Warner Bros. Pictures and Heyday Films’ Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is set in 1930 when Gellert Grindelwald’s (Mads Mikkelsen) power is growing rapidly. He is moving swiftly to seize control of the wizarding world. Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), who cannot fight with Grindelwald because of the close relationship the two shared as young adults, entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and his friends with the mission of clashing with Grindelwald’s army and eliminating them. Newt and his team encounter old and new beasts in this dangerous mission. There comes a stage when Albus Dumbledore has to finally decide whether he wants to remain behind the scenes or come out in the open.
Based on characters etched out by JK Rowling (Harry Potter series of films), the screenplay is written by JK Rowling and Steve Kloves. While it deals with the wizarding world like the one in Harry Potter films, it does not have the excitement of those films because the drama is not engaging enough. After a point, the screenplay actually becomes boring because the excitement and intrigue value drop quite badly.
Eddie Redmayne acts ably as Newt Scamander. Jude Law is effective as Albus Dumbledore. Mads Mikkelsen makes a fine mark in the role of Gellert Grindelwald. Ezra Miller has his moments as Credence Barebone. Dan Fogler (as Jacob Kowalski), Alison Sudol (as Queenie Goldstein), Callum Turner (as Theseus Scamander), Jessica Williams (as Prof. Eulalie Hicks), Katherine Waterston (as Tina Goldstein), William Nadylam (as Yusuf Kama), Victoria Yeates (as Bunty Broadacre), Poppy Corby-Tuech (as Vinda Rosier), Fiona Glascott (as Minerva McGonagall), Richard Coyle (as Aberforth Dumbledore), Maria Fernanda Cândido (as Vicência Santos), Oliver Masucci (as Anton Vogel) and the rest provide fair support.
David Yates’ direction is ordinary. He has not been able to make an exciting film which can hold the audience’s interest. James Newton Howard’s background music is so-so. Cinematography (by George Richmond) is nice. Mark Day’s editing is loose. Dubbing is proper.
On the whole, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore is a weak fare which will go quite unnoticed.
Released on 8-4-’22 at Maratha Mandir (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by Warner Bros. Pictures (India) Pvt. Ltd. Publicity: so-so. Opening: dull. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere. The original English version has also released simultaneously.