This film starts with the confusing escape sequence of the titular wizard (played by Johnny Depp). From there it descends into a tedious parade of dramatic character interactions that get more and more mystifying. Some of the fantasy creatures return (along with their keeper Eddie Redmayne), but unlike the first film, there’s not much visually dazzling in the effects, the environments or even the costumes. The audience members who had read the books (or at least the Harry Potter series) seemed to be more pleased with what was happening, but I found it a jumbled, puzzling, slow mess.

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