I'm not the biggest fan of James Bond. Despite being a franchise that has been around since the 1960s, I've hardly seen any of the movies. That being said, I do like most of the ones I've seen, and the era of this character that I have by far the most connection to is its most recent iteration, with Daniel Craig as 007. Casino Royale and Skyfall are both really effective and enjoyable action movies, Spectre is flawed but still solid overall, and Quantum of Solace also exists. So, with my enjoyment of most of these particular entries, I was of course keen to see where the character would be going next.
No Time to Die is generally regarded as the first major film to have it's release date postponed due to COVID, a choice which many of us thought was just a silly one-off at the time, but in the span of about two weeks became very commonplace and eventually an inevitability, with lockdown closing cinemas around the world for months. While most films that were pushed back at around the same time such as A Quiet Place Part II and Black Widow made their way to the screen earlier this year, this film has just been sitting on a shelf for all that time, despite many chances to release it arising. I began to get concerned that once it finally came out it would end up being a disappointment. With so much time spent pushing it back and thus building up the expectation that it's something worth waiting for, even if it was a perfectly solid movie, that might not have been good enough. So, now that it's finally here, the big question is, was it worth it?
In the film, James Bond has been peacefully living life after leaving active service at MI6. But, he is called back into action when a new sinister plot begins to unfold and threatens the safety of those he cares about among many others. That's really all that needs to be said in terms of plot. If you're worried about things being spoiled then I'd advise to not read on and just wait until you've seen the film, because even though I won't be going into spoilers with my thoughts on the film, some of what I say could still ruin your experience as my vague comments can still largely suggest specific details that you're better off not knowing going into the film.
After the whole ordeal that was getting this film to the screen, not only with COVID but also after the directorial shift during production, it's a massive relief that it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable watch. I never got the sense that what I was watching was a hodgepodge, which films that go through this sort of production difficulties often do. It has a lot of the things that the best films during Daniel Craig's time as 007 have had.
Firstly, the action is very well done. The sequence near the start in particular (which a lot of has been shown in the trailer) was very exciting, with Bond swinging from bridges, zipping around on a motorbike, and then driving around in his car with guns that come out of the headlights, it's all jolly good. There's also a well crafted shoot out in Cuba, a nerve-racking encounter at sea, a tense chase through a forest, and plenty more that makes this film very enjoyable from an action standpoint. I was lucky enough to see this film in IMAX (as I've recently moved to university and have an IMAX cinema just down the road!) and that certainly enhanced a lot of these sequences, especially because some were actually shot with 70mm cameras. It's great to see more filmmakers beyond people like Christopher Nolan and J.J. Abrams using this in their films, as I do think it is highly effective.
The performances are all very strong too. Daniel Craig continues to be terrific as James Bond. I was a little worried that, after his very vocal reluctance to return to the role after Spectre, his performance would visibly convey his waning enthusiasm. However, I needn't have worried, as he's still the charming, suave, and charismatic character that he always was. I can't say if I think he's the best Bond, as I'm quite unfamiliar with all the other versions, but I can safely say that he played this character in a way that kept me engaged. I really think that it will be difficult to replace him if the series is to proceed. Aside from him, everyone else in the cast was great, whether it be the usuals like Ralph Fiennes, Jeffrey Wright, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris, or newcomers like Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, and Ana de Armas.
In terms of the theme song, I think it's one of the best. I'm not a huge fan of Billie Eilish but I thought she did an excellent job with this Bond theme. My favourite one is probably still that of Casino Royale, but I'd say this is a close second. Also on the topic of music, Hans Zimmer's score was really awesome; not his most memorable work but still very effective.
There are a few problems with the movie but nothing major; most of them revolve around narrative and pace to some extent.
I wasn't so keen on the villain overall. Rami Malek is expectedly brilliant in the role, but I thought his plan seemed a little generic and too over-the-top. The antagonists in Daniel Craig's Bond movies like Le Chiffre and Silva weren't just well acted and entertaining but had motivations that felt a lot more down to earth, which tonally alligns with the serious nature of the films. While Safin's plan isn't inherently bonkers and is decently implemented through some personal connections to Bond, it still seemed very plain and somewhat ill-fitting. Incidentally, while watching the film and learning of Safin's evil plan, I couldn't help but feel like the possibility of poor box office results wasn't the only reason why the movie was delayed... you'll understand what I mean if you've seen the film.
Despite this being the last film for Daniel Craig as Bond, it didn't entirely feel like much of a finale. The stakes are higher than usual and the way it ends definitely gives a sense of closure, but for the most part, I don't know what it is, but I just didn't feel like this was the final mission or anything. The best conclusions of franchises, such as Return of the King or Avengers: Endgame, manage to successfully have a certain atmosphere that makes the audience aware that this is the final stretch beyond the awareness that it is going into the film, and I don't think No Time to Die had that, as most of the shenanigans throughout were reminiscent of any other Bond film.
Also, I think the ending was kind of rushed; the consequences of what ends up happening didn't seem to be fully explored or emphasised. Again, the best conclusions really let the impact of what happens in the end sink in, which this didn't. Of course, the movie already has a hefty runtime that's just twenty or so minutes short of three hours, but it rarely felt like it was dragging for me a lot of the time, so expanding on the ending would've probably been fine.
With all this being said, I thought the ending in and of itself was terrific. I can't say it was the most unexpected way to go, but that's not to say I was waiting for it to happen; it still struck me as a really bold choice, and a very fitting one too. The film caps off on a vastly satisfying note, though I definitely think a little more time spent fully coming to terms with where it ends up would've improved it. There's also a wonderful quote referenced near the ending. I won't say what it is as that'd definitely give away what happens, but you'll know it when it comes up, and I thought it was beautiful. My vague comments have almost certainly alluded to what happens in the end even if I haven't clarified it, so apologies if this did indirectly ruin the movie for you!
As a whole, No Time to Die wasn't anything groundbreaking, but I certainly think it was worth waiting the extra eighteen months or so for it to arrive. It has all the exhilarating action and charming characters you've come to expect, and goes to places that you perhaps wouldn't expect, wrapping up this iteration of the character in a way that's highly satisfying, if not as well fleshed out as it could've been. It rather snugly finds it's place right down the middle of Craig's run as 007, not quite reaching the highs of Casino Royale and Skyfall, but being a fair amount better than Spectre and way better than Quantum of Solace. In hindsight, I'm actually glad the release of this film was held off for as long as it was; because squeezing it in as soon as possible instead of waiting for the right time could've easily robbed it of its dramatic weight. Defintely give it a watch if you're a Bond fan, I doubt you'll come out disappointed.
I'm going to give No Time to Die an 8.0/10
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