Harry Potter Archives - Cinematic Insights

(1.5 / 4)

In an attempt to deepen the Potter mythology, The Crimes of Grindelwald forgot what made the first so remarkable. This results in a series that has lost its focus and is the first major misstep in the otherwise enchanting Wizarding World series.

When it was first announced that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter would live on through a spinoff series, it was understandable for fans to have their apprehensions as to whether this series would be anything more than a ploy to unnecessarily elongate the initial 8 film story. 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was however a strong entry that capably demonstrated there was still magic to be found in other corners of this enchanted world, and the presence of an orphaned boy with a lightning shaped scar was not required.

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(3 / 4)

Solo is a fun intergalactic adventure fueled by an energetic performance from Alden Ehrenrich, even if the story doesn’t cover much new ground and adds very little to the Star Wars mythos.

Ron Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story is the latest in what seems like an endless string of spinoffs and prequels to longstanding franchises that have essentially finished their core stories. Between Harry Potter continuing to exist through The Fantastic Beasts series, as well as news of a Boba Fett centered Star Wars story being in the works, it’s hard not to become cynical about this practice and to wonder if this is tainting the great stories that have already been told. In comparison with every other Star Wars film that has preceded, it feels as though there has been a tepid anticipation towards Solo thanks in no part to bad press around December of 2017. During this time there were reports of extensive reshoots, the lead actor requiring an acting coach, and an endless delay for a theatrical trailer. With Solo being only the second Star Wars story not directly linked to the main narrative, the question of whether the film would merely coast on the Star Wars name without providing anything new was a viable concern. Despite all of these seemingly negative omens, Solo manages to prove that in spite of an abundance of prequels and spinoffs, this practice can still be conducive to creating a thrilling story, even if it pales in comparison to the source material.

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