NO TIME TO DIE Review | Including Spoilers

[@thattrickytrickster612]

The “gun barrel-esqe” shot near the end in the tunnels was perhaps my favorite shot in all of the Bond films. Such a subtle yet fantastic tribute to one of cinema’s most iconic frames.

[@firefightszz]

I thought the same thing, that 180 and his stance just had that “bond” feel.

[@vic.oso105]

IT WAS AMAZING. I remember when it happened instantly I heard quick subtle whispers throughout the theatre, probably people talking about how great it was. Great Experience

[@mattyryon]

I thought it was tasteless, I snickered at how cheeky they were being doing that in this dumpster fire of a Bond movie especially after the plot reached the height of nonsense.

[@firefightszz]

@@mattyryon you do realize that plot In a bond film has almost always been an after thought for like 80% of the franchises running?

[@Fameof47]

It was! It really made me happy when it happened......just so perfect on timing.... a random throw in that didnt feel corny and stood out instantly. Brilliant Cinema.

[@DavysFlicks]

You missed my fave part - when Bond kills Logan, he says "I had a brother...his name was Felix", That was epic.

[@Nettingyournetworth]

So satisfying

[@spencerkindra8822]

"You left this with Ferrara I believe."

[@mistermort77]

this reminds me the Locque's death scene in FYEO

[@tombrearley-smith5777]

James Bond: "I had a brother... His name was Felix." Spider-Man: "I had a father... His name was Ben Parker."

[@wessexfox5197]

You earned it, you keep it. Old buddy!

[@moffy2324]

He couldnt leave the island, it was mentioned that the nanobots infect everyone but arent harmful until the reach the intended target and so if bond even infected a single person off the island it might eventually get to his family. I think this movie is flawed but id be lying if i didnt say this is one of the most emotional cinema experiences of my life just because of how important daniel craigs bond is to me

[@mistermister8998]

Well said, I’ve never been shaken or stirred by a movie like this before, no pun intended

[@RobT07]

One of the flaws that gets me is, shouldn’t an emp watch power down nanobots?

[@LancerEvoMHN]

Well said! I felt the same way! Also the time crunch was because the ships were arriving which would have transported the nano bots off the island they had 15 mins and they needed to blow everything up before then.

[@isaiahfreeman]

@@RobT07 you can protect real world electronics from an emp with cloth and tin foil so when it comes to sci fi nanobots I think we can assume they got that covered.

[@isaiahfreeman]

5 head

[@oscrrrop7597]

One of the most tragic scenes was Felix’s death as the scene pretty much resembles vespers deaths

[@nickoftimeproductions8719]

Glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed that similarity.

[@dreamawake2670]

Thats wasnt Felix.

[@fredraputznik2313]

Holy shit, I completely missed that!! More Bond-trauma!!

[@ruantengyi]

yeah that was sad! Also i can’t Logan Ash was a traitor in the film!

[@QUARTERMASTEREMI6]

Oh, I noticed that straight away too! What a tragedy that was… 😔😢

[@baseballergosch1]

The only complaint I have from this movie is bond didn’t spark Felix’s cigar at the end 🥲

[@GriffinCorpOne]

God that would have been damn good.

[@normfarris3430]

It was, in a manner of speaking...

[@dictorfeelgood]

Only complain I have is just about everything. They turned 007 into a soap opera

[@harryherman5371]

@@normfarris3430 lol

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

True, that would have been cool if the at the very end he pulled out the cigar and finally smoked for one time in this interation of Bond.

[@TrekBeatTK]

Credits roll in my screening and the child behind me is crying because James Bond is dead. Regarding the opening gunbarrel: no red “blood” means Bond’s shot “missed”; therefore death is still going to get him.

[@steveulinski98]

I picked up that piece after getting out of the movie.

[@blankname6629]

He will be back hope they choose someone younger. That’s the only reason I am against an Adris Alba pick. He is close in age to Craig. He could quit after 1 movie:

[@MrLolx2u]

@@blankname6629 Lashana Lynch. There HAS to be a reason why she's called 007 and on par in skills with Craig's Bond. There also has to be a reason why out of all time, she's introduced into the finale of where Bond dies. Makes sense and guess the next wouldn't be called Bond but simply 007?

[@adrianpetyt9167]

@@MrLolx2u I'd be quite happy with both a rebooted Bond series and some spin-off films with Nomi as a 00 agent. A female central character would make for a new perspective, but I still want to see more of boozy, lecherous, sarcastic old James.

[@davidshillaker7578]

@@MrLolx2u they say that 007 is just a number though. It will be James Bond

[@simonburstrom3385]

It is funny to think that the last time Bond interacted with a kid he pushed it into a dirty Bangkok river

[@aperezvoyages]

lmao!!!!

[@bonghunezhou5051]

That was the _pre reboot_ Bond (thus does not count)

[@jacintodiegoobregon6896]

20,000 bhat!

[@troyschulz2318]

I'd like to think Safin is just that kid all grown-up, hellbent on revenge.

[@tobyhart8515]

Bloody tourists.

[@vfxfan]

Another theory: If Bond can still conceive after once having his balls beaten to a pulp, surviving a nuclear blast should be no sweat for him.

[@UltraCoolSuperOne97]

I received a shecret meshage from Bond he is still alive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaqopp-draZ6psk

[@scottjo63]

vfxfan: We have a new Chuck Norris here

[@davidnorris3131]

Totally agree about the Cuba scene. Ana De Armas is a breath of fresh air and she brought the best out in Daniel. Would have liked more scenes like this over his five films. Reminded me of when he and Moneypenny were a great team at the Macau casino in Skyfall

[@AndorRadnai]

Definitely some callbacks there!! I hope that she returns as a Felix Leiter type character! A new friend for a new Bond face..! ^^

[@imranbecks]

She stole the show.

[@philipkempbell7174]

Looked more like a scene full of backdoor favours while they were on set of Knives Out.

[@residentsteve]

I reckon she could be a future Bond girl with the next bond.

[@suhonmi]

She was like an amalgamation of Mary Goognight and Wai Lin. A funny and somewhat fussy like Goodnight but at the same time able and kick ass like Lin. Wonderful character who does not outstay her welcome.

[@lutfyabrahams6400]

Hi Calvin . No blood when Safin was shot because he had a bulletproof vest so the shooting really took his breath away which happens when being shot whilst wearing a b/proof vest made of kevlar. It also explains why he took such a deep breath when he came to.

[@ARCtrooperblueleader]

Beautifully written.

