Fantastic Beasts, less than fantastic script

I have to confess, I am a Harry Potter fan. I read all the books, I saw all the movies, and I was very excited when the news broke that J.K, Rowling would be bringing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them to the screen.

The latest incarnation of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has all the trappings of that magical world. There are indeed fantastic creatures, and returning to the Potter-verse was a joy unto itself.

Sadly for me, the story is a convoluted mess with a great deal of repetition and exposition. Like many novelists, J.K. Rowling knows how to tell a story, but not fully how to write a compelling screenplay.

There are some very nice touches, and threads that directly link the Potter world to this 1927 incarnation of the magicking world, and I won't spoil the story by going into too much detail, but suffice it to say, if you're a fan of the world, then you won't be too disappointed, but if you're looking for a cohesive, moving, or exciting story, then you may want to wait for another franchise.

Just my two-cents worth.