Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is overstuffed and needlessly convoluted. Credence's overemphasized backstory has excessive twists, Kama has no lasting impact, Leta only serves as a misdirect, and Nagini is pointless fan service. Collectively, these missteps detract from the main subjects of Newt, Jacob/Queenie, and Grindelwald/Dumbledore. Overall, there are just too many characters to properly establish emotional connections with anyone. Plus, the payoffs aren't worth the mental investments, so the film is a tiring slog with heavy exposition and an anticlimactic ending. Each performance from the interesting cast is good, but wasted on meandering material.
Meanwhile, The Crimes of Grindelwald's filmmaking has a compounding flaw. The intricate sound gets symbolic, the elaborate production design remains cohesive, the music is complimentary, and the effects are comprehensive (although overdone). However, the faulty editing overshadows all this because The Crimes of Grindelwald doesn't flow. Side plotlines feel like tedious interruptions, missing establishing shots disjoint action sequences, and butchered pacing rushes key character development. Ultimately, The Crimes of Grindelwald has technical strengths, but isn't enjoyable to watch. Tone, tempo, and focus issues make The Crimes of Grindelwald a miss for most viewers.
Writing: 4/10
Direction: 5/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Acting: 7/10
Editing: 4/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 6/10
Overall Score: 6.2/10
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