[@crodo123]

Right? Calvin is questioning some things in this video that has me like "what!? Are you serious? “

[@antonbarkland2194]

Yeah... I also thought he must have hade some sort of bulletproof vest underneath his clothes... And it does make sense when he took that deep breath, after he had gotten shot.

[@rjaymolina]

Bond doesn’t go to Vesper’s grave to forgive her. He already did that in QoS. He went to ask her to forgive him. That’s what his note said

[@Gregbatts76]

That note Bond had was the one Vesper left for him in Casino Royale

[@TooCooFoYou]

@@salmonsandwich3183 Clearly you’ve never seen Casino Royale and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

[@SaberRexZealot]

@TheRealRogerEbert he’s just on his sigma grindset bro.

[@Riku-Leela]

@@salmonsandwich3183 it doesn't make you look manly by wanting bond to continue to be a sexist asshole like he was in the past, his character has evolved with the ages and honestly that's great

[@donaldthesavage1288]

@@Riku-Leela Bond should be a bit of a misogynist. That’s not necessarily a good quality, but Bond is meant to be a bit of an anti-hero.

[@chrismcgovern1647]

The ending and the use of "We Have All the Time In The World" throughout the score and in its actual form at the credits were all really beautiful and made me emotional, something Bond movies have never done for me before. Billie Eilish's song was great too!

[@jochrivo]

Completely agree! The use of OHMSS aspects was one of my favourite parts

[@mrebear9758]

I really dislike the OHMSS call backs. It should have been it's own thing. It really tips off the ending too.

[@Skyfox94]

Bond also says it a few times

[@YoshMaster]

Same! I never ever had any sadness or any kind of “negative” emotions ton any Bond films so it was very nice and new to me to feel this. To me it’s a perfect way to end the Craig act.

[@CraigSteelyard]

the epic music near the end before Bond dies, reminds me of the sci fi movie "Sunshine"

[@SebCarrasco]

The moment I heard the music cue for “All the Time in the World” my gut knew tragedy would strike in this film. It’s also so great this film made so many callbacks to OHMSS. Apparently it’s one of Cary Fukunaga’s favorite films.

[@langleymneely]

SAME!! The minute Bond said that in the beginning I knew the writing was on the wall! lol

[@obelix703]

The difference is that the audience is feeling the loss. Even though I know we’re getting a new Bond, this movie made me feel a loss that the series had never entertained. I loved the ending.

[@nujeru99]

I LOVED all the call backs to OHMSS as well, as it's maybe my favorite film in the series. And having Louis Armstrong's version of "We Have All the Time In the World" playing during the end credits was fantastic

[@burntvirtue]

I was so excited by all the references to On Her Majesty's Secret Service because it's my all-time fave Bond movie. By the end, I felt like they used my favorite against me.

[@DoctorHver]

They should have called Bond's love intrest Tracy or have it being one of her names.

[@Seasider70]

And also, an RIP to Sean and Roger should have been included.

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

Yeah I realised that would’ve been a nice idea but it kind of makes sense given how Fukanaga spoke of Connery in interviews.

[@ryrythomas2788]

Quite right to.

[@DuckieHawke]

@@sebastianfitzptraick7395 What did he say about Connery?

[@edoris9021]

They should have had a hologram of roger and sean sacrificing themselves with the doors so Craig could get off the island

[@BungleBare]

That sort of thing is fraught with the danger of causing offence to someone else. Nice though it would have been to put a message about Sean and Roger at the end, imagine if one of the other Bonds had passed away just prior to release; do you call all the copies of the films back in and change them?; put out a press release saying unfortunately the film was completed before their tragic passing?; or do something else? Don’t forget that Sean passed away while the film had been completed, but the release had been delayed. Which would have proved to Eon how these well-meaning messages could have been unexpectedly overtaken by events. As Bond’s classic cars are a big nod to past moments in the franchise I’d have been happy with Bond pulling back the covers in that lock-up garage to reveal a white Lotus Esprit (or even the bronze one from FYEO), as a nod to the fans of Roger’s tenure, in the same way the DB5 harks back to Sean’s tenure. Plus where do you stop with the dedications? Just Bond actors? We’ve lost Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Eunice Gayson (arguably the first Bond girl), and many other Bond alumni since Spectre. Would their families feel slighted if only Roger and Sean got a mention? To me, Eon could have been accidentally caught up in a lot of trouble by putting a dedication at the end of the film, even though it certainly would have been done in the right spirit.

[@deantaylor7270]

It's all right. It's quite all right. He's having a rest. He'll be coming back soon. There's no hurry. You see - you see, we've got all the time in the world.

[@terryrulestheworld2]

He's pining for the fjords.

[@sonofgod2405]

A bit wierd just that madlyne drive in the car bonds wife died at the end of the Film i mean did the People making the move were bond fans Even this cant be Right.

[@Usario321]

I got the reference

[@eric_clover]

@@sonofgod2405 ??? You must not be a Bond fand

[@beethockmtee8565]

@@sonofgod2405 huh? You know it wasn't actually a remake of Majesty's?

[@v4vendetta659]

Craig is quoted as saying: “When I started as Bond on Casino Royale, one of the early discussions I had with Barbara [Broccolli] and Michael [G. Wilson] was that I would like to be killed off when I am finished.” This bombshell would mean Bond’s death in No Time To Die’s ending was planned by the star as far back as 2005 when he was first cast as 007 in Casino Royale.

[@Abeyratne]

00s have a short life expectancy, bond says to M in Casino Royale.

[@obelix703]

I took the “She’s not yours” as Madeline not so much lying, but reminding Bond that he was around for none of Mathilde’s life. He was the one that abandoned her, and he doesn’t get to have a say.

[@Saintfallxo]

How could he abandon something he didn’t know exist?

[@RealJeffTidwell]

@@Saintfallxo a graver proposition

[@ethanfarrell8080]

I didn’t even think of it this way. I like this interpretation a lot. Perhaps they meant that bond abandoned Madeline?

[@Lightningfootjones]

This doesn’t make any sense. He had no idea she was pregnant, so he didn’t abandon his child. And “have a say” in what? Telling a parent they don’t have a say in their child’s life it’s not something you should take lightly or swing around without good reason. Also, the conversation immediately after “she’s not yours” is pretty clearly about biology.

[@MrLolx2u]

He knew the child was his as the age was the same as when he abandoned or sent Magdeline away. Why Magdeline said that was that she still hated Bond for not trusting her that she had nothing to do with why Spectre's people knew where to find him despite being retired and off the grid for almost a year. Besides, he was not in their lives for 5 full years but Bond wasn't stupid and knew that Mathilde was his child when he instantly recognize her eyes. Besides, Bond din't even know Magdeline and by the look and how Magdeline acted, she din't know that she's pregnant in Italy either. She could have only known after they broke up which made it even worse for Magdeline thus she said it in a fit to throw Bond off.

