Top Ten #11 - Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindwald Characters Ranked
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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald may not have lived up to the expectations and precedents set by the first film, as well as the rest of the Harry Potter universe, but the characters that we enjoyed from the first film were back, as well as some new additions to the expanding roster. This list is my (completely, 100 percent subjective) ranking of the 10 major characters from the Harry Potter sequel. This list is not just based on character itself, but also on the performance given by the actor, which is always a major factor in my opinion.
10. Queenie Goldstein: One of the characters that I found mildly tolerable in the first film received an expanded role in the sequel. I find, however, as I did in the first movie, that this character is almost entirely superfluous and unnecessary to the story. If she were to be removed entirely, it would be of little consequence. Additionally, while I'm sure Alison Sudol is doing her best with the character and the material that she's given, the material that she is given is not particularly strong, and she comes off as a want-to-be Luna Lovegood.
9. Jacob Kowalski: The tables have turned. Jacob Kowalski, played by Dan Fogler, was one of my favorite characters in the first film. He stole almost every scene, and provided a sense of levity that prevented the magical first film from just floating away. But in this movie, first off, if you have seen the first film, you know he shouldn't be in this movie at all. He provided a nice bookend, but now he's back, and to make matters worse, it's not explained well at all. On top of that, the director and writers attempted to give him the same kind of k=jokes as they did last time, and it works for a little bit, but after awhile, it becomes incredibly stale. Not to mention that they try to give him an emotional moment, but when you're tuned out of his character by the time the last thirty minute happen, you don't really care.
8. Theseus Scamander: To avoid spoilers about the film, I won't say much about Newt's brother, Theseus Scamander. But I will say that again, like the previous two characters, he is almost completely unnecessary. I'm not quite sure what purpose his character served, and the performance gave off the same exact kind of character as Newt, minus his rogue charm, which makes for an incredibly dull and boring version of Newt.
7. Nagini: Regardless of whether or not she should have been in this movie at all, what saves this character from being more useless than Theseus is that she doesn't have much screen-time. And when she is, Claudia Kim plays it incredibly safe, being tolerable and forgettable. Maybe she will have more significance in the future films, but for now, she was of little importance.
6. Tina Goldstein: Tina has returned to the Wizarding World as well. I didn't mind her in the first film, and I can say the same of her in this movie. There's not much new that Katherine Waterston brings, and that's fine given what her character is. There is a forced connection and subplot involving her and Newt, but it comes off as forced. Luckily, it is brushed off in a couple minutes, and she's back to being the stern Auror that we have come to know.
5. Leta Lestrange: One of the new additions to the franchise is Leta Lestrange, distant relative to horrific Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange. (MINOR SPOILER ALERT) Her connection with Bellatrix is not touched on at all, and whether or not it is later, Leta (MINOR SPOILER ALERT OVER) does play an important role in the movie. She has a lot of exposition to give, and can come off as just a narrating plot-device, but what sells me on her character above the other is the performance from Zoe Kravitz. Kravitz brings the sort of levity that has become synonymous with the Harry Potter universe. Lestrange definitely has more to offer and I'm interested to see how her relationships with characters pay off in the future.
4. Credence Barebones: A character that I disliked extremely from the first film, Credence, played by Ezra Miller, has more to do in this film, and surprisingly (at least until the last minute of the film) his character has a clear motivation and a very compelling arc. He, out of all the characters in the movie, has an understandable goal and while the answer itself may not be satisfying at ALL, Miller plays the character as if he's grown and developed since the first movie. Credence is going to be very important going forward in the series.
3. Newt Scamander: Even though Eddie Redmayne plays the character of Newt in a very odd, strange way, somehow there is a sense of charm and charisma that is evident makes him such an enjoyable protagonist. He has no clear motivation other than to do good, and that's fascinating. He has no scar on his forehead, he has no horcruxes, he just wants to do what's right. "I don't do sides", and I think that's what makes him as compelling as he is.
2. Albus Dumbledore: Albus Dumbledore is back, played as a younger version by Jude Law. Let's face it, Dumbledore could have been like anything in his past, but this version of a younger Dumbledore depicts him before he has experienced trauma, hurt, and has matured. This is a Dumbledore who, while having experienced tragedy, still has a hopeful sense of whim, and a sparkle in his eyes that he retains through the rest of his life. This is a Dumbledore that is powerful physically, and I'm excited to see where his story ends in the future.
1. Gellert Grindewald: The film is named after him, after all. Grindewald as a character doesn't have much to do in the movie, being completely honest. No, what propels him ot the top of this list is two words: Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp, despite all of his eccentricities and his personal mishaps, absolutely brings it. The design team does an amazing job as well accentuating his creepy, snake-like persona with the makeup and hair. Every second he's on screen, he eats up the scenery, and at the end of the film, he gives a monologue that sends chills down your spine. If this is to be the next Voldemort, I'm completely down for it.
