The Crimes of Grindelwald gets mixed reviews

The latest Fantastic Beasts film The Crimes of Grindelwald has earned mixed reviews from critics.

It has a number of three-star reviews with suggestions that the plot is "overburdened" with details and preparing for future adventures.

There is praise for the "vibrantly drawn" characters and Jude Law is highlighted for his performance as young Dumbledore.

Many agree JK Rowling's imagination is "as awe-inspiring as ever."

The second of five planned Fantastic Beasts films by JK Rowling also earns praise for its special effects.

Caryn James in the Hollywood Reporter called it a "vibrant, engaging improvement" on the first Fantastic Beasts film.

"The sequel has better and at times galvanising special effects, a darker tone and a high-stakes battle between good and evil.

"Best of all, its characters are more vibrantly drawn, and tangled in relationships that range from delightful to lethal."

But she said the film has some "serious liabilities, the gravest being a misbegotten performance by Johnny Depp as the villain of the title".