Synopsis:
In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
It’s a daunting task to take over a mantle that was once held by beloved individuals that eventually became legends. Just imagine what it’s like to be Chadwick Boseman’s predecessor as Black Panther or the QB after Tom Brady, those are huge shoes to fill. However, if you attack the new position and responsibility with genuineness and authenticity instead of attempting to emulate who came became before you, people will warm up to you. Putting your own spin on a new role is what makes the mantle so special, it adds to the importance of the legacy. If you do it right, the role is yours forever in the eyes of the people.
“Goodbye, James.”
If we have to say goodbye to an actor playing a specific role that we love them in, this film is the way to do it. No Time to Die is the perfect sendoff for Daniel Craig as James Bond but also results in an uncertain future for the franchise. With an ending more resolute than ever, the film hosts a post-credit scene that presents more questions than answers. Nevertheless, this film is visually stunning and aesthetically pleasing, and why it should be seen in theaters. From start to finish, whether it’s a city by the water, a house in seclusion, or bullets and explosions, the cinematography is masterfully done. Having listened to the film’s theme song a year ago sung by Billie Eilish, I was concerned about how it would fit within the film. Well, all my worries melted away as I was hypnotized by the title sequence that the song accompanied. No Time to Die couldn’t have been a more perfect title for the 25th entry in the Bond series because as time passes, you begin to realize how much you don’t want this to be Daniel Craig’s last outing as the secret agent.
Craig delivers us James Bond like we’ve never seen him, this time he’s not just fighting for his country or to save the world, he’s fighting for love. He definitely saved his best performance for last as did the writers with this script. As expected, this outing is action-packed and full of thrills. It introduces some faces that we may see going forward and ties up loose ends from previous films. Even the most nonchalant 007 fans will find themselves deeply engrossed and on the edge of their seat. With multiple farewells scattered throughout the runtime, the film pays its respects to perhaps our greatest James Bond as he rounds third and heads home for the last time. The film has heart, more emotion than expected, and multiple diabolical villains one of whom possesses the perfect weapon. Besides the film running a tad long, there is plenty to enjoy. Whether it’s the car chases and firefights, beautiful kickass women, the unseen subterfuge, or the Hans Zimmer composition that binds it all together, there’s not a dull moment in sight. I enjoyed this film a great deal and it is definitely worth the price of admission. Its rewatchability is high.
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Pacing & Pop
The pacing of this film is very solid once it gets going. It’s a bit slow at first but once the first explosion happens, the film becomes increasingly engrossing. What popped for me was Daniel Craig’s performance. He made sure that his last Bond performance would be one to remember.
Characters & Chemistry
This cast is amazing. Daniel Craig delivers a Bond performance that solidifies him as the best 007 that we’ve seen. As well as being a badass, he is emotional, gentle, and vulnerable. He offers up the one thing that can get him killed, his trust. Rami Malek as Safin is a fantastic and haunting villain. Coupled with Christoph Waltz’s Blofeld, the task at hand is very large and the chemistry with everyone is palpable. However, no chemistry is better than the chemistry with Léa Seydoux as Madeleine. The moments they have and the love they share makes everything that happens that much more intense and high-stakes. Lashana Lynch and Ana De Armas are pleasant additions as Nomi and Paloma, respectively. I hope we see more of them in the future.
No Time to Die is playing only in theaters as of October 8, 2021. Stay safe and enjoy.
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Producers: Michael G. Wilson, p.g.a., Barbara Broccoli, p.g.a.
Executive Producers: Chris Brigham
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Score: Steve Mazzaro
Runtime: 2h 43m
Rated: PG-13
Rating: 4 out of 5
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
