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I’m gonna need time to come to terms with the ending. I know I don’t hate it. But I definitely shed tears. And it was certainly reassuring to see “JAMES BOND WILL RETURN” at the very end.
Overall, I really enjoyed the film. Solid 8-8.5/10.
I rate NTTD very highly. I do believe that Daniel is the only actor who could have done this ending. If having Bond die a fitting death was to be told, Daniel Craig is the one to do that justice. I actually sensed that early on, with QOS, but I dismissed it.
This ending fits Craig's Bond, and he did the role proud all the way through NTTD. As a viewer and lifelong fan, it hurts immensely to see this Bond have this particular final journey - but they gave him a noble death. They gave a fitting end for a great actor who poured every bit of himself into this role, especially in CR and NTTD.
The final scenes are not over the top, not cheesy. The script is succinct and very realistic. I mean all the interaction between Bond and Madeleine and Q throughout the last part of the movie. It is simply heart-wrenchingly real.
As I mentioned elsewhere, this Bond died as he lived - protecting his country, protecting his family. For EON to allow this particular actor to do this is a gift that is ultimately rewarding, finishing this story arc and giving Bond a heroic, selfless death. It is done right, in my opinion. Incredibly moving.
NTTD will stay with split opinions among fans around the world, but I am very glad this story was told this way. It is meaningful. I don't have any negative feelings towards fans who disagree with me. How we feel is valid for each of us. I do hope that more could enjoy it over time, even if initially put off by his death.
NTTD is such an outstanding Bond film. It is beautifully directed, gorgeously filmed. It positively glows with truly superb action scenes, and stellar acting across the board. Especially Daniel Craig.
The future of Bond films is wide open. Everything feels fresh, things tied up correctly. We will have much to discuss and enjoy as the next Bond actor and Bond movie come into our sights. For now, I will continue to savor this one.
Did anyone else noticed how quick Bond's memorial service at MI6 was? A few words, a toast and then right back to work? A wonderful touch of Flemingian cynicism.
Either the Skyfall ending or SP ending would be much better than dying. Now every time I watch a Craig Bond film, it is going to enter my mind. I never could rationalize Bond getting close to any woman again after Vesper, hence him going back to his mindset toward relationships pre-Vesper. When I reflect on it, I guess I’m just not a fan of the whole Madeline-Bond relationship. I remember hearing that Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig didn’t get along well in SP...anyone else know about this? Don’t mean to go on a SP rant, but it really did overreach, as many have said-too many relationship/family entanglements. To me, Bond films work best when the focus is on Bond.
I guess first and foremost I want to backtrack the negativity I put out about Bond’s death. Both the way the film handled it and the fact that the concept was in Ian Fleming’s mind and somewhat used with FRWL is good enough for me to not feel it as disrespectful. They certainly went all in on closing the chapter on Craig, and I’m ok with it.
Daniel’s performance was extraordinary. The best he’s been since CR, maybe even better. He got so much to do this movie - genuinely funny, angry, hurt, intense, and everything in between. He himself is the big highlight - his legacy as an excellent Bond is more than secured in my mind.
Lyutsifer Safin is an EXCELLENT villain. I will happily diverge from the masses on this one thinking he wasn’t that great. Malek’s performance was super good. He is the creepiest and maybe most evil villain of the series, from his gross romantic views of Madeleine to his unspeakably ruthless plot.
Madeleine is 10000x better used here than in SP. Seydoux did excellent. Still would not put her above Tracy and Vesper, but she and the writers convinced me far more about her and her love with Bond here.
Paloma and Nomi? Great characters, particularly the former. So quirky, funny, and beautiful. The whole “007” thing I thought was handled nicely, with some good comedy and also respect when Nomi wants to give it back. Nomi was very good - definitely liked her more than I thought I would.
The MI6 regulars are in top form. There was some real literary Fleming stuff between M and Bond I thought, and Fiennes had his best turn yet in the role. Q, Moneypenny very good. Tanner is still Tanner, which is meh for me, but nothing terrible.
Blofeld’s scene is far better here than anything he got in SP. “Die, Blofeld, die!” Was one of my favorite parts of the whole thing. They lifted from the YOLT novel wonderfully many times, with Bond’s child, a tragic ending, a poison garden (though I do wish it had been called “garden of death”), and Blofeld being strangled by Bond. Golden.