[@NeverSaySandwich1]

That long, single shot take of Bond taking down those guys in the stairway, ending with the EMP watch kill was so damn cool. Love how he just went all out at the end

[@RJSRdg]

Yet the EMP apparently didn't take out Bond's radio...

[@PaulGLarsson]

Very remeniscent of True Detective’s tracking shot

[@WisperingD]

@@RJSRdg haha I didn’t think of that.

[@scottishsuzuki8132]

Yes that stairway scene and the db5 at the start was cool. The rest of the movie never really did it for me.

[@davidshillaker7578]

He went beast mode at the end. I loved it

[@ssjduelistDD]

I assumed Saffin was wearing body armor at the start. And the urgency of the island's destruction was because there were terrorists on the way to claim it. You also missed that the nanobots spread throughout the population, if bond was in contact with anyone , it'd spread until it killed her.

[@BungleBare]

That seemed to be the film’s logic - Bond couldn’t leave the island because even if he stayed away from his family someone might accidentally be infected by the nanobots he had in him, who might pass it on, and on, and on, until someone unknowingly passed it onto Madeleine and Mathilde and killed them. Bond saw this effect for himself when Blofeld died right in front of him, as a result of Bond only briefly have touched Madeleine who, forevermore, carries nanobots programmed to kill Blofeld. You only need to get someone’s DNA, do your work on it in Safin’s facility, and set a virus tailored to them out into the world, with humans as the unwitting carriers. Eventually it will kill the intended target, without you having to even go near them. As M put it; the perfect weapon.

[@brunocar02]

Its also implied that saffin pumped him full of lead, so he may have been bleeding to death.

[@indianajonesnerd]

@@BungleBare good summery. the nanobots thing was something that was cool but I don't know if it totally made sense or was necessary to do it from that angle, because unless I missed something the nanobots can't reproduced. i guess we're suppose to feel that there are so many almost infinite nanobots that they would go to every part of your body and then go to all over what ever a persons body that you touched and so on until it spread to everybody in the world... i don't know, I get that they wanted to do something kinda futuristic but it would have made sense to just make it a biological virus that can be manipulated to attack a certain DNA and that way the virus cells can reproduce.

[@edadankmemes]

but safin wouldn’t have wanted madeline swann’s dna to be coded in the nanobots

[@magnusprime962]

@@edadankmemes Safin mentioned twice that he had that encoded to kill Madeline and Mathilde. While he wanted them to join him, he was no fool and created an insurance policy. Then at the end he decided that if he couldn’t have them then neither could Bond.

[@DefMM123]

I really want more of Arna de Amas character she was so fun to see with bond

[@c.tes9009]

Best part of the movie

[@medalgear654]

even better than the "new" 007

[@evobirkz8]

Yes she was way better then Nomi, she should have joined bond on Safin’s island, nomi just seemed smug and overconfident.

[@smurfette_blues7922]

Out of all the great side characters in the film she was probably my favourite. She felt like a classic but also fresh bond girl.

[@QUARTERMASTEREMI6]

She was so cute, like a poor nervous puppy! I loved when she kicked butt and wished she was in the film longer than she was! ❤️

[@cavyamador4837]

Great breakdown. I disagree with your take on the ending tho… 1. Bond was shot pretty bad at that point and blood was dripping everywhere. It might be unlikely that he would survive even if they did “give him 10 minutes” to get off the island. 2. Surviving this and facing a potential future where you will ever touch your wife and daughter? Future antidote is not guaranteed and it would be quite hell to live on like that. 3. I think, and I genuinely believe, after everything that Craig’s Bond has been through and all the lost he’s suffered. At that point in the finale I think he’s just done. Too exhausted to carry on. In a way, I would argue that his fate had been paved ever since Vesper died. 4. I don’t think surviving this and have bond seriously wounded and never been able to kiss his wife or his daughter good night is a more satisfying ending. If anything, it overshadows the victory. Might as well go grand and emotional in a blazing glory from a story telling standpoint. Because story aside, this WAS Daniel Craig saying goodbye.

[@ThePixelExpedition]

You absolutely nailed it. I agree 100%. "I understand 00's have a short life expectancy". Bond deserves to die on a mission. Battled until the end. There was no future for him without Madeline and his daughter. He was touching and heartbreaking ending. Craig's Bond was vulnerable. He bleeds and takes bullets. He's human. And he died the human being he was.

[@andybrady2964]

The other quality that Craig brought to Bond that I've seldom seen in the previous Bond's is "decency". He sits in the shower with Vesper, he's ready to shoot Camille rather than allow her to suffer the agonising death by fire, how he looks after M in her final moments, rescuing Madeleine from Hinx and not immediately taking advantage of her (just like Vesper in the Shower). His care in making Matildh breakfast. Perhaps I've seen this quality before in some of the other Bond's but no where near the extent I have with Craig. It's always touching and it brings a real depth of humanity to Craig's Bond.

[@ericsolo08]

To your point 2 as well I don't think James would ever risk a chance of someone touching him and getting the nanobots while waiting for an antidote, which is part of why I think he has Q confirm that they can't be removed.

[@darrylcooper2587]

I agree. In both this and Skyfall, Bond’s life when he is living off the grid and alone has been awful and has simply been alive and not living. Knowing the life he could be having but couldn’t was probably worse than dying on the island.

[@DarkEagle1917]

Plus the nano virus according to the movie was designed to spread from person to person (not killing )until it comes into contact with the intended target which it then kills. So as long as bond lives he is a danger to Madeline and Matilda.

[@sour3889]

