Bond is back with a vengeance. Daniel Craig takes on the assignment again in a film that is a fitting finale for the actor. He invests the role of emotion, strength and style.
Not only does No Time to Die mark a milestone as the 25th film in the series, it is also not afraid to take a few twists, turns and, yes, risks in a long-delayed conversation in which James Bond is not just looking for it is to save the world evil forces again, but maybe, in the midst of a pandemic, the theater exhibition business itself.
It’s been six long years since we saw Agent 007 on the big screen. In Specter from 2015, Bond had last driven off in his Aston Martin DB5 in Italy with the new love Madeleine Swann.
Since then, the world has outlived the Trump presidency, if not Trump himself, and the two immortal bonds – Roger Moore and Sean Connery – that mark the end of two distinct eras of the nearly 60-year-old Bond legacy.
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The world premiere of « No Time to Die » kicks off in London for the long-awaited James Bond film
And now, after a pandemic-related release delay of a total of one and a half years, another Bond era is coming to an end. No Time to Die marks Craig’s fifth and final round as Ian Fleming’s gracious and steadfast secret agent. In a hugely successful 15 year run, Craig put the series on its most serious and human ride, a particularly emotional roller coaster ride for the normally steadfast spy we first met in 1962 when Connery in Dr. No all of that and makes you want more, but if you – as all Bond fans know you should – wait for the very last picture on the screen, four special words give us the promise that more is to come. </ However, when you get there, the ringtone will guide you through it. With Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Specter, there were common themes in the Craig 007 era, specifically trust, betrayal, secrets, lies, and a clear connection or line between all of these films. In other words, Craig's arch isn't just the usual prior pattern of stand-alone stories. And let me assure you, this is defiantly not a stand-alone seat, even if it means Craig has left the building.
No Time to Die – which has the longest running time of any previous 24 films at 2 hours and 43 minutes – also brings us back to Bond’s relationship with Madeleine, again played by Lea Seydoux. Her reappearance marks the first time a Bond love interest has actually returned, believe it or not.
How all of this will be received remains to be seen as this is perhaps the most unique and unsafe environment in which a Bond film has ever released. The importance of the legendary British character is undeniable in his homeland, as evidenced by the fact that on Tuesday night no fewer than two future Kings of England attended the royal premiere in London.
That this longest running franchise in The history of film is still successful is a miracle in itself, but after seeing the latest edition which was simultaneously shown to critics in 20 countries around the world (a studio manager sits behind me today at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood said , they all had a code, “The Lion Is Roaring”, to give the go-ahead for the film). more complex than ever and ushered him firmly into a new century.
With the deaths of Connery and Moore, there is another kind of deep loss we may feel as Craigs Bond makes his way to exit and the series ventures into brand new territory with an as-yet-unknown choice of one of the most iconic Screen characters of all time. This review will be as spoiler-free as possible, because No Time to Die deserves to be seen with new eyes. And as Craig said in a taped video at the beginning of the film, it should be seen on the largest possible screen because that’s where it was made to be seen.
Interestingly, this is the first 007 film to feature an American named Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective) directed steering the course of the 25th. Fukunaga does an excellent job of managing the action, a compelling love story as well as a hat to tradition and the time-honored moments we love in Bond films. </ p In terms of storytelling, Fukunaga worked with Bond film veterans Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, all of whom wrote Craig Bonds – they've been on the bat a total of seven times. And with their recent successes, the Fleabag and Killing Eve team invited Phoebe Waller Bridge to add their own unique touch, a welcome female voice in the process that has an on-screen impact.
As I said, this movie is about to start where the last one left off when we reunited with Bond and Madeleine in the mountain town of Matera in southern Italy. Just before we get there, we see a terrifying flashback with Madeleine as a young girl, the meaning of which becomes clear later in the picture.
As usual, the idyllic moments that Bond and his love share soon take a turn and diabolical forces put 007 in danger as an exhilarating motorcycle chase turns into an Aston Martin chase and questions of trust come into play. Soon Bond puts Madeleine on a train never to see her again. Roll opening credits that come to the 25 minute point.
Cut to five years later, and there is a kind of kidnapping in a London laboratory involving a Russian scientist who has material that others clearly want.
Bond has finally withdrawn, leave the service and live la vida loca in his beloved Jamaica. (It’s a perfect choice for Craig’s last affair as Bod, as the location was also memorably used in Connery’s first film, Dr. No, as well as Moore’s first 1973 Live and Let Die, and was where Feling wrote all of the novels) . But as you can imagine, his happiness is short-lived.
CIA agent and long-time buddy Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) shows up and pulls Bond back into action, as with Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part III. The super spy travels to Cuba to save the scientist, but the mission is more complicated than he initially thought. And obviously there’s a new villain stirring the pot.
Safin, played by Rami Malek, has been intrigued by his own experiences with Madeleine, a plot tool that adds a level or two to the normal relationship Bond has with his villains. There’s also more Seydoux to play with than many of the series’ leading actresses have ever gotten to, though no one will forget the late Casino Royale’s Vesper Lynde, especially Bond. And don’t worry, his seemingly immortal archenemy Blofeld is back. Christoph Waltz (last seen behind bars) uses his wits and conspicuous talents to cause trouble out of prison. It’s always fun to have this guy with you.
« No Time to Die » wants to combine with $ 90 million at the early international box office – preview
Ralph Fiennes has something among the familiar faces more to do than M (although I still miss Dame Judi Dench a lot in the role – at least a short painting of her can be seen). Naomie Harris continues to skillfully play his right-hand man, Moneypenny, with a little more urgency than normal and important, as women in No Time to Die are more than eye candy. You can also put Nomi of the new actor Lashana Lynch in this category.
Lynch plays the rabid and much younger M16 agent Bond meets for the first time in Jamaica. And she’s a lot of fun to have, especially when she reveals that she’s adopted the nickname 007 since Bond retired.
Ben Whishaw’s Gadget Type Q is back and we get to know him – and his hairless cat – on his home lawn for a change.
Back as Tanner in his fourth Bond film is Rory Kinnear, who offers the necessary support in his mostly brief moments on the screen.
Among other new actors is Dali Bennsalah’s deadly Primo, Safin’s henchman The group’s odd job. Ana De Armas meets her Knives-Out co-star Craig as Paloma, a spirited CIA agent he meets in Cuba. Billy Magnusson shows up as Logan Ash escorting Leader to Jamaica, a guy who plays it by the rules, or so it seems. David Dencik is the Russian scientist Valdo. And of course, the stars of any Bond film include the widely dispersed locations, this time including the aforementioned Jamaica, Norway, Italy and London.
Fukunaga stages some fine car chases, explosions, stunts and a big one on Safin’s remote island fortress. One-hour finale, but the people here, their conflicts and complications and complexities are just as important as the rapid thrill.
Hans Zimmer gets his first attempt to compose a Bondian musical score, and John Barry has to take on the nifty homage his work of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service from beyond smile. His memorable song, sung by Louis Armstrong, fits this story well.
The theme song here, another must-have « star » of any Bond movie, is « No Time to Die, » sung by Billie Eilish, but you knew that because she and her brother and co-writer Finneas played it promoted with a music video for over a year when they thought the film would come out. It’s really haunting, and Eilish has the perfect voice for a Bond movie voice.
The movie’s big global rollout begins on Thursday when it launches in the UK. It will make its debut in the US on October 8th (finally!) Through MGM and UAR. Of course, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson produced.
For this Bond fan, No Time to Die has a special place in the canon. See it in a theater.
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