★★★
Much rides on this second entry in the Fantastic Beasts’ franchise. When J. K. Rowling first wrote a script for The Crimes of Grindelwald, it was to be the middle part of a trilogy. And yet, we now know a further three films lie ahead. Whether the series can thrive, as did its parent: Harry Potter, depends on this one’s capacity to keep the ball rolling. So, how does it stack up? Too much rolling, not enough balls.
Continue reading Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald | Review
★★★
A third screen telling of Dr Seuss’ ‘The Grinch Who Stole Christmas’ was hardly atop many wish lists for the coming festive season but parents with hyper young tots should at least appreciate the distraction. Fiercely colourful, soft of heart and rather brilliantly animated, Illumination’s Grinch is ultimately forgettable fun and lacks the sharp edges warranted by its story. Put it this way, the Chuck Jones shorter take on the tale still tops the pile.
★★★
Which came first: the short film or the feature? Either way, there’s a grander scheme to Jonathan and Josh Baker’s directorial debut than can be contained within either a fourteen nor hundred minute runtime. Based on the brothers’ own 2014 mini movie Bag Man, Kin expands the mythos of that first outing by answering and posing questions along the way. While a box office drubbing for the film stateside makes further exploration of the story unlikely, a future here isn’t an entirely unwelcome prospect.
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