SPOILERS (btw this is my interpretation) Guys I think you’re misinterpreting the impact and effect of his death. The Craig series are the only films that are legit sequels and a continuous story. The five film arch was a full story of the beginning to the end of Bond. Many people argue that Craig’s Bond isn’t really Bond and that’s ok if that’s your opinion but the character has remained consistent from Casino to this. It’s ok not to like the film but to hate it for killing off Bond is dumb simply because “they’ve never done that before”. Also I’ve seen some people saying they killed him off so that anyone can be 007… this is just not correct. JAMES BOND will return and most likely go back to the anthology style of the previous Bond Eras. The films will likely not connect as much as the Craig ones from this point on. So say what you want to about Craig’s films and weather or not he’s a good bond but don’t say this movie is bad just because he dies. Logical people can see that his death was a fitting end to the CRAIG era. Maybe not all of James Bond in general but this continuity. All in all if you didn’t like the movie that is ok but James Bond will be back they’re not replacing him they’re just ending this story that has spanned 15 years and is contained within Craig’s 5 films only. James Bond Will Return . . . Just not Daniel Craig’s James Bond Also on the point of Craig’s death. I think he made the decision to let himself die instead of living his life unable to be with the woman he loves and his child. A new continuity or lack of continuity like older films will begin within the next 3-5 years. This movie was a fitting end to its era not the whole ass character. My point being, if this was the last Bond film ever then I agree his death would be dumb as fuck but that is not the case. Just try to look at it with a more open mind guys. And lastly I get it if you’ve grown up with Bond since the 60’s and you hate this film and I can respect you if that’s why you hate it, because you have a 60 year long love for the character but otherwise you guys have to understand why things change in film. If Bond stayed the same and never changed during every era people would be bored as hell after 25 films and 60 years. And don’t say you wouldn’t be bored because you don’t know! That’s the beauty of Bond he can be done differently and if people hate the interpretation or the actor there will always be a another Bond after. Just try to understand the choice from a filmmaking and storytelling point of view. If you read all of this you are awesome and thank you. Have a great day and know that I’m not saying you can’t have your opinion Im just giving mine. Thanks!!!

[@sauron6064]

James Bond dying is why my dad didn’t like it. But I loved the film.

[@sour3889]

@goolag I mean the type of person Craig’s Bond is not the ups and downs of his life. You have a point there I meant more so his personality and mannerisms though.

[@MAMoreno]

The problem isn't that Bond died. It's that he died because the villain infected him with nanobots that would kill his lover and their daughter. It's such cartoonish nonsense.

[@Circurose]

@@MAMoreno He didn't die because of the nanobots. He choose to die because he can't be with them again (also he was shot pretty bad).

[@niksta007a]

It fuckin' sucked... they only had to stick to one golden rule, don't kill Bond. It doesn't matter how you sugar coat it, they killed the franchise right there, yeah people may go and see the next one as a curio offering, but re-spawning Bond back from the dead requires way more suspension of disbelief than invisible fuckin' cars!

[@TBurka]

One of my favorite things about the Jamaica sequence is that they show Bond living at what is clearly a replica of Goldeneye, Ian Fleming's house where he wrote all the Bond novels. Don't know whether anyone else picked dup on that, but I gasped when we got to that part. Such a great detail in what is essentially Bond's sendoff.

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

I didn't catch that, but that's pretty neat.

[@zackarysullivan9019]

Had no idea Goldeneye was the name of Ian Fleming’s house

[@TBurka]

@@zackarysullivan9019 Fleming named it that because it was the code name for an operation run by Britain’s Naval Intelligence Division when Fleming worked there Super cool!

[@ThrowerTimothy]

Yes, I noticed that too

[@MrOffthecliff]

I was muddy on Safin’s motivation on first viewing as well, but upon a rewatch it’s clear that Safin has a God complex motivated by SPECTRE’s killing of his family and his own saving of Madeline. He wants to control the destiny of others the way his (and Bond’s) destiny was taken from him. Safin sees himself and Bond as equals in this way, with each man essentially playing God in the lives they take or save (also referenced in Safin’s conversation mid-film with Madeline). In Safin’s eyes, taking or saving a life gives him power and ownership over those lives and it’s much easier to take than to save. I’m choosing who to take and who to save… Safin becomes God over all.

[@meganhartmann180]

Interesting take.

[@tylerjsmithers8385]

I got that too... I just watched it last night and I got a better understanding of his motives... Still don't know who the buyers were or why he is selling the weapon

[@BadeniaFilme]

Safin probably lets Mathilde go because he can't hurt children, being hurt himself young, which is also the reason he saves Madelaine.

[@calvindyson]

Very good point!

[@jonathancampbell5231]

His plan involves killing a LOT of children and he even poisons Bond so that he can't touch his daughter without killing her. He let her go because she wasn't important and she might get lost or killed anyway.

[@charliemersonwrightashby]

100% - for me it was a thematic element that’s carried out in the film. Safin, Madeline & Bond are from broken families, Bond talks about not getting a chance & a normal life. While he’s not with her, Mathilde gets a relatively normal upbringing - which I really liked.

[@RichardHorpe]

@@jonathancampbell5231 He's kinda like Samuel Jackson in Kingsman where he knows he's killing a lot but he'd rather keep it at a distance and not witness it

[@interesting7454]

@@jonathancampbell5231 bond could have just found another girlfriend. He used to do that before the craig films.

[@shelbyvillerules9962]

I was hoping for a post credits scene where M goes to little Italian cafe and orders a Fernet Branca…

[@thebatman4279]

And M smiles at him from across the room.

[@aitornavarro6597]

Alla "The Dark Knight Rises"

[@geoffreygershon]

LOL I thought of that too and seriously even as some one who really liked TDKR, it now just feels like SUCH a cop-out ending compared to what Cary Joji F did here! Seriously Nolan wasn't coming back, Bale wasn't coming back....why not just follow through with it?

[@SuperpanFilms]

@@geoffreygershon I think that film was the first attempt to do a “final battle” movie for a long-running IP that wasn’t a book series so I’m sure WB probably tied his hands and wouldn’t let him kill their big character. Funny to think that happens all the time ten years later.

[@SirCommander42]

Offering my take here: Pros: - Robert Brown / Judi Dench portrait cameos! - first 30 minutes - Arna de Amas' character - the cars - the locations - the clothing - heavier use of M, Q, Moneypenny Cons: - I thought the first half hour was great until Felix's demise. I felt that people don't realize how strong Felix's relationship with bond was, and to kill him off like that - Daniel Craig after the first half hour didn't feel like "Bond" for me. The pizazz that Bond carries just wasn't there for me. I felt like he was just another random agent rather than Bond. - Vesper bleeding into the film... again... - Billie's song was depressing and disappointing, the scenery to accommodate the video felt like a drug trip and a spin off from Spectre's - Saffin's arch was not as clean as something like Silva's. It just felt rushed and I didn't get as invested with his character's aims. Was he out for revenge or hell bent on world domination? Which was it!?

[@niksta007a]

Yeah, this sums it up well.. the fist 40 minutes were good, then it got bogged down in an exposition-fest, trying to rationalise a non-sensical, ill conceived plot. Anyway, doesn't really matter because they completely fucking ruined it by killing Bond.. in a lame, pathetic way and then no-one gave two shits - yeah, classic Bond!!

