Review of the film “No Time to Die”
“No Time to Die” has been the canary in the coal mine for the epidemic of movie viewing for nearly two years. The release date of the 25th James Bond film was the first to be pushed back in response to the growing threat posed by COVID-19. Furthermore, it was the first film to relocate its release date ahead of everyone else for the next 18 months. MGM has never given in to a streaming service or a day-and-date premium rental release, therefore the company has remained consistent. As the epidemic has waned, the experience of going to the theater has begun to return in earnest. “No Time to Die,” on the other hand, continues to serve as a sort of gatekeeper, signifying that films have been formally returned. Regardless of whether or not that is accurate, MGM has determined that they will not wait any longer, considering that we are still dealing with a variety of surges and swings.
Because of the delays, “Spectre,” Daniel Craig’s fourth Bond picture, has been out for more than six years. Because of the uncertainty, we didn’t know if he’d return for a fifth film for quite some time. The introduction of a more direct continuity of characters and plotlines in Daniel Craig’s films has transformed Bond from a collection of discrete flicks starring the same actor into a more continuous serialized experience. This is arguably the most significant shift brought about by the Craig films. When you combine that approach with the understanding that this is Craig’s final picture, the events unfold with a little more tension. Bond and Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) live happily ever after until their pasts, Bond’s in the form of Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) and Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christopher Waltz), and hers in the form of the sinister Lucifer Safin (Rami Malek), force them to confront the inherent distrust of the spy game. Indeed, it strongly relies on the foundation established by “Spectre.” Bond’s final battle takes on a much more existential tone after Safin gains access to a bio virus that poses a threat to the entire world.
In general, the Daniel Craig films offer a more realistic vision of the world, with less emphasis on odd technology from the past and the ridiculous schemes of insane villains residing on remote island strongholds. This is one of the features that sets them apart from other James Bond films. The purpose of “No Time to Die” is to reconnect the present and the past. This is accomplished by blending darker current films with some old-school franchise fluff seen in the present day. Bionic eyeballs, EMP-emitting watches, and Aston Martins outfitted with a million switches that shoot caltrops, smoke, and weapons all over the place may easily turn off the many people who have become fans of James Bond for the first time thanks to this new take on the character. Given how many people have become Bond fans for the first time as a result of this new perspective on the character, this is a difficult path to take. Craig is thus the most important character in the film, as he carries the weight of his previous four films into a more heightened environment in order to achieve a balance between the two.
Ana de Armas is a new Cuban CIA agent with a lot of skill and an attire that exposes an almost ridiculous amount of skin for the type of fighting she’s expected to do. Ana de Armas’ selection as the newest Bond girl has attracted a lot of attention, both for her rising profile in the industry and for her reunion with her “Knives Out” costar Craig. She is exceptional in this regard. She disappears after around 10 minutes of screen time in this 163-minute epic, which adds to the confusion. Her scene, in which she discovers a Russian scientist in the middle of a Spectre-hosted birthday party for Blofeld, is the film’s most exciting and engrossing (apart from perhaps the cold open), making her exit after about 10 minutes of screen time all the more strange.
Although Bond and Madeleine’s relationship is the main focus of the plot, it is the smaller supporting cast members, such as de Armas and Lashana Lynch’s character at MI-6, that bring the most flavor and excitement to the action. They serve to compensate for the film’s few flaws, one of which is the antagonist. Malek has a unique voice and an exceedingly angular face, both of which suit the role of a Bond villain. He also combines a traditional over-the-top villain from yesteryear with something more contemporary. However, despite the fact that Malek is plainly better suited for something like this than a lead part, it does not always work.
The film “No Time to Die” has a substantial amount of risk.
Fans of “Casino Royale” or “Skyfall” may be turned off by the decision to embrace old Bond’s fun and gadgets. Lifelong Bond fans, on the other hand, may be equally dissatisfied with the manner in which they opted to end Craig’s stint. However, Craig has given the role of James Bond a distinct taste, and with that in mind, “No Time to Die” is impossible to criticize. The decision to make his final appearance bridge the gap between traditional and modern is unquestionably dangerous. Even if it appears implausible, mad “Metal Gear Solid” stories and the climax of Craig’s Bond might all take place in the same location. Fortunately, there is enough room for both.
The film “No Time to Die” deserves the most credit for putting me at ease while watching it. I am the type of person who finds the increasing length of movies to be more trouble than they are worth, yet the duration of this film did not feel stressful to me, nor did I feel like it dragged through the water or spent too much time on unneeded or uninteresting stories. The dangers are well worth taking. Linus Sandgren collaborates with director Cary Joji Fukunaga to make full use of practical effects and on-set locations to create a film that looks far better than the typical CGI-drenched, color-corrected-to-hell blockbuster, and composer Hans Zimmer has a lot of fun playing with the classic themes in the score. Calling “No Time to Die” and the Bond franchise in general “old school” or “nostalgic” is an oversimplification, but watching the film brings back a different kind of atmosphere. It’s a breath of fresh air amid a sea of superheroes, and the wait was well worth it in this case.
Source: YLO First Productions Cape Town