3 reasons to read the screenplays for the Fantastic Beasts movies.

Fan groups are a wonderful place to hang out as Harry Potter lovers. You can discuss theories, share favorite moments, compare books and movies, etc. And a lot people come with questions they need answers. I recently saw someone who loved Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and wanted to read the novel it was based on. After some discussion, I recommended the screenplays that I bought to continue enjoying those films. Here are three reasons why I did so.

1. The intention behind direction

The films about Newt Scamander are interesting from a plot perspective with the war against Grindelwald and the shifting storylines concerning the Wizarding World. On the other hand, I remember Eddie Redmayne's mannerisms and interplay between characters being my favorite parts. (Who can forget his Graphorn mating dance?)

Delving into the screenplays written by J.K. Rowling shows the stage directions she originally imagined as well as highlighting things that might have gone unnoticed. In Crimes of Grindelwald, we see the Dumbledore near the end as "hollow-eyed...He's a man at the end of his tether." In the first movie, Newt's monologue on his time in New York is encouraged to have "dawning realization." We can appreciate the end result when we see where it began.

2. Further insight

Jacob Kowalski is my favorite character in the films and it has a lot to do with his background. He's a No-Maj who sometimes is befuddled, but also shows strength and understanding. He makes a joke of being part of the "Expeditionary Forces" and notes that he was in Europe for six years after the end of the Great War.

Thanks to the screenplay of the first film, we see something less humorous from him at a critical moment. As the various witches and wizards go into battle to protect or attack the Obscurial, Queenie tries to leave Jacob behind. He knows that she can read his thoughts and "Jacob tightens his grip on Queenie. She reads his mind and her expression changes to one of wonderment and tenderness as she sees what he went through in the war." We never see this explanation for her changing her mind in the finished product.

3. Reliving the good times

With books that I love, I return to re-read my favorite scenes. I tend to re-watch memorable movie scenes so I can enjoy the feelings that were invoked the first time I saw them.

With the screenplays, I can take time to process the different ways that the cinematography and dialogue play off of each other. And then after revisiting the writing, I can enjoy the acting.

The planned five-movie series has halted indefinitely after three, but that means there's plenty of time to go back to the drama we've seen so far.