No Time to Die

The latest James Bond entry “No Time To Die,’ finally hit theatres with a worldwide theatrical release.

It marks Daniel Craig’s return to the 007 role that he has played since his James Bond debut in 2006’s “Casino Royale,” one of the better entries in the series as of late.

With “No Time To Die,” his Bond character faces bad guys aplenty, especially Rami Malek’s Lyutisfer Safin, a horticulturist who deals in toxic exotic plants and the like.

Also returning in “Die” are Jeffrey Wright, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes and Léa Seydou. Seydoux shared screen time with Craig’s character in 2015’s “Spectre,” one of the better Bond entries as of late.

New in this entry is Ana de Armas’s Paloma character who states she has just had the new job for three weeks only. Paloma can handle herself just fine, since she and Bond get into a couple of scrapes together. This includes some fisticuffs fights and battles together, with Paloma fighting on all cylinders with some leg sweeeps and the like.

Don't forget the pair were great in Rian Johnson's "Knives Out" in 2019. That comedy-mystery found the duo working well together, sharing an easygoing rapport that translated well for the screen. So readers know, they've already a planned a trilogy of those characters to be coming out past 2021.

Waltz shows his disdain and muster with Bond in that he touts of his superiority in that all of his questions and answers reside in his downright downfall.

Wright’s Felix Leiter looks to Bond as a trustworthy friend and ally, something each hold dear to their friendship.

Also adding great support is Ben Whishaw’s Q character. As usual, he provides access to transportation to both Bond and Lashana Lynch’s Nomi in that of a flying contraption to aid in their mission.

Directing chores for “No Time to Die” were handled by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who has helmed the well-received “Beasts of No Nation” in 2015.

With “No Time To Die,” the pieces are all in place, but a certain gravitas is missing with said execution of all the dynamics within.

Writing chores for “No Time To Die” were scribed by writers Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. In this tale, the family dynamics take a place in center stage, since misogyny and philandering are put in the back seat altogether. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure, since it constantly finds new ways of weaving the tableau to make it more dynamic altogether.

If one looks closer at the characters, they will see that Purvis, Wade and Joi Fukunaga receive story by credits as well along with writer Ian Fleming whose characters make up the general story.

“No Time To Die” was worth the wait, even though we had the COVID predicament and dilemma to deal with. At least it’s not like the old days wherein one had years to wait until the next chapter rolls around.

GRADE: B

(Review by Ricky Miller)