MARCUS CHEONG watches the 25th film in the James Bond franchise (and Daniel Craig’s last)…
No Time To Die (AU-M/UK-12A/US-PG13)
In A Word: Conclusive
Daniel Craig stars as 007 for the last time in No Time To Die.
In 2006 Daniel Craig reinvented 007 with a gritty, brutal and more realistic James Bond. Five films and 15 years later, the story arc of Craig’s Bond comes to a conclusion in No Time to Die.
“In No Time to Die, we witness a more vulnerable James Bond who experiences real love, friendships, rivalries and regrets. He is no longer just an action icon performing outrageous stunts but a more human character with genuine feelings.”
Following the events of Spectre in 2015, Bond has found love with Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux). Their romance is cut short by assassins and the pair are separated, seemingly forever. Five years later, Bond is in retirement and a new agent has inherited the number 007. But when a deadly bioweapon is stolen from a secret MI6 lab, Bond is drawn back into action, pursuing a deadly plot that interweaves all the key characters from his past.
As the final Bond film of this era, director Cary Joji Fukunaga was able to take more risks with the characters and storytelling. In No Time to Die, we witness a more vulnerable James Bond who experiences real love, friendships, rivalries and regrets. He is no longer just an action icon performing outrageous stunts but a more human character with genuine feelings. The interpersonal drama is layered on top of the expected grand, villainous plot, involving a super weapon of mass destruction that will still take Bond to exotic locations filled with plenty of chases, races, combat and explosions. The difference this time, however, is that it is not just a visceral thrill but also an emotional ride.
At two hours and 43 minutes this is the longest Bond movie ever made. Fukunaga, however, weaves enough plot twists, familiar faces and fun surprises to keep the audience engaged the entire time. The magnificent cinematography and lush settings are a visual delight, taking the viewer on a scenic tour through Greece, Norway, Cuba and Jamaica. Likewise, the cast is an international ensemble of the talented and attractive including Rami Malek as Lyutsifer Safin, Christoph Waltz as Blofeld, Ralph Fiennes as M, Lashana Lynch as Nomi – the new 007, and Ana de Armas as Paloma, a rookie agent.
Ultimately No Time To Die is a tale of sacrifice. For so many years we have seen Bond serve out of loyalty to Queen and country. In this final episode, his primary motivation is to save the love of his life. By giving this Bond a real reason to fight, we finally see a new side to James Bond. Once just a super spy, he now becomes a saviour.
