Did no one have the courage to tell JK Rowling her screenplay stunk? That no amount of talented actors or special effects can make up for the lack of a decent plot? That the rule for writing a screenplay is "show, don't tell"? More than anything, this reminds me of Peter Jackson's bloated, worthless Hobbit trilogy, which appears to have been stretched out to interminable length for no other reason than to make money. Perhaps Jackson is even more to blame, since he has proven that he CAN make good movies if he wants to. I guess the actors in Grindelwald couldn't rebel--I hope they were paid well. The absolute worst thing about this film is that despite all the action, all the plot happens with people talking and giving these long explications of things that only the most devout Harry Potter fanatic could care about. All the human interaction and playfulness of the first film is gone. And of course, all it does it set us up for another sequel. I'm afraid, however, that rather than getting the comeuppance she deserves, Rowling's megalomania will only expand. Perhaps she will direct the next picture, also. I won't be watching if she writes OR directs.

released with 2 other books