Category Archives: Harry Potter

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Trailer #2 (2018) *Who Will Change the Future?*

After an uneven summer of sequel madness, it’s good to look forward to franchises that rarely-if ever-disappoint. The Wizarding World is back this fall with its 10th film installment and the second in the Fantastic Beasts cycle. The second trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was unveiled at Comic-Con today and it’s absolutely eye-popping. In addition to the continuing adventures of Newt and company, Potterheads will enjoy Easter eggs like Dumbledore as DADA professor, Nicholas Flamel, and The Mirror of Erised. Check out CBR’s notes from Warner Brother’s panel discussion of the film below.


Jude Law confirmed that this movie will be a “who’s side are you on story,” where the “wizards within the Wizarding World will be asked whose side they’re on. The depths and the darkness of this story are some of the darkest this franchise has gone.” Ezra Miller chimed in “Definitely” in confirmation.

Law continued with his take on Dumbledore, “I love the fact that people keep calling him ‘young Dumbledore,” because I’m 45,” he laughed. “…There’s a long way to go between this Dumbledore and the one we see here. David Yates our director really let me free to establish him on my own here, but I hope he’ll have some familiar traits. He’s still mischievous and…he still has this ability to manipulate people.”

The panel was then surprise interrupted by Johnny Depp appearing in full costume, in character as Grindelwald giving an ominous speech. “It has been said that I hate the muggles, the no-mag, the can’t-spells, I do not hate them,” Depp said in character, giving fans an insight into Grindelwald’s personality. Depp immediately left the stage after his performance.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is being directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling, and produced by David Heyman. The film Opens in theaters November 16, 2018.Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Poster

Domhnall Gleeson’s 10 Best Movies

Domhnall GleesonDomhnall Gleeson, son of brilliant actor Brendan Gleeson, is only in his mid-30s, but he’s already put together an impressive resume.  Breaking out in 2015 when he starred in The Revenant, Ex Machina, AND Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the actor has become one of the my favorite additions to any ensemble.  He’s also completely capable of playing the leading man, as he did in About Time and Good-bye Christopher Robin.  It’s not enough that he’s a part of Star Wars, Gleeson is also a member of the Wizarding World, appearing in the final two Harry Potter films as the most ginger-friendly family in fiction: The Weasleys.  Incredibly versatile and as hard-working as his dad, Gleeson’s future looks very bright.
Continue reading Domhnall Gleeson’s 10 Best Movies

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Trailer #1 (2018) *Who Will Stand Against the Darkness?*

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (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 (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.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Here’s a breakdown of the photo:

Pictured from left to right: Jude Law plays a young Albus Dumbledore, taking on the mantle of one of J.K. Rowling’s most beloved characters; Ezra Miller makes a return as the enigmatic Credence, whose fate was unknown at the end of the first film; Claudia Kim appears as a Maledictus, the carrier of a blood curse that destines her ultimately to transform into a beast; Zoe Kravitz plays Leta Lestrange, who had once been close to Newt Scamander but is now engaged to his brother; Callum Turner joins the cast as Newt’s older brother, Theseus Scamander, a celebrated war hero and the Head of the Auror Office at the British Ministry of Magic; Katherine Waterston returns as Tina Goldstein, who has been reinstated as an Auror for MACUSA; Eddie Redmayne stars again as wizarding world Magizoologist Newt Scamander, who has now gained fame in the wizarding world as the author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them; Dan Fogler reprises the role of the only No-Maj in the group, Jacob Kowalski; Alison Sudol reprises the part of Tina’s free-spirited sister, Queenie Goldstein, a Legilimens who can read minds; and Johnny Depp returns as the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is being directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling, and produced by David Heyman. The film Opens in theaters November 16, 2018.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Poster

Helena Bonham Carter’s 10 Best Movies

Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter is connected by blood to the aristocracy and democracy of England, being the great-granddaughter of a British Prime Minister and the first cousin of a Baroness.  Early in her career, she became known for embodying works of English fiction such as A Room with a View, Lady Jane, Howard’s End, and her pinnacle in those roles in The Wings of the Dove.  She’s excelled in TV, starring opposite Sam Neil in the underrated 1990s miniseries Merlin, opposite Michael Keaton in HBO’s excellent Live from Baghdad, and most recently playing Elizabeth Taylor in Burton & TaylorFight Club, The King’s Speech, Harry Potter, and her relationship with director Tim Burton (with whom she’s made seven films) catapulted her into the top rungs of Hollywood actresses where she remains. Continue reading Helena Bonham Carter’s 10 Best Movies

My Favorite Scene: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 (2011) “The Albino Dragon/The Final Duel”


With the triumphant return of The Wizarding World in the wake of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (the sequel for which is set for a November 2018 release), we’re running back through the Harry Potter series, examining the best of each in one “My Favorite Scene” column a month.  This installment ends our eight month journey through the original Wizarding World series with the finale: Harry Potter and the Dealthly Hallows Part Two. Continue reading My Favorite Scene: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 (2011) “The Albino Dragon/The Final Duel”