If you didn't see the first one, this might not make a lot of sense. If you have seen it, then this will still not make much sense. There's a lot to unpack in this sequel, which has to do with the rise of a Voldemort-like character in late 1920s New York and Paris, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, including many new to the series. There are some interesting connections to the Harry Potter series, and the effects are really, really well done...but this is still a mixed bag. One reason is that Eddie Redmayne, reprising his lead role, is a master mumbler and has zero charisma. Another is that the one Everyman in the movie (played by Dan Fogler) is relegated to a small, small role here - which makes it tough for us Muggles to relate to these magicians. A third is that the plot is unwieldy and depends a lot on viewers' knowledge of the previous film. HP fans will love the lore appeal of this movie, although undoubtedly they've seen it many times over already.