What The Critics Hated About Fantastic Beasts 2

2. It Wastes Its Best Parts

As a lot of fans hoped when Grindelwald and Dumbledore were both announced for this sequel, the Fantastic Beasts series will eventually focus tightly on the relationship and war between Grindelwald and Dumbledore. That story - which will take in issues of unrequited love, emotional manipulation, betrayal and death (eventually) - is a truly compelling one and ranks up there with the initial rise of Voldemort as the best Rowling could tell.

Unfortunately, she's not used The Crimes Of Grindelwald to tell that story. Instead, we get to see the dark wizard looking to build his followers and what we see of Dumbledore is way too limited thanks to the narrative's need to keep jumping away from his scenes to juggle some other story balls. In short, Rowling and David Yates neglect their best assets.

Weirdly, considering the title, it's also been confirmed that most of his "crimes" don't even happen in the movie and are presumably coming elsewhere.