Two years ago anxious fans were able to feast their eyes upon a new creation given to them by J.K. Rowling. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them made its way to the public only to be met by a divided fanbase. Hoping to improve upon the weaker aspects, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald brings us the continuation of Newt Scamander’s (Eddie Redmayne) adventures as he simply does what he thinks is the right thing to do.

While Newt tries to maintain what is good in the world, there are those that wish to see a much darker place. Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) is held in captivity, though I suspect not for long, as he has a more sinister vision for the world that these magical beings live in. Now however, a younger Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) is set to assist in getting things back in order. Even as the two sides posture for position, there’s more going on that could lead to an even more dangerous time for the wizarding world. The battle to eradicate the gray area begins as everyone is now being forced to pick a side. Wands at the ready!

There isn’t anything fantastic about Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. While it starts off in a decent manner, everything after the first quarter of the movie just kind of droned on, and on…and on. The “in thing” these days is to give consumers more for their money, and with the continued rising costs to see a movie in theaters, I can see why. What the studios need to understand is that longer doesn’t automatically mean better, nor does it justify costs. Making a film that flows nicely and gives audiences a feeling of enjoyment is all of the value anyone should be striving for. This franchise is a FAR step down from the Harry Potter movies and it is becoming glaringly obvious.

The characters aren’t as easily likable nor are they worth disliking strongly. They’re just kind of there. Eddie Redmayne is still just okay. The same could be said for Zoë Kravitz, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol and Dan Fogler. Ezra Miller is kind of a slow-burn and he’s allowed to shining a bit more as the story goes. As for Johnny Depp, he should be classified as “just there”. I was really hoping after the big reveal of his character in the first movie, that Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald could build on this unexpected storyline. Hope crushed. And speaking of crushed, Jude Law is about as appealing as Depp is, and that’s not a compliment. Lastly, we have the “beasts” to discuss. There are a few cool ones and some adorable ones. They are one of the few positives in the presentation, but sadly there are not any showstoppers.

We may be to the point where director David Yates needs to pass the torch. He directed the last three Harry Potter films as well as the first two Fantastic Beasts films. He is scheduled to direct the final three movies, and I applaud Warner Bros. long term commitment, really I do. The challenge will be the drive to improve upon your work, even if you think you’re happy with what’s been produce. Security often leads to complacency, which could lead to a lack of drive to put a best foot forward each time. Let’s just hope that he’s as eager to get back to the production studio as fans are to hear about him filming again.

Unless you were a huge fan of the the first Fantastic Beasts, there is not much to get excited about. As it stands, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will be enjoyable for a select few. The masses may want to consider taking a pass at the theatrical release and just wait for the chance to view it at home. With a total of five of these movies planned, there needs to be some major movement on the quality of production side of things. Otherwise, this franchise risks falling into the same abyss that so many other series have fallen into. David Yates and company, this is your final benefit of the doubt. See it if you dare.