Film No. 91 (2021) November 12th. 8:30 PM Gold Lounge GRAND CINEMAS, Warwick.
"When your secret finds its way out, it will be the death of you." (Blofeld finally meets with Bond and his words spark a slight vulnerability in James's demi nor).
Daniel Craig's swansong is all you would expect from a Bond 007 flick. I have been a Bond enjoyer, rather than lover or devotee through the years, with CASINO ROYALE my favourite of Craig's five efforts. ROYALE remains my fav after this overly long, rollicking ride around the world in 164 minutes.
But don't get me wrong. NO TIME TO DIE delivers everything anyone would expect from a landmark chapter, considering Craig's exit from the franchise. It actually delivers in spades!
So where did we leave off when last we travelled with Bond (SPECTRE)? While I've not seen SPECTRE I've been told NTTD is a sequel. I picked up enough along the way see this version as a stand-alone, but it may help to watch Craig's second to last effort. Arch nemesis Blofeld (Christopher Waltz) heads the terrorist organization Spectre and if anyone could place the world's head into a noose, then Blofeld is your man. Come NTTD, the present, and Blofeld is in captivity but obviously still doing his deeds from within, Hannibal Lecter (not very effectively) style.
We catch-up with Bond, a softer Bond, in retirement in the West Indies. Yes, he needs to come out of retirement because of love, intrigue and another agent (Nomi played by Lashana Lynch) accepting the mantle of 007. Besides a new terrorist threat has emerged in the form of Rami Malek (Lyutsifer) with Blofeld still breathing oxygen better suited to other people.
But Bond is all about action. Is the action any good? There is nothing new, but yes, the action scenes are great. The violence is metred out John Wick-like, choreographed to within an inch of the bloodless mayhem. No, there is never much blood in Bond flicks. It's part of the shtick.
How does the Craig era end then? With a twist, and anyone reviewing NO TIME TO DIE is sworn to secrecy. If there is anything Craig has brought to the character, it is shades of humility and kindness. He's got to be pleased with that legacy! 9GUMS.
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