The way the SPECTRE organization was handled is a bit of a letdown, but I get why it happened how it did. They wanted all loose ends tied up before Craig was out, even though it felt rushed. The biggest shortcoming of the Craig era is how SPECTRE was used.
The action was marvelous, some of the best of the whole series easily. The PTS was god tier. The forest scene eerie and fun (epic FYEO callback with the car and Logan), the Cuba setpiece sublime, and all the finale stuff well done. Soundtrack top notch as I already knew ahead of time, and worked great in the film. Still a fan of Eilish’s title song, my third favorite of Craig’s behind YKMN and SF.
The direction was awesome - big props to Fukunaga, a very inspired choice. The writing felt like a significant step up from SP (really, everything did for me). Title sequence was good, locations were good, cast was terrific…
Overall, I’m highly satisfied. My misgivings were given too soon, and I’d encourage everyone like me who worried about certain elements to give it a chance first. It’s wrestling with QOS right now as my third favorite Craig film, which means it’s wrestling to be either just inside or outside my Top 10 overall. A sterling sendoff for one of the very best Bonds!
Thanks for the review. Good input. I love QOS. It’s my second favorite Bond movie, and any movie period. Theme song is so cool-not for everyone, but I really enjoy it.
I've come around to this after my third viewing. "I shall use my time" may be Rami Malek's motto too, because he really does a lot with his limited screen time. Every choice he made was compelling.
To me, Daniel Craig's era is a separate entity, altogether. The films up to his reboot are a completely different series. That being said, I've come to accept that this is not the Bond with whom I've grown. It is neither the era for the Bond that I so fondly cherish. 'No Time To Die' is a fitting entry for the "Craig saga" and I hope that most will agree.
My overall impression is that as a shell, it's a lovely looking piece. The locations and camerawork is stunning. Unfortunately, I'm a sucker for a tightly written screenplay. Yes, yes, I know that neither Ian Fleming's novels, nor the films, have ever been Shakespeare. They were never meant to be Shakespeare; however, it's important to lead the viewer with conviction and authority, and along the way, the story isn't delivered smoothly. It's sadly a direct sequel to 'SPECTRE,' a film that was so poorly written, that this film needs to exist to justify the shoddiness of its predecessor. There are a lot of "Bond elements" in 'No Time To Die', but the heart that's required to make those elements work, is barely present.
Daniel Craig's crack at this character was apparently contingent upon Bond's total restructuring. He wanted to build him up from scratch, and eventually bring him back to the Bond from the days of yore, but it doesn't work for his iteration of the character. You just have to remember, that when the film ends, neither this actor nor this film are responsible for cementing Bond's place in celluloid history. It's a different Bond!
I was neither impressed nor disappointed with 'No Time To Die.' It just reinforced my longing for the good ole quips, the sexiness, the standalone missions and so on. The film is the longest running Bond film, at 2hrs. and 45 mins., yet it goes by quickly as it feels like a long collection of fragments that are never fully developed. You don't even get a scene with Bond sharing a meal with the villain, as the evildoer reveals his plan for world domination.
It wasn't a waste seeing this film, especially on the big screen, but it'll never be on my radar with the likes of the classics...
I would have liked a tribute, but beggars can’t be choosers.
No problem, and thank you. There’s tons to talk about with this one. QOS is quite the underappreciated gem I must say. I do hope you end up liking NTTD more when you see it, I know it did better for me than I thought.
Oops, meant diverge haha time for bed! He was one of my most anticipated parts of the film and delivered fully for me. Safin is beyond damaged and screwed up, and is compelling to me in every moment. So glad to have him in the collection of great Bond baddies.
I loved it.
My fist thoughts, at random:
Plot, pacing, cinematography, art direction, performances, score...all great.
I can't think of many flaws except that Safin's character and motivation are underdeveloped, but that is kind of in line with much of the series. So I bought into it.
This film pulls us to and fro, through so many different emotions, across locales, that it feels like a damn mini-series. And that is not a bad thing.