[@kaleyjoplinRAWRR]

I didn’t like the title sequence either lol nor that song. No hate to Billie E but not a fan of it and I usually really look forward to the song and title sequences! I agree about Felix.. as for the villain, I think this is my biggest tproblem with the film. I wasn’t sure if I just didn’t understand what his plot line was or if I just didn’t care because to me it didn’t have any impact like LeChiffre or Silva. Overall, it didn’t feel like a Bond film.. I really loved the cinematography and score though as well as Ana De Armas! Wish she was in it longer actually. I’d rank it in the middle but my initial reaction is that I’m a bit disappointed with it

[@firefightszz]

@@niksta007a yeah I still don’t really understand the killing of bond, like what are they going to do now with the whole character

[@spencerrichards3532]

Well said. Also flat. No humour. We need to go back now. I totally agree - this could have been any action hero, & I'm not the only one like yourself that has said this. Ultimately for me DC should have gone after Skyfall - those 3 films including the underrated QOS are iconic. I thought Moneypenny was wasted again.

[@braddsfx8921]

Daniel Craig not feeling like bond is kinda the point, he hasn’t got that certain look anymore because he’s not, he’s not the only special agent anymore, not even the only 007, the major point MI6 we’re making was that the world was arming fast, faster than they could cope, bond is but one of many not agents, but soldiers, in another Cold War. He feels brutal, unhinged, angry, which is exactly what bond should feel after all this time. The title sequence was a mash up of all previous titles, even if it was messy it felt like a nice homage, Vesper was a trap, her bleeding into the film is really just a reminder that Craig’s era has connected, as for the villain it’s hard to kind of fit him in, we’re wrapping things up, no matter what you think of the character he was played perfectly by rami malek, he didn’t have a presence as a character but rather a metaphor of this new world James has been thrown into, he is the power he wields, he has no remaining emotion, just calculation. This is just my take of the cons.

[@mattjames7386]

I feel we needed more on Safin and his history (upbringing following his parents murder) to understand why he is so set on his plans.

[@tlshortyshorty5810]

Same here.

[@stefanfilipovits21]

Definitely

[@kicsiszol]

And a different actor whos not sleepwalking through his scenes. Malek was atrocious.

[@spaceodds1985]

I think we all can agree that the Jamaica and Cuba scenes are fantastic and Paloma is sensational. Hugh Dennis’ appearence was for me the most hilarious scene in the film.

[@calvindyson]

Paloma is definitely going to be a fan favourite character going forward!

[@SPECTRE_Madman]

@@calvindyson as Bond is dead they won’t continue with her character will they? Reboot it again and just have the same character.

[@bobbyharrop8817]

I really wish they'd cast Hugh Dennis as Obruchev. He's very good with accents and would have brought extra hilarity to that role

[@SPECTRE_Madman]

@@bobbyharrop8817 Showaddywaddy

[@andrewstorm8240]

Milky milky

[@fletchersykes1660]

The Jamaica club scene is one of my favourite scenes I all Bond 25 films. The chemistry between Bond and Felix was so great to see. Bond's relaxed and friendly demeanour was a welcome surprise.

[@dereklewis4321]

I had a brother....and his name was Felix Leiter

[@TheSmokingDen]

The scene where Bond strangles Blofeld and Safins poison garden are straight out of Flemings You Only Live Twice.

[@wroncsu]

I wish they’d simply have had Blofeld escape early in the film - or between films - made him the main villain and have Bond strangle him in his poison garden. Not sure why nanobots needed to be introduced either, could’ve made the garden be the true source of the virus. Felt like that would’ve made things cleaner

[@nicholastosoni707]

@@wroncsu The nanobots eliminate the incubation period--the window of time for you to get treated. Once you've caught it, _whshht!_ Gone in three seconds.

[@briancherry8088]

@@wroncsu I think the nanobots were a late addition to keep it as far from Covid parallels as possible. Just my guess. The fact that the EMP doesn't stop them makes very little sense... but then again it doesnt break the earpiece either.

[@ohauss]

@@nicholastosoni707 Even if nanobots were realistic, that's not even remotely how they would plausibly work. It's simply nonsense.

[@nicholastosoni707]

@@ohauss Of course it is. Same nonsense as a lot of Bond's science.

[@Relfar2]

I came out of the theater emotionally confused and my first thought was "I need to see what Calvin said."

[@curtisjeffries9630]

Yes, perhaps. But I need to see what Jordan thinks.

[@tlshortyshorty5810]

@@curtisjeffries9630 Good sensibility. We can always rely on him to be more critical and blunt, while Calvin seems to have a more level-headed opinion and more focused on the Bond franchise itself.

[@tvolution1]

The bit where the computer confirms that Q has unlocked Blofeld’s eye was comparable to “warm liquid goo phase complete” from Austin Powers.

[@spencerkindra8822]

The computer literally said "Blofeld's Eye." Fucking what now??

[@AWSVids]

An A.I. so smart, it knows whose robotic eye you’re unlocking. Brave new world at Mi6.

[@BungleBare]

@@spencerkindra8822 That did jump out at me as trying to spoon feed the audience what it was. Something more believable would have been a file reference, showing it had been catalogued by MI6, with the caption reading “downloading exhibit Q96000564-Blofeld” or something. Anyone paying enough attention to read the screen would have still made the Blofeld connection at a glance, but it would have been less overt and jarring.

[@adotgif]

I thought Blofeld's slow cage crane reveal thing was very Austin Powers-y, too. I wanted Bond to hold his hand up and yell STOPPPPP. (the way they overemphasized his hand in that scene, btw, was a bit much)

[@BungleBare]

@@adotgif If Austin Powers returns (as is rumoured) I can see a parody of this scene happening, where the mechanism pulling the cage forward snags, and Dr Evil is thrown out of the front of the cage. He’ll then get up, apologise to Austin for the shoddily run prison he’s in (muttering about how the governor won’t listen to anyone with management experience - “I ran Evilcorp, for frick’s sake!”), before awkwardly climbing back into the cage and shouting angrily up at the ceiling “you can commence now”, and the cage lurching forward again before he’s had chance to sit down. He’s flung out again by that (perhaps using a cutaway shot of what is very obviously a poorly stuffed dummy, AVTAK style), and gets up and dusts himself down, striding up to Austin to shake his hand, while angrily shouting at the ceiling “frickin’ amateurs! ALL air of menace has now COMPLETELY gone”. Then the cage clunks into action again, moves forward, and knocks Dr Evil to the floor just as he’s about to shake Austin’s hand. All fitting in nicely with a plot line where if they had shaken hands Austin would have unwittingly infected Dr Evil with nanobots that sought out and eradicated evil thoughts. I’ve given this way too much thought, haven’t I? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Scrummy64]

Personally, I always felt like "We Have All the Time in the World" was intentionally used ironically in OHMSS; it made for a nice romantic theme, sure, but Bond and Tracy didn't really have much time at all since Tracy was killed on their wedding day. So I actually thought it was used rather well here! While it initially seemed to be demonstrating Bond and Madeleine's newfound domestic bliss, it also provided a sense of foreboding for fans familiar with the song's sinister undertones in OHMSS; however, the twist was that it was really Bond who was running out of time, and not Madeleine like many of us had been expecting. The final use of the song - as Madeleine drives away with Mathilde at the end - is therefore the only time it's played genuinely, since Bond had ensured that the two of them would actually get that time to live out their lives, even if he couldn't share it with them.

