“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” has fantastic special effects, fantastic casting and fantastic acting.

As for the storyline, not so fantastic.

“Fantastic Beats: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is a big disappointment and isn’t much better than the reboot, or Harry Potter prequel, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (2016). Fans of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, movies and theme parks who want to see “Fantastic Beasts” may want to do so in the 3D format, for which the movie was seen for this review. Beasts, swirling effects and objects appear to float before your eyes, zoom directly at you and whiz by your head.

Johnny Depp is a post-punk rock Grindelwald, resembling Billy Idol, with his straight-up shock of white hair, and David Bowie, with a declamatory stance and British accent. Depp glowers and grimaces to great success.

Eddie Redmayne is a nervous, twitchy, distracted Newt Scamander, with an angular, almost hunched-back posture, and off-kilter gait.

Katherine Waterston is a demure, if forthright, Tina Goldstein, a kind of sidekick to Newt Scamander, and presents the character she portrays as the most grounded of the lot.

Jude Law is impressive as Albus Dumbledore, with a logical look and an effective supportive if authoritative approach to the role.

Memorable in supporting roles are Zoë Kravitz (Leta Lestrange), Carmen Ejogo (Seraphina Picquery) and Ezra Miller (Credence Barebone).

If only these fine actors would have been given dialogue and plots lines that are compelling, and made some sense.

Essentially, as the title trumpets, “The Crimes of Grindelwald” is a crime-drama procedural, or should be. Alas, it is not.

David Yates, who directed “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (2016), and is scheduled to direct the next three “Fantastic Beasts” movies, is the keeper of the Harry Potter cinematic flame. Yates also directed “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011), “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (2010), “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009) and “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (2007).

The screenplay by J.K. Rowling might be of chief interest to Harry Potter fans, with its character and story background detail. However, the casual moviegoer will be aghast, confused and uninvolved.

The cinematography by Philippe Rousselot, director of photography, is gorgeous and impressive, combined, of course, with the special effects.

The music by James Newton Howard helps forward the emotions of the characters and the action scenes, which are numerous, too numerous.

“The Crimes of Grindelwald” needs more scenes where the characters interact and bond, allowing the moviegoer to enjoy their relationships, and it needs to be more fun. This is one grim, dark world or wizardry. The film goes off the rails on the way to Hogwarts, where briefly we see students flying off to the Quidditch stadium.

Perhaps the filmmakers were going for an older demographic, or trying to appeal to fans of the original Harry Potter book series and movies, who are now in their mid- to late-20s. Perhaps Harry Potter fans will find “The Crimes of Grindelwald” immensely appealing.

Perhaps.

However, this fan of the original Harry Potter books and movies series found “The Crimes of Grindelwald” to be ponderous, pontificating and predictable. “Fantastic Beasts” are sequels to be endured rather than enjoyed.

This reviewer wishes he could wave a magic wand and make the whole “Fantastic Beasts” series disappear. I’m just not all that interested in parsing the minutiae of what is now the Harry Potter Universe. Just give me good story and plot.

Alas, Harry Potter World has become a cinematic commercial juggernaut. The film’s conclusion sets up a cliffhanger for the announced “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” part three, set for 2020 release. Also planned are parts 4 and 5, set for release in 2022 and 2024.

The charm of the Harry Potter series had to do with the charm of the childhood imagination. In the “Fantastic Beasts” series, the actors look as if they’re doing Cosplay at a Comic Con convention.

That’s OK.

But it doesn’t make for fantastic cinema.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” MPAA rated PG13 for some sequences of fantasy action; Genre: Fantasy, Adventure; Run time: 2 hrs., 14 mins. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Unreel, Dec. 7:

“Mary Queen of Scots,” R: Josie Rourke directs Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden, and Joe Alwyn in the biography history drama. Mary Stuart tries to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England.

“Ben Is Back,” R: Peter Hedges directs Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B. Vance, and Kathryn Newton in the drama. A son who visits his family on Christmas Eve brings a Santa sackful of coal and trouble.

“Vox Lux,” R: Brady Corbet directs Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Christopher Abbott, and Willem Dafoe in the music drama about a fictional pop star’s success.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes