I don't usually write reviews, but this film left me so disappointed, frustrated, and confused, that I felt like I simply had to share my thoughts.

The main problem with the film is that put aside everything that actually matters in a movie (plot, character development, et cetera), and instead tried very hard to set the precedent for what upcoming "Fantastic Beasts" movies will be. In other words (and as many people in reviews I've read have already mentioned), it tries to build a franchise but leaves good storytelling aside.

One of the movie's major problems is the script, which is a complete mess; exposition is aplenty (seriously. There is A LOT of artificial exposition). Many things previously established by the Harry Potter movies and books are completely ignored, from small details to huge parts. Characters are underdeveloped, and mostly feel like disposable plot devices. Some pieces of dialogue are cringe-worthy. And mostly, the story's main twist is absurd, desperate, and negates an immense part of what we know about the Harry Potter universe. It's pretty unbelievable that this was written by J.K Rowling herself. And it's not like this is the best she can do, because the script of the first "Fantastic Beasts", while flawed, was enjoyable and made for a nice, fun film.

The tone of the film was totally different from that of the first movie; the music was forgettable; the directing was inconsistent and lazy; the cinematography was terrible, using lots of very distracting close-ups, as well as shaky cam in action scenes (with choppy editing to go with it).

One of the few things that is actually pretty good about this movie is the acting. There are too many characters in the movie, which doesn't give most actors enough time to shine in their roles, but they make for a nice ensemble. The two performers who stand out the most are Jude Law and Johny Depp, who make for an amazing Dumbledore and Grindelward, respectively. Also, some funny scenes actually made me smile, or even laugh. The visual tone of the film was very enjoyable, too.

Overall, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" is a pretty bad movie with very few redeeming qualities. I walked out of the theater sad, disappointed, and even a little angry. If you're a Harry Potter fan, you may find some elements in this film that you might enjoy. If you're not, you might want to spend your time on something better. I hope that J.K Rowling knows what she's doing, and that the rest of the franchise's movies are better than this.