Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the long awaited film expansion of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe.  The film takes us back to New York City in the 1920s, where we meet Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who is something of a magical Doctor Dolittle.  When a small mix-up happens at a bank, regular citizen Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) finds himself in possession of Newt's magical briefcase, which contains all of the creatures he's collected in his travels.  To add to Newt's troubles, there is also a strongly anti-magic organization stirring up protests around New York.  Naturally, almost all of the magical beasts get loose.  With the help of sisters Tina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol), they set about to recapture all of the missing creatures.  Unfortunately, the Magical Congress of the United States Of America (America's version of the Ministry of Magic) is out to capture Newt Scamander for their own reasons.
For the most part, I found this movie quite enjoyable, with the exception of a few small items.  One issue this film has is the size of the cast.  There are just a few too many characters to give everyone equal screen time, and at times, the plot becomes a touch muddled because of it.  For instance, I think there was far too much time spent focusing on Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) and her clan of disturbed children for what was essentially a one-note plot point.  Also, there are some barriers for those unfamiliar with the original books (and the Harry Potter source material).  I found myself especially puzzled with Percival Graves (Colin Farrell).  I had very little idea of his exact position within his organization, much less what his title of auror meant, if anything.
Despite these minor complaints, Fantastic Beasts is a lot of fun to watch.  The film takes every advantage when it comes to 3D technology, and doesn't spend it all in the opening moments of the film, like many others have.  The depth of detail and imaginative creature design is wonderful to witness, and adds that extra touch of magic needed for a story as grand as this.  Sadly, I feel that the non-3D version may not feel half as engaging, considering there is such heavy use of effects.  As I mentioned before, I am only familiar with the Harry Potter film franchise, but according to my wife, there are plenty of references, both large and small, for Potter fans to talk about.  As a film-only fan, I did pick up on a handful, but the majority were lost on me.  Interestingly, these references never felt obvious or overdone to me, which is refreshing for a movie that takes place in such a well known world.  Contrast this with the constant name-dropping seen in the Marvel movies, and you'll begin to see what I mean.  Then again, I haven't read the books, so you can judge for yourself.
The cast is solid all around.  Eddie Redmayne is charmingly inquisitive, in spite of his social awkwardness.  Katherine Waterston's Tina provides the perfect match for Newt with her sharp wit and determined attitude.  While Colin Farrell is competent as Graves, Newt's authoritarian adversary, the true show stealers are Kowalski and Queenie.  You can't help but love Dan Fogler as the simple, working man who becomes fascinated with Newt's magical world.  Alison Sudol plays Queenie with an infectious enthusiasm as well as a spark of mischief.  The two play off of each other wonderfully, and exhibit more on-screen chemistry than the main characters, in my opinion.
Fantastic Beasts is an exciting film, full of visual wonders.  A certain level of depth will be lost on those unfamiliar with the Harry Potter universe, but it is still very accessible to any movie goer.  With several sequels in development, now is the time to watch if you want to follow this series!

Home Alone (1990)

For those of us who grew up in the 90s, Home Alone needs no introduction.  It was the film that launched Macaulay Culkin to superstar status, and has since been shown on television every Christmas to this day.  Also, Home Alone was responsible for the brief fad of kids carrying around pocket tape recorders, but that's really neither here nor there.
Home Alone tells the story of Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), the youngest of his large family, often ignored and bullied.  When Kevin's family leaves for a Paris vacation for the holiday season, Kevin is left behind and is forced to look after himself.  At first, Kevin has fun doing everything he's not supposed to do, but soon loneliness makes things scary for the eight year old.  Meanwhile, Kevin's family, realizing they've forgotten him, make efforts to return home on Christmas Eve.  It's at this point that Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), a pair of two-bit burglars enter the picture.  When Kevin realizes they plan to break in and rob his house, he designs a set of elaborate traps to stop the bumbling thieves in their tracks.  The results are hilarious and heartwarming, making for an enduring Christmas classic.
Naturally, we all remember the crazy pranks and slapstick comedy of Home Alone.  What most don't remember is that it was written by John Hughes, the man responsible for such teen classics as Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Breakfast Club.  This shows in the early scenes especially.  It's easy to imagine Kevin as a very young Ferris Bueller, even down to the creative mannequin usage.  As well, Kevin has a few amusingly grown up moments, such as buying groceries for himself and considering which toothbrush is right for him.  The John Hughes style is evident in the true story Home Alone tells.  When you strip away the comedy antics, Home Alone is a story about trust and kindness.  From almost the very beginning of the film, we are introduced to Kevin's salt shovelling neighbor Marley (Roberts Blossom), who he is irrationally terrified of.  As the film progresses, Kevin learns that he is actually friendly, and nobody to be afraid of, and is ultimately rewarded for taking that first step of trust.  This deftly handled emotional story is what sets Home Alone apart from other films like it, and it is because of the great writing of John Hughes.
Another thing many people forget about Home Alone is that its score was nominated for an Academy Award.  Composed by John Williams, the iconic music reminds the audience of Christmas, childhood fun, and even the fears of being alone as a young child.  If not for the impressive list of John Williams film scores, it's quite likely Home Alone would get more recognition for its music today.
The pure comedy that Stern and Pesci bring to the table added to the sharp performance of Macaulay Culkin make this film a winner from scene one.  The score and brilliant writing solidify these elements into one of the most memorable Christmas films of the past several decades.