No Time To Die Review – A Fitting End For Daniel Craig’s OO7?

“There is no question about it, Craig hasn’t lost his flair as Bond…”

After six long years since Bond’s last outing, we finally have No Time To Die. The question is, does Daniel Craig’s final appearance live up to the expectations? Was the wait worth it? With various ups and downs, director Cary Joji Fukunaga is sure to divide fans.

No Time To Die sees Bond living in domestic bliss with his flame from Spectre, Madeline Swann, when both of their pasts come back to haunt them, throwing the ex-MI6 agent back into service.

There is no question about it, Craig hasn’t lost his flair as Bond. Though the actor had reservations about returning, he shows no hint of that on screen. Even now he seems better in the role, especially with this more unique, layered take on the character.

The film is littered with new faces, so we forgive you if you don’t remember each one. However, there are definitely standouts that you should think of fondly. Knives Out‘s Ana de Armas enters the fold as CIA agent Paloma, and she’s a very new type of bond woman. Instead of being 100% sexualised to be the object of Bond’s *blush* desires, we get quirkiness and playful back and forth between them. It almost feels more like a buddy cop movie for a moment. Definitely a fresh take on Bond’s relationship with the fairer sex.

Then there is of course Lashana Lynch’s Nomi aka OO7. It is great to see a black, female actress empowering the double-O mantle without her actually being James Bond. A smart addition. Nomi very much has a no-sh*t policy and is a strong reminder that female action heroes can exist comfortably in Hollywood.

We also can’t be forgetting the film’s big bad – Lyutsifer Safin, played by Oscar-winner Rami Malek. A villain with what feels like a familiar aesthetic. I can see why though Dr. No rumours were getting heavy.

The downside for this protagonist however is the same as for the last couple of Bond outings; not present enough. Not being around for a large chunk of the film can be acceptable, but in this franchise it feels a bit overdone. Without giving away too much, Malek appears in the film’s opening and then appears much much later in the runtime. Is it too much to ask for have a villain with a lot of screentime throughout the film these days? The only thing that maybe would have excused this is if the Dr. No rumours proved true.

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Another character that proved disappointing is Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann. Unfortunately, she feels bland this time round. Seydoux is an amazing actress and she does have her moments to show that, however when you step back at look at her from start to finish, we don’t get much. Fortunately, she serves her purpose in the story. Oh, and the usual M/Q/Moneypenny/Tanner team is present. But more on that later.

The overall plot of No Time To Die is easy to follow. A welcomed trait within Craig’s tenure. Aside from being action packed and providing emotional stakes, it definitely serves as a 21st century type of ending for an actor’s time as Bond. Craig’s time in the franchise got rid of disconnecting each film, and his final appearance is no exception. Bond is put in a position we’ve never seen before from a personal point of view. It is ensured that everything adds up and there is a definitive full stop to round it out.

The only real flatness of the plot is the constant absence and uselessness of the team at MI6. Like Seydoux’s character, they do have some moments to breathe, but the story probably could have existed without them, which is a shame. Slight spoiler here to make a point, but Q giving Bond his gadgets is in the tapestry of OO7 lore. So, why gloss over so quickly and execute it so we almost don’t notice? Usually, these films thrive off the dynamics of these old franchise characters, and to see them underused makes this feel a bit less like a Bond film sadly.

What Fukunaga offers from the director’s chair is not to be sniffed at. His vision throws us into the action and gun frenzy of the Bond franchise, making sure he ups the energy. His use of long takes and elaborate set pieces take our lead character into new territories as we watch him fight in forest terrain and endure gruelling, stamina-filled stairwell fights. We also get an interesting tweak in our opening titles as they no longer feature the usual silhouettes of women. A true sign that the franchise is evolving more and more maybe?

One thing that may cause disagreements across the fandom is the film’s long run time. With this comes a lot of stretching, especially that pre-title sequence. Or should I say sequenceS. We’re around 20 minutes into the film before the traditional opening titles roll. By then we are in the full swing of the action, then suddenly we slow down to Billie Eilish’s number. This also causes Christoph Waltz’s villain, Blofeld, to have an overarching presence throughout this story, overspilling from his story arch in Spectre. One that almost overshadows Malek’s new addition to be honest.

By the film’s eventual ending, we feel more than ever that it acts as a love letter to Craig’s time as the character. There is the sense that overall, deep down, the character just wanted a normal life. Unfortunately, his licence to kill was in his blood (who else noticed the double helix shaped pattern made of guns?). The title itself tells us that for Bond, to die would truly mean to fully let go of his MI5 life. He doesn’t have time for that at the end of the day when he’s needed on duty, and as the film tells us, it isn’t easy for a OO-agent to retire completely.

To round it all off, this is a great, emotional way to end Craig’s time as Bond and show that he’s still got what it takes to the bitter end. This outing features significant evolution for character archetypes that display how the franchise is leaping into the modern day. Bond is even given shining-new obstacles, and not just a villain with a new angle. This is probably the most personal mission that the operative has ever encountered. If not for stretched pacing, traditional characters just being there to be there, and underusing the film’s main villain…this would have been a stronger exit. However, it is safe to say that fans of the franchise will leave the cinema more pleased than disheartened. We’re planting this film at a 8.7/10.

The question now is…who will be our next OO7?

No Time To Die is currently in cinemas.