No Time To Die was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and was released on 30 September 2021. So far it has managed to gross over $730 million worldwide making it not only the most successful film of 2021 but also the best performing film of the pandemic. Overall, the film has received positive reviews from both critics and fans. And whilst it may not outshine the success that was Skyfall, considering how successful it has already been it looks like it’s set to outperform Spectre. 

 

No Time To Die, written by Ian Fleming, follows Bond and his partner Madeleine Swann on a romantic getaway to Matera, a city in southern Italy. However, due to an attempt on 007’s life by the still active Spectre organisation the MI6 agent is left believing he was betrayed by Swann, with his anxieties no doubt influenced by the betrayal of Vesper from the first film: Casino Royale, Bond and Swann part ways. 5 years later we find James Bond enjoying retirement in Jamaica after leaving the force. Not long after, Felix Leiter from the CIA recruits Bond for a mission against Spectre which entails recovering a kidnapped scientist by the name of Valdo Obruchev who has the capability to produce a new type of viral weaponry. Whilst initially having one assignment James Bond finds himself on a path that eventually leads him into direct conflict with the powerful terrorist mastermind Lyutsifer Stafin.

In the fifth and final outing of the 007 series, Daniel Craig plays James Bond for the last time. The general consensus is that Bond’s character was well developed in the final film and showed his more caring and sensitive side that we normally don’t have a chance to see amongst all the action. Posing as the antagonist of the film is Rami Malek playing Safin the, rather creepy, terrorist. Despite in past Bond films Safin being portrayed as some evil mastermind, in No Time To Die Safin, whilst at least having a plan and having a good reason to want to destroy Spectre, fails to have any rational reason for wanting to kill millions of people which makes him a rather generic villain who appears to just want chaos and nothing more. On one of Bond’s assignments he meets up with and works alongside a Cuban intelligence operative by the name of Paloma. Ana De Armas does an incredible job at portraying this character. Whilst at first she comes across as an inexperienced and nervous wreck we soon find out that she is a complete badass and a force to be reckoned with as we witness how she can skillfully take down multiple assailants with ease. Even Bond thought so. And finally a new appearance in the film, portrayed by Lashana Lynch, is Nomi or as her code name would suggest: 007. After Bond’s retirement his 00 status was apparently not retired and instead given to a new agent. Whilst at first coming across as sassy and rather annoying, by the end of the film both Bond and Nomi seem to build up a great level of respect for each other. 

 

In conclusion, No Time To Die is definitely worth the watch. And whilst its villain may not be up to scratch this time round, its other characters more than make up for it with their performances. Not only that but the film, like the other instalments, has a good plot and amazing action scenes which make you wish it wasn’t the final film of the series. And despite the ending feeling quite abrupt it doesn’t take away from the impact of the series ending and possibly makes it even more saddening. At this point in time it seems unimaginable to see someone other than Daniel Craig in the role of 007, and whoever fills the role will have a hell of a lot to live up to.