*NO SPOILERS
I don't want to be pretentious, but the release of No Time to Die fits the purpose of my upcoming book, Thank You, President Corona! The COVID-19 pandemic was the best thing that could happen to this movie. The continuous postponing increased the desire among fans to see this film, but it also empowered the plot. The story became much more relatable to the audience, after what happened in the last year. Thank You, President Corona for making No Time to Die an even stronger movie than it was already!
Why Is No Time To Die Strong?
First of all, the movie is well directed. That's incredible if you think that the original director, Danny Boyle, withdrew his commitment when production had already started. That's a pity, because I like Danny Boyle and I'd have been curious about how a British living monument sees James Bond. Never-mind, because Cary Joji Fukunaga's approach is impressive. His directing is smooth, the action scenes are shot impeccably, with a lot of practical effects and CGI reduced to the bare minimum. The locations he chose are simply stunning. Now, I want to visit Matera as soon as possible! And the use of film instead of digital, gives everything a magic touch of craftsmanship! I love it! It feels like a Tarantino movie, but with less blood. Yes, compared to the previous Craig's movies, No Time to Die is less violent, or better, less brutal. It's still violent, as there is a record number of killings, even cold kills, but Fukunaga's wise use of focus, spares us much of blood. Some might not approve, but I appreciated this smart approach. It makes the movie digestible for a wider audience, without stripping 007 of his violent nature, and helps you focus on the strong emotional part of this peculiar Bond movie. There are some moments which don't even look like a Bond movie, but in a good way. These moments give Daniel Craig the chance to show his remarkable acting skills. Some takes are even worth of an Oscar nomination! I mean it! You can see that Craig found new enthusiasm in the character. In Spectre, he looked tired of the role, like he acted against his will. In No Time to Die, the actor gives everything, both in the dramatic and even in the several funny moments this film gives us. Finally humour has come back in the house! Intelligent humour put always in the right moments, to release the tension and keep you up over 2 hours and 43 minutes! I promise you that you won't feel the length, unless you order a coke before the movie starts and then you beg for the loo! Not only humour tough. No Time to Die is bubbly thanks to the buddies Bond meets along the way. It's nice to see Felix Leiter coming and calling a retired Bond back into the business. Here we have the confirmation of how strong the brotherhood between Bond and Leiter is. It was hilarious to see Bond fooled by a woman who's another MI6 agent, with 00 license... It was entertaining to see Bond helped by a charming CIA girl who had just completed her “three weeks training”... Though she appears for less than 10 minutes, Ana de Armas became my favourite Bond girl ever! Sweet, funny, bad-ass, smart, simply stunning! I fell in love for those 10 minutes! If you also take into account, how an incredible actress like Léa Seydoux serves as the perfect mirror for James Bond, you understand that No Time to Die gets much of its strength from its very cast! This movie features even the great Christopher Waltz, returning as Blofeld. I don't want to spoil Blofeld's role, but I can tell you that you will love his introduction in the story, if you love The Silence of the Lambs! Having Waltz back is great, considering that he wasn't enthusiast of reprising this role. A great movie, born from last minute changes... Another last minute change that made this movie even stronger? The composer! The music score is essential to make a movie unforgettable. Dan Romer was happy to work with Fukunaga again, but it seems this time around, the two didn't agree on something, so Hans Zimmer the legend jumped onboard. What can I say? Hans Zimmer + James Bond = Perfection! The soundtrack brings the story to an epic level never seen before in a Bond movie. Even Skyfall is not as epic as No Time to Die! This is mostly thanks to Hans Zimmer's music! In fact, during the first part of the movie, I had a feeling of Inception, while in the finale, a feeling of The Dark Knight Rises...
The Weak Ring
Looking at the casting, it comes as a surprise that the weak ring in this chain is the villain. Unlike other reviews I read, Rami Malek's performance is not the problem, not at all. Malek is impeccable even in this movie. The problem with his character lies in the script. Lyutsifer Safin is certainly an highly intelligent and determined adversary, but his figure is not explored in depth. He appears at the very beginning of the movie, to reappear only in the final third and we never know why he's disfigured or what his mask represents. Mostly, we don't know why he wants to kill millions of people right after having exterminated Spectre. Safin should be the hero if he kills the supervillains of the series. Indeed, he compares himself to Bond, just tidier than him. The reason is what makes a villain great. In Casino Royale, Le Chiffre was driven by the desperate need of finding money to fix a debt with his organization (revealed to be Spectre in the subsequent films). In Quantum of Solace, Dominic Greene backed General Medrano in exchange for the water reserves of his country. In Skyfall, Silva craved revenge for having been left behind by M, leading to a shocking final showdown at the very place where Bond was born. But what about Safin? He says that people want to be told what to do, want oblivion... that's weak!
Conclusions
If the villain is weak, his organization is tough enough to engage Bond at video games levels. In the final part, you will have all the shoot-out action you want! You won't understand if you're watching a Bond movie or playing a Bond game! You will love it! What you might not be ready for, is that this Bond movie could make you cry... I kept my tears in more than one occasion. I was too embarrassed to let go, with my buddies beside me! :-D But yes, if you're alone or maybe with your partner, let yourself go. It will be weird. You wouldn't expect to cry for a 007 film, but after that, you will find out you are not alone. Even leading actress Léa Seydoux admitted she cried when she watched the final movie. It was weird even for her! I don't want to reveal too much, but I want to say that No Time to Die is the proper conclusion to the Daniel Craig's saga. Honour to the most real, human Bond ever! Now you have all the time in the world.... for other amazing roles! Thank you Mr Craig!
“Do you want to hear a story? His name was Bond, James Bond...”
