No Time To Die


release year: 2021
genre: action/adventure
viewing setting: home Bluray 1/8/23

synopsis: James Bond can't stay retired, nor can he have any kind of relationship...the bad guys just won't allow it.

impressions: This was the fifth and final chapter in what I'm now calling "the Daniel Craig reboot quintilogy." It was modern, had lots of action and physicality, Bond was ultra-serious...these five were different than what came before. I just had to accept it and move on, considering them as their own grouping. There's no sexism, and a ton of political correctness, and that's just the evolution of things. The plot is complex and tied to the previous four, and the crux of this one's plot involves technology that may or may not ever exist. Also, it's safe to say that this is the end of a phase of these movies, and anything that comes after will definitely have to be another reboot or reimagining (which may not be a good thing.) Time will tell.

acting: Daniel Craig is serious, intense, violent, and efficient - again. Ralph Fiennes is his superior, who is fairly ruthless but who also made a big mistake this time. Rami Malek is yet another main bad guy who talks too much and has an annoying smug personality. Lea Seydoux is Bond's on-again, off-again love interest. Lashana Lynch is the snarky new female 007 who replaced him when he retired. Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw return as Moneypenny and Q, respectively, as does Jeffrey Wright as CIA man Felix. Christoph Waltz has a minor return role as captured evil mastermind Blofeld.

chases: foot chase through Mexico City, car chase through Rome, plane/car chase on the icy roads and slopes of Austria

neat gadgets: smart blood (again), a watch that emits a mini-EMP

confirmed Bond kills: I didn't even bother to try and count this time, there were that many.

confirmed Bond seductions: 0

obnoxious female name: none

defining Bond moments: 

final word: The end of the era that came after the end of the last era. To be blunt, I don't see much future direction for this series to take.

back to the main review page