3 Reasons to Buy Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore

The Fantastic Beasts Franchise draws to a close (for now) with the third instalment ‘Secrets of Dumbledore’. This franchise has been a lot of fun, with references to the immensely popular Harry Potter films and books. The franchise has proven that there are plenty of adventures to explore within the magical world, with the focal point of the Fantastic Beasts franchise being Newt Scamander, a magical zoologist and author of Hogwarts textbook ‘Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them’, the title of the first film. Secrets of Dumbledore takes place directly after the events of 2018s ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’, with Jude Law’s Albus Dumbledore, assembling a team to take on the magical world’s greatest threat, Grindlewald, played this time Mads Mikkelsen who replaces Johnny Depp from the previous two films. With the film making its way to DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K UHD this month, it's time to talk about the 3 best elements of the latest entry in the franchise. There is a lot to love here, but these 3 elements are what the fans have loved over the course of these 3 films. So, without further ado, let's go!

The cast – one of the best elements of the latest instalment in the franchise, that has been a constant in the previous two films as well. The film sees returning cast members, Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Dan Fogler as Jakob Kowalski, Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore, Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone, Callum Turner as Theseus Sacamander, Katherine Waterson as Tina Goldstein and Alison Sudol as Queenie with newcomers Mads Mikkelsen as Grindlewald and Richard Coyle as Aberforth Dumbledore. This cast is stacked and is one of the strongest parts of the franchise. Our core trio Newt, Jacob and Callum are all fantastic, with Jacob proving once again to be a standout in the film. Audiences have become quite attached to the character of Jacob, as he is a great entry point into this magical world. As a muggle he offers a grounded and very human character, which is very endearing. Mikkelsen and Law are both fantastic as Grindlewald and Dumbledore providing the emotional crux of the film.

The (magical) world-building – The wizarding world established in the Harry Potter franchise is filled with wonderment and a deep mythos that goes back centuries. After the Harry Potter saga finished in 2011 with 'Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2', audiences were anticipating the next instalment, hoping for more world building and references to characters introduced in the Potter saga. The Fantastic Beasts franchise has done this well, following characters we already know with Dumbledore and Grindelwald but also characters we have been made aware of, such as Newt Scamander, who was the author of the Hogwarts students' textbook, 'Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them'. The Secrets of Dumbledore does a fantastic job of re-introducing characters and elements of the Wizarding World that we know and love, whilst also introducing new characters and ministries of magic that we haven't previously seen. The film does a great job of showcasing the new elements whilst not pandering to franchise fans. it truly is the perfect blend. 

The action set pieces - One of the best elements of the Wizarding World films is the breathtaking action set-pieces that have become synonymous with the franchise at this point. Series veteran director David Yates returns, having helmed the last four Harry Potter films and the first two Fantastic Beasts films, bringing his signature style once again to the Wizarding World. The action sequences here are fantastic, showcasing the power of magic but grounding the sequences in reality. The duels, whilst few, are amazing to see on screen. The action with some of the Fantastic Beasts is also standout once again in this film. The creature designs are great, with series favourites Bowtruckle and Niffler returning once again, assisting Newt in a FANTASTIC escape from a prison. The action and wonderment in the film are some of the best sequences, and are a key reason why you need to check out 'Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore'. 

'Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore', marks a highpoint in the Wizarding World adventures post Harry Potter. Filled again with great characters, magical world building and of course great action set pieces. This is a must own on physical media for all Harry Potter fans, and if you're new to the franchise then you have a lot of catching up to do. Head on over to your local Sanity or online to pick up your copy on DVD, Blu-ray or 4K UHD today. 

Buy Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K UHD here!

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here