Wreck It Ralph 2 was fantastic. Lots of funny internet/video game sight gags, but also I think folks here would love it because at its heart it's a film about finding your tribe on the internet, and the Big Bad is the comments section.

There is one scene towards the end that had my 11 year-old hiding under his seat. It's not explicitly scary as such, but it is definitely a Pink Elephants moment and creepy as fuck. (He got over it enough to watch the movie twice, so not a lifelong trauma, but it did give him one night of troubled sleep.)

Anyone see the Fantastic Beasts sequel? I really liked the first one, but this has been getting iffy reviews, not to mention the Depp issue (although I will say that people we know close to that story say that although he is an alcoholic and probably terrible to live with, Heard manipulated and lied about the abuse and she's a really REALLY bad person).

Haven't seen Fantastic Beasts, but I did just watch Teen Titans Go to the Movies and it was The Amazing.

Anyone see the Fantastic Beasts sequel?

Yes. Eh. Too much setup. The best parts are those that involve the eponymous beasts. Not only do I not understand why they replaced Colin Farrell with Johnny Depp, I don't understand the costuming and makeup decisions that combine to make Depp look so profoundly unappealing, for a character that is supposed to be compelling and magnetic.

Anyone see the Fantastic Beasts sequel?

I actually enjoyed this one more than the first. I rewatched the first Saturday night and found myself bored in spots (like, I actually left the room for a minute). I liked the pacing better on this one. Though I will certainly concede Dana's point re Depp's appearance.

One thing that will feel familiar to the other HP movies: that feeling of why didn't Dumbledore just SAY that, instead of being all unnecessarily mysterious and making people think he's betraying them/the cause?

One other thought my friend and I agreed on, but I just deleted it for degree of spoileriness.

Fantastic Beasts was *insert shrug emoji*. Way too much exposition dump in parts. That scene at the crypt where everyone just stood around and flashbacked for like 30 minutes was fucking ridiculous. Also what Dana said about Johnny Depp. Yeesh.

I thought Credence was creepy and compelling and tragic in the first film. In this film, he was given next to nothing to do, for all that he was the big McGuffin around which everything evolved. The final reveal about his heritage made me scoff.

I liked the bits with magical beasts. And brief glimpse at young Prof. McGonagall in Hogwarts. Newt and Tina continued to have zero chemistry together. Not sure if I'll keep on following the series, honestly.

By the way, Widows is out on theater and makes for a MUCH better film to watch during the holiday weekend, albeit less kid-friendly.

Another film seen last weekend, which I suspect will not last long in the theater: A Private War, in which Rosamund Pike plays Marie Colvin, the renowned Sunday Times war correspondent who was killed in Syria a few years ago. It's somewhat heavy-handed in parts, but always thoughtful and compelling, and Pike is dynamite in the role. It's the kind of performance that'd solicit awards consideration if the film in question were somewhat bigger.

God, yes, the big plot reveal that he's a SECRET DUMBLEDORE was definitely scoff-worthy. This is why we didn't want Rey to be a Skywalker.

(Fantastic Beasts spoiler)

By the way, Widows is out on theater and makes for a MUCH better film to watch during the holiday weekend, albeit less kid-friendly.

I am so excited this is playing at my local theater!!!

Ooh, Widows, I want to see that. Maybe Saturday.