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    Movie Review

    Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald conjures confusion instead of magic

    Alex Bentley
    Nov 15, 2018 | 4:03 pm
    Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald conjures confusion instead of magic
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    The reason the Harry Potter film series became a multibillion-dollar property was because it was based on an already hugely-popular book series. The Fantastic Beasts series has no such built-in goodwill other than its tangential relationship to the Harry Potter universe. The first film in 2016 intrigued with the introduction of unfamiliar characters, but it’s put-up-or-shut-up time with the second of a planned five films, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

     

    In the sequel, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has been banned from international travel after his escapades in New York in the first film. Naturally, that doesn’t last long when he discovers that auror and love interest Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) is in Paris, helping in the search for Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), who has escaped from custody.

     

    And that’s about all that’s clear in the extremely confusing plot that finds old characters being clumsily re-introduced, new characters brought in with barely an introduction, and a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) shoehorned into the proceedings seemingly just to give the audience some kind of familiarity on which to grasp.

     

    Anyone hoping for a similar combination of darkness and lightness that was in the first film will be disappointed as writer J.K. Rowling and director David Yates go fully dark almost right away. Grindelwald’s quest to take over the world takes center stage, so other fun things like the relationship between Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and Queenie Feldstein (Alison Sudol) are put on the backburner or turn into something much different.

     

    Strangely, they also seem to turn away from the titular fantastic beasts. They definitely appear throughout, but their impact is limited to three different creatures, including a new one that looks like a Chinese dragon costume come to life. They return to the nifflers (platypus-type animals with a nose for shiny things) time and again as they are the only creatures that are easy enough to understand and ones whose skills prove useful to the plot.

     

    After two films, Scamander now seems to be too timid of a character on which to hang an entire series. Anything heroic he does appears to happen almost by accident, and it’s other characters like Tina, Dumbledore, or Newt’s brother, Theseus (Callum Turner), who provide inspiration when the time comes. Redmayne plays him well the way he’s written, but that doesn’t make him a great character.

     

    It’s unclear what Rowling and the other filmmakers are going for in this series, but it has yet to match the enchantment of the Harry Potter series. Rowling is a great writer on the page, but the Fantastic Beasts films have not proved her worth as a screenwriter.

    Eddie Redmayne and Callum Turner in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

    Eddie Redmayne and Callum Turner in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
      
    Photo by Jaap Buitendijk
    Eddie Redmayne and Callum Turner in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
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    Pickleball News

    Indoor pickleball concept from Georgia bounces into Frisco

    Raven Jordan
    Jul 7, 2025 | 7:06 pm
    Pickleball paddles
    Ace
    Pickleball paddles face off.

    There's a new indoor pickleball concept coming to Dallas: Called Ace Pickleball Club, it's a growing chain from Georgia, making its Texas debut in Frisco in an old BuyBuy Baby space at at 2930 Preston Rd. #600. According to a release, it opens July 12.

    Ace Pickleball was founded in Roswell, Georgia in 2023, and calls itself the only facility of its kind, delivering a member-focused approach and all-inclusive pricing.

    Professional-grade cushioned courts and a welcoming community create the optimal playing experience for all skill levels. The chain currently has 15 locations across the U.S. including Colorado, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

    They emphasize an inclusive community with unlimited open play, and offer clinics, tournaments, social events, and ball machine reservations. They also offer paddle demos so that members can test out the newest technology from a variety of brands to find their favorite.

    When they open, they'll offer free introductory pickleball clinics for beginners to go over the rules of the sport and feel more comfortable as they learn about the game.

     Ace Pickleball Club Ace Pickleball ClubAce Pickleball Club 

    Indoor facilities have an advantage in that they're impervious to weather so players can play year-round.

    The Frisco location is a nearly 33,000-square-foot facility with 11 full-size courts and one dinking court designed to welcome players of all skill levels. Memberships are $129 monthly with the first month free.

    Bringing the concept to Frisco is Juan Menchaca, a former corporate worker who is a pickleball player himself. When he and his wife relocated to the DFW area in May 2023, he brought with him a lifelong dream of opening a sports facility.

    Introduced to pickleball by his brother-in-law, who is now training to go pro in pickleball, Menchaca was instantly hooked by the game’s fast pace, simple rules, and strong sense of community.

    Opening a dedicated pickleball facility felt like the ideal first serve into the world of sports.

    “I saw the demand I knew Ace Pickleball Club was the right fit,” Menchaca says. “The model is perfect for all skill levels across the Frisco community. I’ve always wanted to create something people could rally around, and this not only provides that, but helps in bringing our community closer.”

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