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April 27, 2026

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Kathy PitochelliDecember 2, 2016

I too found the abuse part of this movie, plus other things to be particularly disturbing and dark and depressing. I left feeling very spiritually negative about it and can't recommend it no matter whether you love all things Harry Potter or not. I also saw Dr. Strange, and I frankly anticipated a similar dark experience, however, to my complete surprise it was a tremendous lesson on taking a very arrogant and self absorbed man, taking him through a challenging and perplexing growth experience, intermingled with lots of great unexpected humor, and having him arrive to be a man of great valor and charity in the end. I left feelings spiritually uplifted.

KatieDecember 2, 2016

Fantastic Beasts, etc, is actually a good intro to abuse issues and also prejudice. But as an abuse survivor, I saw elements worth discussing, though abuse is disturbingly generally avoided by those lucky to escape it. But that is a grave disservice to those who live it and I am excited I can reference this to open the discussion. Such as: Abuse victims are molded such that they become easy targets to other abusers. The abuser plays the friend at the beginning but ultimately reveals their true contempt for the victim. Abusers treat victims with respect if they think they'll get something out of it. The abuse victim doesn't know if anyone is safe to trust. Abuse is like drowning and the victim will cling to whatever they can to survive. Abusive parents train the other children to participate in abuse. I could think of more, but this is a good start. I suspect many will think this too dark, but that's to their own shame. It's real and terrible and nothing will get better unless it becomes part of public discourse. I hope others will see the value Fantastic Beasts can bring to that.

Glen DanielsenDecember 2, 2016

Again, in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, there are more scenes of sensuality that reviewer fails to mention. For a more accurate description of them, see www.kids-in-mind.com or check the free Kids in Mind smart phone app.

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