[@jasoncp3257]

I thought Madeline was going to die until it dawned on me, the basically death theme from OHMSS was meant for Bond. He can never have a normal life.

[@karlydoc]

It's either Bond and Tracy or George and Diana which is it squire?

[@MarkS-nt8de]

As I heard the first notes of the song in the opening sequence I thought "Holy crap, someone's gonna die"... All the time in the world in a Bond movie inevitably means death to me...

[@MikeGiallo]

i liked it i was half the movie expecting her to die for that song!! somehow spoiled me the second half as if she dont die bond dies, but it gave to fans the sense a genuine sense of danger.

[@chandlers6372]

Beautifully put... made me tear up a bit. Flawed film but the emotional beats hit me hard

[@leecroft1983]

Absolutely loved the ending. Been a big Bond fan all my life. This is Craig's Bond story arc. So glad they're not going to carry on the franchise (or more precisely Craig's Bond arc) with another actor. Very happy to know that the next movie and actor will belong to a new separate reboot, hoping this time they make it a period piece with the movies set in the 1960's.

[@mistermort77]

We can like it or ot, but CR proved that the producers don't want to make a period piece in the 60's. They want to keep the classic Bond character and put him in the present day world against present problems and enemy, which is fine with me

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@mistermort77 Agreed. Bond is better keeping moving forward. It's not like 'Tinker Tailor' or something where the time period is essential [it also costs a fortune to do period films-ie removing anachronisms and it's hard to do product placement for it, so why would they bother]

[@DocDevious23]

I feel like a period piece Bond film would be awesome. Unlikely but awesome.

[@brennanmasters9337]

The only way I could be sold on a reboot is to go back to the 60s. It would be great but likely won’t happen. Since it won’t happen, I really hope they do standalone films and none of this story arc business

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@brennanmasters9337 60's won't happen. I think they'll be stand alone given the time it takes to make them but I wouldn't rule out doing a 2 part story shot back to back if MI7+8 works.

[@DrumDTLTE2]

Bond didn't need to die. As Q once said, "Never let them see you bleed and always have an escape plan."

[@garywillig5143]

I knew Felix was going to die the moment he mentioned going home to his family when he first tried to recruit Bond. Side characters bringing up family is such a red flag. But I didn't think a James Bond movie would have him be an actual father or kill him off - though obviously he'll be back for the reboot that's already being planned.

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

He was gonna retire next week! “I’m getting too old for this xxxx”!! PS…will not watch any reboot made with MS Brocolli!!!!

[@TheAwesomeDarkNinja]

I really wish they'd just continue this universe. Even if they have to codename theory it. I really love their version of M, Moneypenny, and Q.

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

@@TheAwesomeDarkNinja I'll support a Ana De Armas spinoff for sure.

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

I think the thing to do now is go all the way back to the novels and make super faithful period piece adaptations. Maybe for television or streaming rather than big tentpole theatrical extravaganzas.

[@Touchofbond]

I didn’t like the ending, but I get it. Bond saved the world and his family, but didn’t save himself as he didn’t want to live in a world without them. Acting from Daniel Craig throughout this movie was great.

[@garethsmith6611]

What makes it worse is that the love story wasn't believable. He left her then so suddenly cannot live without them it was so badly written

[@jonastiger1000]

Bond thought Madeleine was behind the mausoleum bomb almost killed him, but Blofeld seit it all up. So he learned she wasn't behind it, and takes her back and Mathilde was his child and wasn't about to leave her either. However when the nanopoison is targeted towards them he has to keep away, and I guess kills himself to not be tempted to go be with his family in spite of that. Also he could be used as a weapon since he can't t be rid of the nanopoison. Not sure if all this makes sense, but it's just a theory.

[@darknessviking]

just use the emp xD that ends the nanobots. what a stupid movie

[@lukan1u5]

Agree with everything in this comment thread. (expect for darknessviking i actually thought the movie alright)

[@maxibartel]

Don't agree on the ending but the acting part is true - along with Lea the performances were stellar.

[@andyfromthemurray6683]

He also can't leave because if he touches anyone else that will keep spreading until it reaches madiline and matil

[@leecroft1983]

Very good point. Amazing how many people don't seem to think of this.

[@saintjimmy4561]

So.. wear a pair of gloves from now on. I think I'd choose that over being killed by missiles.

[@DiagonalByte]

@@saintjimmy4561 Would you risk that with your own child?

[@joeconcertshd3451]

Saw NTTD a 2nd time tonight. I accept the ending more now, it is what it is. I did actually tear up at bit right at the end when Madeleine says to the daughter I'm going to tell you about Bond, James Bond. Was a nice touch. Malek's motivation to me stems from him becoming crazy to the point of no return. Could even compare it to Prince Philip once saying he'd come back as a virus and wipe out the human population.

[@passiveagressive4983]

I cried when Bond died too

[@ChristopherJohnBall]

I've just come from seeing this at the Odeon Imax at Swiss Cottage. I loved it to be honest. I have been a Bond fan since the 60's when I 'borrowed' my fathers Ian Fleming books. My father and Bond always connect with me because of ... well that is for a book I intend to write. I then saw my first Bond film in 69 - 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' - and was blown away. I then caught up with re-releases and double bills. Bond has meant a lot to me - an awful lot. My Masters thesis was on the Cultural Iconography of Bond. I used to bore all with my love of all things Bond - don't all Bond fans do that;-) I fully get your passion. Bond got me through a lot of difficult times - again something for a future project. It actually helps me in my campaigning for disability rights. It is a long story. But I have come away loving this film. One thing that this film has given future Bond films is a sense of true jeopardy for the character. We all knew, in previous films, no matter how bad the situation, Bond would survive. It kind of took away some of the tension that does exist in the books. Now, we can have that sense of jeopardy, tension etc.

