there's much to admire on screen. But conversely, it still feels like the magic is missing so far. That the ingredients seem to be here, but they've not gelled into a story good enough
big, bold and teeming with imagination, it is so busy world-building that it occasionally forgets to have fun. But with this heavy lifting done, there's every reason to hope for an even more magical adventure next time
"Fantastic Beasts" amplifies both the strengths and weaknesses of Rowling's storytelling approach, which unfolds in the episodic style of vintage serials - a cliff-hanger-oriented tactic that works well in novels...but feels less elegant on screen