6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans of raising pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings, Albus Dumbledore 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.
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra MillerAdventure | 100% |
Fantasy | 77% |
Supernatural | 7% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
All Dolby Atmos have a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) core
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Note: Please read my separate 4K UHD review of this title for 20 additional 1080p screenshots.
As the tenth film in J.K. Rowling's massive "Wizarding World" film saga -- predated by all eight Harry Potter films (2011-2011) and the prequel film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) -- David Yates' Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) is a direct follow-up to its predecessor. It continues the adventures of meek young British wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) soon after his part in the revelation and defeat of evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), who was sent to prison under the authority of the Magical Congress of the United States of America. After Grindelwald violently escapes during his transfer to London for trial, he begins amassing an army of followers to establish control over non-magic users. Perhaps the only one capable of stopping Grindelwald is his one-time friend, the elusive wizard Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), who enlists the help of Newt to do so.
Luckily, the performances here elevate otherwise drab story elements. Eddie Redmayne is, again, a big part of what gives this second film some of its charm: he's proven to be a reliably good fit for the character's meek but likable demeanor."Perpetual underdog" sounds like an insult, but it works in his favor just as well the second time around. Jude Law, though obviously filling big shoes by portraying such a beloved character in the Potter Universe, likewise has a natural warmth and familiarity that fits Dumbledore like a glove. Equally well-matched is Johnny Depp, resurrected in full force as the evil wizard, who imbues his character with all the charisma needed to be the believable leader of a cult. Also returning in good form are Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, who accompanies Newt on the road (hat?) to Paris, and other reliable supporting performances by Claudia Kim (the blood-cursed Nagini), Ezra Miller (the unstable Credence Barebone), Katherine Waterston (Tina Goldstein, an Auror in the Magical Congress), and others.
Overall, The Crimes of Grindelwald is clearly a step down from its predecessor but, thanks to the performances and visually ambitious
atmosphere, it's still worth at least a once-over if you enjoyed the first film. Again, the downturn in overall balance and heart doesn't make me
excited for future installments...but considering the franchise's total batting average at this point, let's hope the creative team learns from
their mistakes. Luckily, those who enjoyed The Crimes of Grindelwald theatrically will likewise appreciate Warner Bros.' 4K edition, which
also includes a Blu-ray. The 4K disc serves up a superior technical presentation that takes advantage of HDR, while the Blu-ray includes over an
hour's worth of quality bonus features (not counting an alternate Extended Cut, but more on that later). It's well-rounded support for a film that,
if I'm being perfectly honest, needed the extra help.
Presented in its approximate original aspect ratio of 2.40:1, The Crimes of Grindelwald is, not surprisingly, a fine-looking Blu-ray that serves its source material greatly. This is a very dark and muted picture for the most part, though not without bursts of color -- magic spells, other effects, and even one or two sunny days -- and both opposites are handled well. "Muted" does not always equal muddy, as this 1080p transfer showcases a range of steely colors and dark shadows without much of it hampered by black crush or overcooked contrast levels to compensate. Skin tones always look appropriate for the setting (and species), while textures and fine detail are extremely good in close-up, mid-range, and wide shots alike. The establishing landscapes are some of the best I've seen in recent memory, as it's easy to pick out extremely small details amongst all the hustle and bustle. No obvious defects could be spotted along the way, including obvious compression artifacts, banding, or excessive noise reduction. This is simply great treatment of an effects-heavy production and, though it doesn't always match my biased visual preferences, I can't see anyone who enjoyed The Crimes of Grindelwald being disappointed with how this Blu-ray looks.
The Dolby Atmos presentation (which unfolds to a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mix if you're not set up for Atmos) is equally impressive, as there's a great deal of surround activity and presence on display from start to finish: swirling spells, mystical creatures, bustling crowds, and more contribute to a very busy sound stage that's extremely active for the most part...but it's not without quiet moments, and those sound great as well. Dialogue is crisp and clear with no sync issues, the music enjoys an extremely full and dynamic presence when needed, and channel separation is quite strong from start to finish. Quite simply, it's a great-sounding track that complements the film well and, though it doesn't appear to be specially mixed for home theaters, the volume balance between quiet and loud scenes is kept well within reasonable limits. My only complaint is that low frequency effects don't sound quite as strong as they should during certain moments but, since I didn't see the film theatrically, that may be part of the source material.
Side note: Cheers to Warner Bros. for not adding a redundant DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track -- it's not necessary since Atmos pulls double duty by self-converting, and they were often made the default for some reason.
Optional English (SDH), French, and Spanish subtitles have been included during the main feature and all appropriate extras. A few stray lines of foreign dialogue, real or imagine, also feature burnt-in subtitles; both texts are attractive, non-intrusive, and placed within the 2.40:1 frame.
NOTE: An Extended Cut of the film is also advertised, but it's only redeemable via the Digital Copy code. This is listed as being approximately 7 minutes longer than the theatrical version, and presumably just adds in a few of the deleted and extended scenes above. Unfortunately, it was not redeemable at the time of this writing.
As a franchise, I'm not the biggest Fantastic Beasts fan -- more from lack of long-term experience than personal preference -- but even within those boundaries, it's obvious that The Crimes of Grindenwald is a somewhat uneven film that struggles to maintain momentum as it lurches forward. There are a lot of characters here and only about half are of real interest, which makes the film's overstuffed plot feel all the more bloated instead of lightweight, fun, and energetic. Still, there are a few genuinely great moments and many of the lead performances (Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp, Ezra Miller, Evanna Lynch, and others) carry their own weight, while the special effects are well done and, for the most part, blend seamlessly into the film's ambitious world. Though I can't recommend Warner Bros.' new Blu-ray for the film itself, die-hard fans -- and those on the fence -- will appreciate the terrific A/V presentation and solid bonus features, probably even more than I did. It's the definition of a well-rounded package when that's not always the norm these days...so if you enjoyed this film theatrically, the Blu-ray is worth your money.
2018
2018
2018
2018
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2018
2018
with 5-minute "Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone" featurette
2018
+ Baby Niffler Funko Pop Keychain
2018
2018
2018
2016
2015
2014
2019
2013
2010
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2019
2022
DVD Packaging
2011
The Star Beast / Wild Blue Yonder / The Giggle
2023
2006
2022
2018
2007
2012
2013
2010
2009
2002
2004