This was Craig's tour de force. And I get a sense, as with Ledger and Phoenix playing Joker, the Academy might be inclined to hand a golden statue for this powerful performance of one of the greatest film characters of all time. Malek is already pushing this.
And about that ending...it worked, perfectly. I could go into all of the lines that foretell the ending and how it works thematically, but to me it comes down to one scene: the Norway chase. This is the first Bond film that places a child in harm's way...and this child actually experiences trauma that no child should have to go through. It was difficult for me to watch that young of a child being placed in Bond's universe, and from that standpoint, it makes perfect sense that he would sacrifice himself not just for the betterment of society but for the betterment of this child. The film explores childhood trauma that stems from parents who are spies, and it makes sense that Bond has no intent to place Mathilde in that situation. We want that child safe; this ending allows that to happen.
Also, the film provides a twist on OHMSS. In that film, of course, Bond is met with tragedy and I sense that Bond would have given anything to trade places with Tracy. Here, thematically, that type of ending does a 180. And it's why WHATTITW works for me.
My great fear was that the ending would cast a shadow over the previous four films. Turns out, it doesn't. While the films follow a narrative arc, they are all such different experiences. It really is a unique set of films, from that standpoint. There is much continuity in characters and storylines, but these movies are so tonally and structurally different, that they all still work as individual films.
Going again Friday. Can't wait.
I think he has a chance, but I’m not getting my hopes up. Still, the Oscars have shown they’re not above awarding/nominating actors in genre films.
They've given Oscars to two (!) Joker performances, so I think it could happen.
And they do like giving Oscars to people or films that kind of represent a body of work. I think Craig has a chance.
Yeah that gives him an edge.
I’m still surprised by how he stepped up with this performance. Perhaps given it was his last film he really wanted to swing for the fences.
I think he's been great every single time, but yeah, he really surprised me in this one. He added so much to Bond that we've never seen, without, in my view, taking anything away from it. Really stunning performance.
Nope. I don't think so.
Craig is fantastic in NTTD, but there will be at least 5 more Oscar-worthy-peformances around. And after giving it to Anthony Hopkins this year, I think there will be an urge to not celebrate an "old-white-man" again.
It will be Will Smith and Co as predicted here:
https://variety.com/feature/2022-oscars-best-actor-predictions-1235020941/
I have my reservations concerning the overly sentimental way they handled the scene, but this makes perfect sense. Thanks for that insightful comment, I might appreciate it more now on a second viewing.
Personally I care more about Venice, Berlin and, to a lesser extent, Cannes. Still not in a way that I’d feel upset about it though, but at least they look at cinema as a global phenomenon.
Ha! Interesting take on it.
As a female viewer as well, I completely agree. The allegations about 'wokeness' are a paper tiger: you'd have to be really knuckle-dragging to consider this an excessively PC film.
When missiles reign down on humans, they are incinerated in a ball of flame. So yes, your eyesight must be getting worse.
Yes. 100 percent agree. The film is perversely ironic.
The title makes no sense or is intentionally ironic. No Time To Die but er.... Bond clearly has the time to die. Nice pi*s taking title, Eon!
Barbara Broccoli says the film is a great way for people to come together to get over the coronavirus pandemic then gives the world a film where the most enduring and beloved action film hero of the 20th and 21st century dies. "Hey covid was depressing so let's continue the depressing vibe in no Time To Die. Enjoy!"
Is that more irony from Mrs B? Yep.
Not to mention the irony of many fans saying NTTD is a fitting way to end Craig's tenure. On my life I've read and heard reviews on YouTube and elsewhere refer to Bond dying as "fitting, a great way to end Craig's time in the role." So people think the hero of five films should get wiped out and that's great! What a cool thing to do!
Riiiiiiiiight.🙄
It's like a weird Bond nightmare. A glitch in the Matrix, perhaps.😉
She was right. Everyone at my IMAX enjoyed this flick.
Have to say the word of mouth on social media from the man in the street seems to be overwhelmingly positive so hey, what do we know
The early review stateside are mainly positive, bumping the Rotten Tomatoes percentage up a few points to 84% and the box office is stellar.
Here in the uk my local cinema at the weekend is doing great business
I might be pissing in the wind trying to like something I fundamentally disagree with, but at least it secures the franchise for at least the short term future.