No Time To Die

UK Release Date: 30 September 2021

Certification: 12A

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

Cast: Ana De Armas, Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Lashana Lynch, Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright

Rating: 84% 

The name's Bond. James Bond.

Review: 

No Time to Die is the final instalment of Daniel Craig's James Bond. It was the first movie to see major postponements due to the pandemic but it was worth the wait. The movie is not only it's own unique story but it's a brilliant sendoff to his portrayal of the iconic character. 

Daniel Craig is brilliant on his final outing as James Bond. At times his age maybe spills through as he's not getting any younger but he does a great job. He can act emotively, he pulls off the cheesier lines and when an eventual new Bond is chosen they will have big shoes to fill. Although, No Time to Die is as much Madeleine's film as it is Bond's. I didn't enjoy Léa Seydoux in Spectre, or the movie in general, but her performance is so captivating. She portrays a sense of distrust, conflict but also love. Ralph Fiennes, Ben Wishaw and Jeffrey Wright are terrific as returning cast members and Lashana Lynch adds something new to the franchise. My genuine biggest complaint of the movie is that Ana De Armas isn't in No Time to Die for longer. Daniel Craig requested for her to be cast as Paloma after working together on Knives Out and she just bleeds fun throughout her limited screen time. I would love to see her return as Paloma but I don't know how likely that is to happen. 

[Spoiler] However, I hated Rami Malek's villain, Lyutsifer Safin. No disrespect to Malek as I love him in Bohemian Rhapsody which is part of the problem. I can't not see him as Freddie Mercury. In No Time to Die he was never menacing, never felt threatening and in all honesty I'm utterly embarrassed that he was essentially the man who killed James Bond. 

As expected in a James Bond film the action is up to standard. The gun combat is spot on and the CGI was excellent. The chase scenes are the real standouts though with everyone being shot to perfection - slowly escalating to a satisfying conclusion. 

Hans Zimmer on a James Bond soundtrack is exactly what Hans Zimmer on James Bond would sound like. He has fun whilst composing No Time To Die. 'The Final Ascent' is particularly impressive. The combination of violin and piano is beautiful and Zimmer somehow feels like the main character during Daniel Craig's sendoff. It's a monumental score and if he doesn't win the Oscar for No Time To Die then he'll most definitely win it for Dune. 'Cuba Chase' is also one of my favourite pieces. Billie Eilish's Bond song is great even if it's nowhere near Adele's 'Skyfall'. 

This is my second time watching No Time to Die and I felt that it dragged a little on rewatch - It just feels a little bit longer than it needs to be - and that meant my attention was lost for a wee while. But apart from that I believe No Time to Die will become an action classic that is one of the best of the James Bond franchise.