當我知道港臺把Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 翻譯成《怪獸與牠們的產地》，瞬間覺得 《神奇動物在哪裡》這名字很可愛！後臺回復「神奇動物在哪裡」～
1926年紐約的魔法世界，危機四伏。某個神秘的力量在街頭製造了一連串的破壞，並揚言要向反魔法師狂熱組織第二塞勒姆揭露魔法社會的存在，並借他們的手斬草除根。而強大的黑魔法師蓋勒特·格林德沃，在歐洲製造了浩劫後消聲匿跡，沒人能尋得其蹤。
魔法動物學家紐特·斯卡曼德抵達紐約時，對這日益嚴重的緊張氣氛毫不知情。他即將結束對神奇魔法動物的研究和營救工作開展的環球之旅。在他看似其貌不揚的魔法皮箱裡，其實保護著不少神奇魔法動物。但意外還是猝不及防地發生了，一個叫雅各布·科瓦爾斯基的麻雞無意間放跑了幾個紐特的神奇魔法動物，而此時的紐約魔法界正處於最為動蕩不安的時刻，因嚴重違反保密法令被停職的前傲羅蒂娜·戈德斯坦恩一把抓住這個機會，想重回自己以前調查員的職位。但是，神秘莫測的美國魔法國會魔法安全部長帕西瓦爾·格雷夫斯卻同時懷疑上紐特和蒂娜，事態突然變得兇險異常。自此，不得不合作的紐特和蒂娜，以及蒂娜的妹妹奎妮和他們的新麻瓜朋友雅各布，湊成了一支冒險小隊，他們必須儘快找到走丟的神奇動物，以免它們遭受不測。然而，真正的危險，遠比這四個上了通緝名單的局外人兼逃犯想像的要嚴重得多。他們與黑暗勢力產生了正面衝突，魔法和麻雞兩界的戰爭可能因此一觸即發In mid-20s New York, Newt Scamander, the British young activist wizard, arrives in town, holding a mysterious leather suitcase which shelters a wide
array of diverse and magical creatures that exist among us. Amid an already fragile
equilibrium of secrecy, and the increasing disasters
ascribed to the dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, Newt's precious suitcase will be lost--and to make matters worse--several creatures will manage to escape. Before long, this situation will catch Senior Auror Percival Graves' attention who will target Newt, in the background of an invisible, devastating, and utterly unpredictable menace that still
wreaks havoc on 5th Avenue. In the end, is there a hidden agenda behind Graves' intentions; moreover, what will happen to the remaining fantastic beasts still loose in the streets?I must admit at the very beginning, I'm one of those adults who bought the small booklet, and even enjoyed it. I always appreciate when an author creates an entire world in which his/her story takes place, very few compare with the totality of the world created by JK Rowling. So no wonder that the full story of Newt Scamander has already existed in her mind, when she wrote his textbook for the Hogwarts' students and all the rest of us. But this was written from the very start as a movie, and in my mind is the fruit of the creative partnership she had formed with David Yates, who directed the final three installments (4 actually) of the Harry Potter saga.
The result is both a visual marvel, a heartwarming story, and a tale of fantasy, action and suspense. Another part of Rowling's magic is the amazing characters she creates. She created here four wonderful leads, that gave room to some wonderful acting performances: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, and the most surprising of all Dan Fogler, with whom I was already familiar as a voice actor (Mars Needs Moms) and he proves, that a good voice actor, is a good actor. One more special mention must go for Ezra Miller, who's so superb as Credence, that he almost spoils the surprise at the end of the film.
Bottom line, not really a
prequel, but a wonderful independent story that happens to fit into the same universe where Harry Potter exists. Don't worry, there's room there for much more.
今天推薦這部原著| 《一個小小的建議 A Modest Proposal》（內附資源）
今天推薦這部電影| 《了不起的狐狸爸爸 Fantastic Mr. Fox》（內附資源）
今天推薦這部原著| 《這不是告別 Eleanor & Park》（內附資源）