregnant during filming, but not even a mention as with Tina?
Tina’s absence plausible but missed her.
Thought maybe Slughorn would help with the blood pact, but the annulment of the blood pact is plausible.
Hoping to see more connections to HP people– more of Mcgonagall, Slughorn, Flitwick, Fudge, hoping to see a young Hagrid and Tom Riddle jr maybe in the last one? Newt gives Hagrid the acromantula egg that becomes Aragog? Maybe more in the next 2 films.
Mickelson’s Grindelwald not as bizarre as Depp’s, but still missing something.
The scene with the manticores is comparable to the scene with the erumpent in Central Park or the speakeasy scene from FB.
The scene with Albus and Newt in the Hogs Head makes it sound like it was only Albus and Aberforth fighting with Gellert watching, not Albus and Gellert fighting.
Also, Pickett wearing goggles! What a hoot!