A prequel to the “Harry Potter” series, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” does not disappoint fans of the original series, or fantasy movie enthusiasts. Even if you are not too familiar with “Harry Potter,” this movie still has entertainment to offer. Be prepared to enter 1920s New York City as you have never seen it before, crawling with mythical beasts and captivating wizards.

The movie introduces Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a magizoologist, breeder and handler of magical creatures, who also authored a textbook that Hogwarts students use during their schooling. Scamander travels to New York City and immediately runs into trouble with his creatures and the Ministry of Magic when he is taken into custody by former Ministry employee, Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston).

Meanwhile, Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) is the leader of the New Salem Philanthropic Society, an organization with the goal of killing and exposing wizards. She is also the adoptive mother of three children. Her son, Credence (Ezra Miller), is a host to an Obscurus, a force manifested in young wizards who are unable to show their magical powers; it caused damage to the city and Scamander’s creatures are to blame.

The magical creatures are what set this movie apart from other fantasy movies. They looked realistic, unlike the computer-animated, special effects used in other films. With colorful feathers, scales and hair, the creatures are nothing short of enchanting.

What impressed me the most was the fact that the original “Fantastic Beasts” was just a fictitious textbook that did not have a storyline or characters at all. Author J.K. Rowling did not write the book with a movie adaptation in mind, but merely to enhance her readers’ experiences with the actual book the characters in her books studied from.

Rowling also wrote the screenplay and was one of the producers for the film. Her input as the series originator shows through the story’s plot and references connecting the film’s storyline to the books.

A great movie for a die-hard “Harry Potter” fan or someone looking for a movie to see on a Friday night, this film is a guaranteed source of entertainment.