Too dark to feel satisfying. Yet, too well written to not appreciate it. Complete, yet unresolved. Yeah, it's a second movie. I once asked if there was a book that was the second in its series that was as satisfying as the first in its own right. I gathered from the response that such examples are far and few between. I think these movies have become the Charles Dickens serials of our day. I don't think that's a good or bad thing. Maybe mostly something to resolve myself to. In any case, I almost enjoyed watching the author interview in the extras (and it's inside analysis of the movie) more than the movie itself.
This movie had it's enjoyed moments--Newt charming the zouwu being one of the top. It's frustrating aspects are minimal, mostly limited to the tendency of so many characters to mumble. I can understand it as a character characteristic and a style choice, but if the audience (me) can't understand it without multiple rewinds and/or subtitles, then how much is it actually communicating? If anything, having to resort to such actions pulls me out of the movie's story. Aside from often wondering "what did he say?" Newt's character's personality is still endearing. Guess I can't have it both ways.
I did enjoy all the "name-dropping" of people and elements to tie in to the later-set-period of Harry Potter. That made watching the movie somewhat of an "Easter Egg" hunt, which was enjoyable.
What I still hope for in future movies: more "sneaky peaks" (okay, ANY peak) into the world of Ilvermorny Houses and culture, both with students and alumni; that the wonder of the magical wizarding world shows up more thoroughly in the next movie (more than just fancy entrances into places); and that all the loose ends in the Fantastic Beasts series gets satisfactorily tied up.
That said, would I recommend this movie? Sure. But, unless you're a "die-hard" Harry Potter fan, you might wait until you can watch all three movies in close succession.
