Continuing from where we last left them, James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Madeline (Lea Seydoux) are living a free and peaceful life, but it’s sadly short-lived. Bond has moved on from working as a secret agent but soon gets a visit from Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), who provides new intel. The intel revealed puts Bond back into action, and new mysteries are introduced. The question is, who can James Bond trust?
No Time To Die introduces a whole new threat that could yet again destroy the world. Not only do we have Bond having to tackle a new enemy, but many mysteries surround each character, new and returning. I found myself watching and questioning if key characters had secrets or had perhaps become bad. The mysteries, along with the twists and turns, were what held my excitement and created my investment. Several bold choices were made, which I appreciated instead of being frustrated by. It’s evident that as Daniel Craig walks away from the role permanently after his fifth appearance, the filmmakers desired to give audiences a proper conclusion to many aspects built in prior movies.
Concerning action, No Time To Die once again delivers and doesn’t disappoint. Those who fear the lengthy runtime don’t need to worry, as the movie never felt dull. With a strong combination of thriller and action, this is a blast right from the start. While the action certainly felt like a step back at times compared to previous Bond movies featuring Daniel Craig, I still found myself having a great time with the level of action. As always, there are attempts to introduce new action sequences that have yet to be shown in a Bond film. By this point, some viewers may feel Bond is some superhero, but in the end, I still found myself impressed and entertained.
The musical score is beautiful and tremendous. Hans Zimmer, the composer, has been influenced by many other musical numbers from past James Bond films. It was a true delight to hear classic musical numbers modernised for this new instalment, and fans of the franchise will not be disappointed by what they hear. The musical score also successfully captures and creates the right emotions for everything on screen. The visuals, once again, are not a letdown. There are plenty of great moments that have been shot with Imax Cameras. Action sequences and even shots of cities and landscapes do not disappoint. It’s evident that Bond was made for a big screen.
All around, I was fairly pleased. As for negatives, there are minor details relating to the plot that seemed vague and unclear. This is more so relating to the new deadly threat that could plague the entire world and details surrounding the villain. Some of his motivations and actions were unclear at times.
Overall, as a Bond fan, I am rather pleased with this fifth and final instalment of Daniel Craig as Bond. Once again, there is plenty of brainless action and a plot that consists of many mysteries to keep the viewers guessing. The filmmakers have made many bold choices that I admire, and they honour fans with multiple nods and easter eggs from previous movies. The soundtrack is yet again another masterpiece to compliment stunning visuals. No Time To Die was made to please fans and you should experience it on the biggest screen you can find.
8.6/10
6th November 2021
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
PODCASTS ARE AVAILABLE!
0 Comments