“I want to be a wizard,” said the film’s featured No-Maj (non-magical person) Jacob Kowalski. Throughout the thrills of the “Harry Potter” series, written by J.K. Rowling, I found myself saying this often as I entranced myself in the British wizarding world. The one thing I found the original series to be lacking was any mention of my beloved American homeland, but “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” directed by David Yates, gave me a wonderfully thrilling look into this long sought after world.

The film takes place in 1926 and follows Newt Scamander as he arrives on unfamiliar terrain in New York City. After one of Newt’s creatures escapes and causes trouble, Newt reveals his powers to a No-Maj, which is the American’s version of a muggle. An ambitious witch named Porpentina catches him in the act, and after a failed attempt to turn him into the Magical Congress, Newt’s suitcase is opened, setting several of his creatures loose in New York. The search is on for the missing animals, as well as the notorious criminal Gellert Grindelwald, all the while dealing with a mysterious destructive force wreaking havoc through the city.

Now, I could go through and nitpick the small things I didn’t enjoy about the movie, like Johnny Depp’s role or certain revelations about the wizarding community that didn’t quite make sense, but I won’t. The movie as a whole had me so astounded that those little things barely take away anything from the movie. Now, I may be a bit partial as a long time “Harry Potter” fan, but I can honestly say that no matter who you are, this movie will amaze.

The lead character in any movie is arguably one of the most important, and it’s crucial to get the part right. Actor Eddie Redmayne, who plays Newt Scamander, masterfully delivers the main role with the quirky, awkward, yet sweet personality the character demands.

All in all, I thought the movie was exactly what I expected; a delightful story that was filled with details about the main book series. I enjoyed the characters, who were all well developed and had unique personalities from each other. The movie itself could have stood alone from the books, which was its most enticing quality. You didn’t need too much background knowledge to enjoy the film. The movie is a must see for anyone wishing to go embark on the wizarding adventure of a lifetime.