No Time to Die is a 2021 spy thriller directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga from a screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Fukunaga, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Daniel Craig stars in the lead role once again in his fifth outing as the British MI6 agent James Bond. Craig has said it will be his final Bond film. In the film, 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.

The cast includes Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris.

After numerous delays due to the pandemic, No Time to Die made its debut in theaters October 8th.

THE GOOD

Saying that the James Bond/007 movies have been around for a long time would be the understatement of the decade. This franchise has survived for 60+ years, building one of most diverse fan bases you can imagine in the process. The franchise was already 20+ years old by the time I was born, and I consider myself to be a big fan of the films. The British secret agent working for MI6 under the codename 007, is a fictional character created by novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. The character has been played by a number of top-tier actors since the first film released in 1962, including Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and most recently Daniel Craig. James Bond is known for his appreciation of beautiful women, high-grade weaponry, and undying love for martini’s, shaken, not stirred, of course.

Pierce Brosnan stepped away from the franchise after the release of Die Another Day in 2002, opening the door for Daniel Craig to make his debut four years later in Casino Royale. After way too many delays, No Time To Die is finally playing in theaters, and boy was it worth the wait. I know some people may get apprehensive about the 2 hour and 45 minute runtime, but let me just say I wish it was even longer. Seriously, I did not want this movie to end. I was so immersed in the experience that I never took my eyes off the screen. I’m not even kidding, which is partly why I ended up with a lap full of popcorn. Oops. I know it is cliché to say this is the “best one yet!”, especially when you are talking about a franchise like this, but I was blown away. Okay I will admit, Sean Connery will always be the best James Bond, that isn’t even up for debate.

I mean, each movie is supposed to get better and better especially with improvements on the technical side of things, and No Time To Die takes full advantage of its resources, that is for sure. From the car chases, to the seemingly infinite gunfights, this is made for the big screen entertainment. You can try and debate me on this if you want, and I admit I love the new age of action thrillers like the John Wick films for example, but the James Bond movies are just a different breed. When the action takes a rare break, we have a chance to appreciate the great cast of characters, many familiar faces and a few new additions.

We all know the importance of an impactful Bond villain that can stack up against the great 007, and No Time To Die delivers a memorable foe. From the outset Rami Malek makes an impression as the scarred up nemesis, Lyutsifer Safin. I thought it was important for the primary villain to have a rock solid purpose, and he absolutely does. His relentless drive and vengefulness reminded me of Baron Zemo’s character in Captain America: Civil War. You knew more than anything else he would stop at nothing to get his revenge, and that my friends is a dangerous individual. I really enjoyed hating his character, and felt like not a second of his screen-time was wasted. The always beautiful French actress Léa Seydoux is exceptional yet again in her return as Madeleine, and her genuine chemistry with Craig is one of the key elements of the films success without a doubt. As a pivotal character who is crucial to the backstory for No Time To Die, she deserves a ton of credit for her performance.

As expected, the acting in No Time To Die is nothing short of incredible. I already touched on the stellar performance from Mr. Robot and Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek, and he no doubt deserves his props. Malek delivers as the villain, and he earned his place among the great Bond villains. He has a unique ability to immerse himself in complex and downright creepy characters. The leading man still steals the show of course, and that is none other than the great Daniel Craig stepping into the role of James Bond for the 5th and final time, as confirmed by Craig himself prior to the release of the film. I really like Craig as an actor, and feel like his on-screen presence alone is worth the price of admission. Bond is a larger than life character who demands attention everywhere he goes, and Craig brings that unique element to the film. He has had one heck of a run since taking over the character in 2006, and he will surely be missed. Can’t wait to see where they take his iconic character next.

Okay so let me just say that I love, love, looooooove me some Ana de Armas. She is beautiful, talented, and when it comes to No Time To Die, a straight up badass. Watching her down martinis and take out bad guys alongside 007 was an absolute treat. I mean, she was running around in a very revealing cocktail dress emptying clips from a submachine gun, and didn’t even break a sweat. So yeah, she’s special. Another actress that was making her presence felt was Lashana Lynch, who took on the role of Nomi. Lynch proves her worth as a member of MI6, and I think she was a fantastic addition to the cast. I also really enjoyed Westworld star Jeffrey Wright’s character, and thought he brought a ton of value to the film.

Ben Whishaw is fantastic once again as the technical genius Q, who Bond would be lost without. He also offers up some well-timed comic relief during the film. Billy Magnusson takes on the important role of Logan Ash, and I thought the Bridge of Spies and Game Night actor delivered one heck of a performance. Christoph Waltz is great as expected, and I really liked Dali Benssalah in his role as Cyclops, even though he didn’t talk much. He just really looked the part.

Bond movies tend to set the bar from a technical standpoint, and that is absolutely the case with No Time To Die. From the first five minutes of the movie I was in awe of the incredible first car chase scene which has been a staple of the franchise, and that was just scratching the surface. The car chases and choreography for the eye-popping action scenes are nothing short of spectacular. I also can’t remember the last time I was just blown away by an intro, I guess maybe the first Deadpool movie, but the No Time To Die intro backed by the exclusive Billie Eilish track was nothing short of a masterpiece. I can’t wait to watch it again. Speaking of the soundtrack, in typical James Bond movie fashion it is exceptional. I loved every minute of it, and even had goosebumps when the trademark 007 theme graced the speakers in the theater.

Staying with the technical side of things, the cinematography in No Time To Die is nothing short of stunning. Filming in incredible destinations like Matera, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Jamaica, and London, you will likely leave the theater wanting to plan your next vacation. We are treated with more great shots than I could count, allowing viewers every opportunity to really take in the sights. James Bond films always deliver next level scenery, and that is absolutely the case once again and yet another reason why this film needs to be seen in theaters. Director and co-writer Cary Joji Fukunaga deserves all of the credit in the world, and surely made this franchise proud. He is extremely talented so I would keep an eye out for any projects in the future that have his name attached.

THE BAD

At this point you can probably make an educated guess as far as what I didn’t like about this movie, and it’s a short list. Now it can feel intimidating going into a James Bond movie as far as feeling comfortable knowing the backstories etc but it wasn’t an issue in my opinion. I’ve seen all of the movies, although it has been awhile, and aside from feeling a little confused about some of the more intricate details, I was able to jump right in. If possible, I would recommend trying to re-watch Spectre (2015), which will just make things a little easier for you. And as I mentioned already, the two hour and 45 minute length is a non-issue. Aside from that, nothing negative to report.

THE VERDICT

Bulletproof cars, beautiful women, breathtaking cinematography and non-stop action, No Time To Die is an exhilarating experience and the perfect last hurrah for Daniel Craig as the charismatic British secret agent. There is a reason why this franchise has survived 60+ years, and it is simply because the movies are just that good. The entertainment value you get from a James Bond film will have you coming back for more, and I personally cannot wait to see No Time To Die again. Do yourself a favor and go see this movie in theaters, you will be glad you did.