10. Queenie Goldstein: One of the characters that I found mildly tolerable in the first film received an expanded role in the sequel. I find, however, as I did in the first movie, that this character is almost entirely superfluous and unnecessary to the story. If she were to be removed entirely, it would be of little consequence. Additionally, while I'm sure Alison Sudol is doing her best with the character and the material that she's given, the material that she is given is not particularly strong, and she comes off as a want-to-be Luna Lovegood.
9. Jacob Kowalski: The tables have turned. Jacob Kowalski, played by Dan Fogler, was one of my favorite characters in the first film. He stole almost every scene, and provided a sense of levity that prevented the magical first film from just floating away. But in this movie, first off, if you have seen the first film, you know he shouldn't be in this movie at all. He provided a nice bookend, but now he's back, and to make matters worse, it's not explained well at all. On top of that, the director and writers attempted to give him the same kind of k=jokes as they did last time, and it works for a little bit, but after awhile, it becomes incredibly stale. Not to mention that they try to give him an emotional moment, but when you're tuned out of his character by the time the last thirty minute happen, you don't really care.
8. Theseus Scamander: To avoid spoilers about the film, I won't say much about Newt's brother, Theseus Scamander. But I will say that again, like the previous two characters, he is almost completely unnecessary. I'm not quite sure what purpose his character served, and the performance gave off the same exact kind of character as Newt, minus his rogue charm, which makes for an incredibly dull and boring version of Newt.
7. Nagini: Regardless of whether or not she should have been in this movie at all, what saves this character from being more useless than Theseus is that she doesn't have much screen-time. And when she is, Claudia Kim plays it incredibly safe, being tolerable and forgettable. Maybe she will have more significance in the future films, but for now, she was of little importance.
6. Tina Goldstein: Tina has returned to the Wizarding World as well. I didn't mind her in the first film, and I can say the same of her in this movie. There's not much new that Katherine Waterston brings, and that's fine given what her character is. There is a forced connection and subplot involving her and Newt, but it comes off as forced. Luckily, it is brushed off in a couple minutes, and she's back to being the stern Auror that we have come to know.
5. Leta Lestrange: One of the new additions to the franchise is Leta Lestrange, distant relative to horrific Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange. (MINOR SPOILER ALERT) Her connection with Bellatrix is not touched on at all, and whether or not it is later, Leta (MINOR SPOILER ALERT OVER) does play an important role in the movie. She has a lot of exposition to give, and can come off as just a narrating plot-device, but what sells me on her character above the other is the performance from Zoe Kravitz. Kravitz brings the sort of levity that has become synonymous with the Harry Potter universe. Lestrange definitely has more to offer and I'm interested to see how her relationships with characters pay off in the future.
4. Credence Barebones: A character that I disliked extremely from the first film, Credence, played by Ezra Miller, has more to do in this film, and surprisingly (at least until the last minute of the film) his character has a clear motivation and a very compelling arc. He, out of all the characters in the movie, has an understandable goal and while the answer itself may not be satisfying at ALL, Miller plays the character as if he's grown and developed since the first movie. Credence is going to be very important going forward in the series.
3. Newt Scamander: Even though Eddie Redmayne plays the character of Newt in a very odd, strange way, somehow there is a sense of charm and charisma that is evident makes him such an enjoyable protagonist. He has no clear motivation other than to do good, and that's fascinating. He has no scar on his forehead, he has no horcruxes, he just wants to do what's right. "I don't do sides", and I think that's what makes him as compelling as he is.
2. Albus Dumbledore: Albus Dumbledore is back, played as a younger version by Jude Law. Let's face it, Dumbledore could have been like anything in his past, but this version of a younger Dumbledore depicts him before he has experienced trauma, hurt, and has matured. This is a Dumbledore who, while having experienced tragedy, still has a hopeful sense of whim, and a sparkle in his eyes that he retains through the rest of his life. This is a Dumbledore that is powerful physically, and I'm excited to see where his story ends in the future.
1. Gellert Grindewald: The film is named after him, after all. Grindewald as a character doesn't have much to do in the movie, being completely honest. No, what propels him ot the top of this list is two words: Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp, despite all of his eccentricities and his personal mishaps, absolutely brings it. The design team does an amazing job as well accentuating his creepy, snake-like persona with the makeup and hair. Every second he's on screen, he eats up the scenery, and at the end of the film, he gives a monologue that sends chills down your spine. If this is to be the next Voldemort, I'm completely down for it.
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