A Magical Memory

A Fantastic Day

            On the quiet and peaceful morning of November 23^rd, 2016, I laid sound asleep in my bed, curled up in soft, warm blankets. At roughly nine o’clock, my mother came into my room to wake me. Normally, I would try to sleep for as long as possible. However, I awoke feeling incredibly excited. I quickly slipped out of bed and put on my outfit of choice: gray sneakers, a pair of my favorite ankle socks, skinny jeans, and a particular black sweater. A crest of a red lion, green serpent, blue eagle, and yellow badger was printed on the sweater, along with the words HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY printed in white.

            I selected my Hogwarts sweater for a special reason. On this day, I went to the theatre to see the first movie from a new Harry Potter spinoff series called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I became a Potter fan at six years old and I loved the series even more at nineteen years old. I couldn’t wait to see this movie, because I would be able to dive back into my favorite wizarding world.

            Better yet, my two favorite actors were cast as the protagonist and antagonist in the film. Eddie Redmayne would play the lead character Newt Scamander, an intelligent magizoologist (one who studies magical creatures). My other favorite actor, Johnny Depp, would appear as Gellert Grindelwald, the darkest and most dangerous wizard of the time. I’d been a fan of Depp since 2006 when my friends and I became obsessed with Pirates of the Caribbean. And Redmayne captured my heart after I saw him in the 2012 movie-musical Les Misérables. Every time I thought about them starring in Fantastic Beasts together, my heart swelled with joy.

            The time came for my mom and I to head to the theatre. I stepped outside into the chilly morning. Thick gray clouds covered the sky, not allowing for any sunlight to warm the earth. The sharp and bitter wind stung my face. I shivered as I waited for the heat to turn on in my van. As my mom drove, I stared out the window at the surroundings: my neighborhood, the elementary school, cemetery, gas stations, billboards, etc. My mind wandered and a sliver of doubt started to weigh in on me: What if I didn’t like the movie?

            I essentially knew nothing about these new characters. The movie was not necessarily based on a book like the Potter series. The only information I obtained about the film came from the trailers and cast interviews. J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay, something she never did before. Both the time period of the film as well as the structure of the plot differed from the Potter films. For the first time, I felt a little skeptical. I became more anxious as I approached the theatre.

            As my mom pulled into the empty parking lot, a few last-minute thoughts streamed through my mind: Please let this movie be good…I really want Eddie to do a good job of playing Newt. I’d hate to see any harsh criticisms on his performance. I really want to love this movie…

            As we entered the theatre, I grinned upon seeing the advertisement posters for Fantastic Beasts. The smell of fresh popcorn made my mouth water as soon as we stepped through the doors. The theatre was practically deserted; my mom bought tickets for the very first showing of the day, knowing how badly I wanted to see the movie. We purchased our refreshments and after loading up our popcorn with salt and butter, we headed into Theatre #7.

            Thirty or forty minutes remained before the show started and I felt like I couldn’t possibly wait any longer. My inner-child-Potter-fan began to emerge again. I appeared calm and composed on the outside. However, in my mind I pictured myself running around in a Hogwarts cloak, waving a wand while yelling incantations.

            After months of waiting, wondering, and anticipating, the time finally came. The lights in the room dimmed as the previews for upcoming movies played. After the usual don’t-use-your-electronic devices-during-the-movie-or-you’re-going-to-ruin-it-for-everyone-else spiel, the screen turned to black. The lights shut off. The exit signs emitted an eerie glow. Although there weren’t many people in the audience, I felt the excitement and anxiousness in that quiet, airy, and chilly theatre.

            As the screen displayed the Warner Bros. logo against a dark gray, cloudy sky, the orchestra played a mysterious version of the main theme from the Potter films, which set off a serious and spooky vibe. The logo faded, and the title of the film began to form as the strings played a magnificent crescendo, like the rising action of a story leading up to the climax. My heart pounded in my chest and emotions of nostalgia came over me. The title screen faded away and the new story began…

            I don’t know why I even doubted for one minute as to whether I would enjoy Fantastic Beasts. I fell absolutely in.love.with.it. Everything about the movie captivated me, enchanted me, and inspired me. I absolutely loved the characters, the creatures, the setting, the subtle references to the Potter series, everything.  I longed to step into this wizarding world and join the incredible characters on their adventures. The movie pulled me right in and held on to my attention the entire time. I became absorbed in the story. I find it difficult to put into words just how much the movie enchanted me.

            While watching the film, one specific emotion filled me up in a way it never had before: happiness. I felt elated. Jubilation swelled in my heart. My entire body felt warm, comforted, and peaceful. Everything causing me stress and worry disappeared. I honestly did not stop smiling from the moment the movie began until the moment when the last of the credits rolled off the screen. For those two hours and thirteen minutes, nothing else mattered except for the incredible characters and their thrilling adventure.

            I will never forget the few thoughts that entered my mind about halfway through the film: I am so thankful for this movie. I am so thankful for Harry Potter. I am so thankful that J.K. Rowling decided to create this film. Bless this movie. Bless J.K. Rowling. Bless the producers. And bless whoever thought to cast Eddie Redmayne as Newt. Bless Eddie for existing and doing this film. I absolutely love him.

            Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is more than just “another Harry Potter movie” to me. After seeing Beasts, I decided that I wanted to watch Eddie Redmayne’s entire filmography and to learn more about him. And the more I learned about Eddie, the more I grew to admire him. I find him so unique, talented, and inspiring. I just absolutely adore everything about him. I have so much respect for Eddie as an actor and a person. He has influenced my life in so many ways, more than I could count. I take his philosophies and apply them to my life daily.

            I will forever think of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them not just as the gateway that allowed me to reenter the wizarding world of Harry Potter, but also as the reason why Eddie Redmayne is now my hero and my idol. And for that, I am eternally grateful.