No time to die (2021)

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

Starring: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes

James Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

Unlike the pre-Daniel Craig Bond films, the films starring Daniel Craig are all sequels instead of stand-alone films. From his first appearance as Bond in ‘Casino Royale’ to his last in ‘No time to die’, we pretty much followed his career as a secret agent, with every character affecting the events of the next movie, or continuing the story.

Now, Bond is retired and romantically involved with Madeleine (Lea Seydoux), whom we first met in ‘Spectre’. This romance is short-lived when he suspects her of betraying him. Five years later Bond is asked to assist in finding a kidnapped scientist, Valdo Obruchev. Valdo created a bioweapon containing nanobots that are coded to an individual’s DNA, effecting only the target and their relatives, and is impossible to remove from your system again.

As with most Bond films, the premise is rather complex and involving. Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) – one of the antagonists from ‘Spectre’ is back – in prison thanks to Bond – but he doesn’t play a big part this time around. The main antagonist is Safin (Rami Malek), who killed Madeleine’s mother when Madeleine was just a child still. He is not only after the bioweapon, but also on a vengeance mission, and Bond has to stop him.

The Bond films sure have evolved. This film – just like the brilliant ‘Skyfall’ – has more depth and emotion than any other films in the series. This is also the most emotional film. To add to this, the film features stunning cinematography, awesome new gadgets, amazing stunts, impressive action sequences, and some of the best visuals we have ever seen in a Bond film.

With Bond having retired, there’s a new 007 – a black woman named Nomi (Lashana Lynch). It’ll be interesting to see how this is going to play out in future projects. I’m sure going to miss Daniel Craig as Bond. He is dashing and charming (oh, and those penetrating blue eyes!!), and the Bond films became completely different during his reign as Bond. He delivered an unforgettable performance in ‘No time to die’. I wonder what the post-Craig movies will be like.

‘Skyfall’ is still my favourite Bond film, with ‘No time to die’ second in line. I really enjoyed this!

‘No time to die’ received 97 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Music. It received $774 million on a $250 million budget. Having been delayed by the Covid pandemic for over a year, I’m convinced it would have earned more than $1 billion had it been released under normal circumstances.

Would I watch it again? Yes.