[@MrJakeypakey]

I generally liked the movie, but I will admit that I just have trouble with the concept of Bond dying. I personally think that the "immortality" of the character is as much of a staple as the theme song, the gunbarrel or anything else (although a less conspicuous and less often discussed one). Bond himself has always been more important that the actor that plays him, despite the fact that so many of the actors have become iconic for playing him, and I feel like the last half of this movie flipped that dynamic and made the actor playing Bond more important than Bond himself. There is a lot to like about NTTD, but I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the ending had left Bond's fate ambiguous. If the audience had been allowed to imagine either that Bond died or that he got out and chose to live the rest of his life in hiding for Madeleine's and Mathilde's sake, that would have given Craig his swansong and allowed for a reboot while still preserving the mystique of the character.

[@michaelspofforth2898]

Absolutely TOTALLY agree there matw

[@edflood]

Yes, in the years leading up to NTTD, I thought he'd be killed but that it would deliver some last second ambiguity to wonder, what if? I am still stunned they didn't choose that route as it would've been perfect closure to Craig's departure.

[@AC-tn9hg]

I agree also. They should not have shown a close up of bond getting blown up. Would have been better to have mae it ambiguous...

[@AC-tn9hg]

I agree also. They should not have shown a close up of bond getting blown up. Would have been better to have mae it ambiguous...

[@michaelspofforth2898]

@@AC-tn9hg Totally with you there

[@nigelinasia2088]

The idea of killing off all of SPECTRE by an "upstart" seems to be based on an unused idea by Anthony Burgess for TSWLM. Loved the bits they pulled out of the book YOLT. (And don't forget Bond gets Kissy Suzuki pregnant...)

[@nigelinasia2088]

Calvin, the ticking clock. A messy international situation was emerging. Could have risked the factory's destruction being delayed. Bond (and M) did not want to chance that. BTW, the nanobot is "eternal" thing is not far fetched at all. The experimental vaccines we see out there are the same, according to experts.

[@nigelinasia2088]

Calvin, the "kick ass" moment after Bond's death is Madeline telling their daughter, "I am going to tell you a story..." Not kick ass as in action. Kick ass in heart tugging.

[@SPECTRE_Madman]

And then he loses his memory and she keeps him then he escapes he gets brainwashed by Russians tries to kill M goes back to being a double O And his son dies at the hands of Blofelds love interest

[@cutthr0atjake]

For me, it seemed to be a mix of You Only Live Twice and the original Metal Gear Solid game. (Foxdie anyone?)

[@onechi]

My question is, how did Spectre not know about Safin? Based on their extensive global surveillance and the 9 Eyes program from the previous movie?

[@davidjames579]

The film apparently had about 20 mins cut from it, so this would explain plot holes. I agree that the end section definitely has parts missing. Safin's reveal to Bond that Matilde is his daughter is played as if Bond already has found out. And it's like Bond knows Safin's reason for his big plan, but we don't see this. Safin wants to kill off those who don't deserve to live, but how does he determine who that is?

[@calvindyson]

I reeeeeally hope there are deleted scenes on the blu ray when it comes out. I know they’re a bit cagey when it comes to those things but I’m holding out hope…

[@lemming2097]

@@calvindyson It'll only be more crying and apologising.

[@i.ronbutterfly8068]

@@calvindyson I kind of interpreted Madeline saying "she's not your daughter" as in 'you didn't raiser her, I did'.

[@TunezCottage]

@@i.ronbutterfly8068 That was definitely the intended effect of the scene. It was the way she said it too. Weird how some people didn't catch on to that.

[@TheSchaef47]

Even if Bond didn't find out in a cut scene, Safin probably doesn't assume Bond is an idiot who wouldn't have worked it out immediately.

[@benhaslam1312]

I really didn't mind the ending at all. I felt the emotion of it, even though I saw it coming from the moment that Bond put Madeline on the train at the end of the PTS. I do feel that Purvis, Wade, Fukunaga or Craig decided how the film would end before working out the plot points that got them there, which I think is what results in the less than clear plotting of the last 20 minutes. SPECIFIC SPOILERS The way that I read the final moments was Bond was already in very bad shape from the multiple bullets he received from Safin and the issue with the nanobots was much more complicated than he can't touch Madeleine or Matilde. Bond kills Blofled because he grabs Madeleine's wrist. Transfering the nonobots to him. So these nanobots are highly transferable, anyone who came into contact with a bleeding out 007 after the moment that Safin breaks the vial would have also been a walking death sentence for those he loved. Any paramedic, any colleague, any friend. So not only would Bond not be able to see his new family and have to go back to a life of 'killing time, rather than having something to live for' (to paraphrase Nomi) but also the nano virus he now carries could potentially travel from contact to contact and eventually kill his family anyway. Deciding to stay and die in the missile blast was the only way to ensure they were safe. Which really is the only thing a man like Bond can do. Was this poorly written and explained? Yes Could the writers have contrived a different ending? Yes Is there enough evidence in the text of the film to support this theory? Yes Would the ending be better received if more clearly explained? Probably yes. My problem with writing a happy ending for the film, where Bond goes to be a family man is, like Mr White, by Bond being with them he is putting them in danger, he has killed a lot of people and one day someone might turn up, like Safin, and want revenge. The nano virus is a literal manifestation of 'everything he touches withers and dies' (Greene in Quantum). However much he wants to be with them his presence in their lives has the potential to kill them. Skyfall (well) Spectre (badly) and No Time to Die (also pretty well) explore the collateral damage of being a man of violence and part of the world of espionage, so many of the characters reach violent ends because of the decisions they made in life and many others meet an undeserved fate because of those same decisions. All of Craig's run as the character has focused on the effects living the life of James Bond would have physically and mentally on a human being. '00s have a very short life expectancy' Craig's Bond can't walk off into the sunset because something will always pull him back into the shadows. Finally, for a thought experiment, imagine this wasn't Craig's last film, imagine he'd signed on for Bond 26. Craig's Bond has gone back into retirement, he's settling down with Madeleine and Matilde, the next film can't start with a call from M 'Bond, I know you've got a Parents Evening to go to, but do you mind coming back and saving the world?' Madeleine (at least) would have to die to drive Bond back into the Shadows and allow for a new Bond Girl and a suitably pissed off Bond to complete his mission. Of Bond doesn't die in No Time to Die, then someone else close to him will pay the price. It might not have been the ending to Craig's last Bond that I would have wanted, but I think it may have been the one that the character needed. I apologise for the slightly rambling rant.

[@Zeppelin180]

Think the idea of Bond having the nano bots is not just that he won’t be able to touch Madelyn/Mathilde again, it’s the fact that everybody he touches from then on is infected etc etc until it’s inevitable it will reach them at some point? He’d basically have to never have any human contact again?

[@1Chasg]

Great point. Now that you mention it yes that's how it would happen. Q says earlier it lies dormant and spreads until it can eventually reach it's intended target.

[@Driftking859]

But even then there is a plot hole because Saffin gives Madeleine the poison who spreads it to Bond who kills Blofeld, so by the logic it spreads anyway means they were doomed anyway

[@MFloresReviews]

@@Driftking859 the one Safin gave to Maddy was targeted to Blofeld only. The one he gave Bond was specifically targeted to her and the kid.

[@Driftking859]

@@MFloresReviews yes but what Richard's comment suggests is that every time you touch someone and you have the heracules it spreads until it gets to the target

[@adotgif]

This is true. He was also in really bad shape and probably couldn't have escaped, anyway.

[@BadeniaFilme]

Safin probably wore a protective vest, with which you still can get hurt (explaining the small drop of blood), but not getting killed. And the kinetic energy is still strong enough pushing him down the balcony

[@jimc9183]

Honestly, I hated most of the chances EON took with this one. Yes as a movie it had some incredible cinematography etc, but I felt almost punished for being a fan upon leaving the theatre. First comment to my wide was that I feel this could be seen as the last PROPPER Bond movie... everything from here on in feels somewhat tarnished, I personally never wanted to see the final paragraph of bond, I feel that should have been Flemmings story to tell, he didn't, choice, time whatever its noon else's story to tell I feel.

[@hblanche]

Greetings Calvin! Just saw the film with a friend on Monday. Waited until now to watch this review. I agree with most of what you say. However, my friend had the same objection that you did regarding Bond resigning himself to dying and making no attempt to escape at the end. And at that time, without hesitation, I told him that he didn't see the big picture. So let me share with you what immediately occurred to me. Safin breaks the vial and spreads the nanobots to himself and then touches Bond which means he now has the nanobots that could kill the love of his life and his daughter forever. Earlier in the film Madeleine touches Bond who in turn passes the nanobots to Blofeld which kills him. Even then Q mentions that once you have them you can't get rid of the nanobots. They're eternal. So here's the situation. It isn't just that Bond can never touch Madeleine and his daughter. He can't touch ANYONE. EVER. He can't risk the nanobots being passed around from person to person and one day, even years or decades from now, eventually reaching Madeleine and Mathilde. Perhaps he could have lived out the remaining years of his life as a hermit on a remote island without any direct contact with another human again. But in those scant few minutes Bond can only think of one absolute, sure-fire way to have the nanobots never, ever spread. And that's to die right then and there. Just my two cents. Cheers!

[@Moothead2]

There's also the whole "The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them", it came up earlier in the film too. He can't be with his reason to live, he's giving up living for the sake of living at the end.

[@dreamawake2670]

@@Moothead2 Indeed a weakling.,

[@dreamawake2670]

Youre not a masculine man at all, are you?

[@Zroolmpf_Celmbror]

Probs could have used that EMP watch to fry these nanobots eh?

[@MegaDudeman21]

You explained that beautifully

[@NathanielWhittoUpdates]

Honestly I'm shocked that I love the third act the most, when everyone else seems to love everything from Matera to Cuba. Which was great still.

[@beethockmtee8565]

I love the third act the most. The rest was great too and I can see why the finale is the polarising section.

[@mmeloy90]

Honestly that's when I got emotionally invested, I was enjoying the first half. But the second half is when I really cared what happened.

[@willemdevos2587]

I was hoping M would say “and bond, don’t die” then bond would reply “ there’s no time for that”

[@VasudevAnandcva]

or he could say 'there's no time to die'

[@Muskateering]

@William Guzman or "bring me my sausage sandwich ya bastard I'm hungry"

[@robertwild9447]

I personally was very moved by the ending of No Time to Die, and I'm still processing it. I'm not disputing any of the plot holes you mentioned, and I 100 percent agree that the ticking clock element of it could've been handled much better. I'm just being honest about my experience. The Daniel Craig Bond era is extremely important to me, and I found the last 10 minutes to be quite emotional and poignant. On Her Majesty's Secret Service is also one of my favorite Bond films, and I really saw this as sort of the inverse of that, or like a spiritual remake or sequel to it. But don't get me wrong, I am of two minds on all the callbacks and reusing that song again at the end. While it worked for me, I COMPLETELY understand why it didn't land for you, and why the entire ending in general will be pretty divisive for both hardcore fans and general audiences. Just because it worked for me and I was still emotionally invested doesn't mean i don't see the issues with it or how it could've been done better. I also don't think you're any more or less of a Bond fan for either loving or hating this ending. It's gonna land differently for everyone, and that's fine. I guess I just personally found the ending to be more bittersweet than a downer. I like the final shot of Madeline and her daughter a lot, and giving her the line "Bond. James Bond" which I thought was a nice bookend to how Casino Royale ended. I'm bummed that you hated the ending Calvin, but like I said, I totally understand why it didn't work for you and why it's so divisive. But I also agree that No Time To Die ranks in about the middle of Craig's run for me. I like it more than Quantum of Solace and Spectre overall, but I still like Casino Royale and Skyfall more.

[@RJSRdg]

Skyfall isn't a sequel. It was retconned into one by Spectre, but in itself it is a standalone movie.

[@SaberRexZealot]

@@RJSRdg yeah wished they didn’t do that. Connecting Silva to Spectre added nothing to that film.

[@paulevans9307]

So, from your summary... You had no time to digest?

[@pret0n]

You're spot on from the perspective of this Bond fan. No Time to Die is the best film I've ever disliked. They did so many awesome things, but there was just no good reason to kill Bond off at the end that I can see, and I've rarely felt more deflated and depressed coming out of a movie.

[@AM-uk3vm]

Honestly I think bond dying was the only real reason Craig decided to play bond again after specter

[@pret0n]

@@AM-uk3vm I've become pretty conflicted about the Craig era. I think Bond is at his best when he can be taken seriously, and I think Casino is the best of the series. But it seems like they were conflicted about going back to more "traditional" style Bond films after that. QoS made sense as a revenge sequel, I was fine with that; Skyfall is quasi-traditional in that it reintroduces a lot of formula elements and sets them up for the future. But then, for whatever reason, they decided to go off in this very different direction for these last two movies (apparently with a lot of influence from Craig), and I don't think it ultimately worked very well. It's obvious they didn't have a grand narrative in mind when they started, which results in a lot of weird plot holes and character choices. Spectre is a mess; NTtD does a lot to redeem Spectre, but they threw a wet blanket on practically all of their hardcore fan base by killing the character in the penultimate scene of the movie for no apparent reason. I dunno, I really like Craig but I wonder how things might be different if they had cast Henry Cavill, or even Clive Owen (who was my 1st choice back then).

[@dreamawake2670]

@@AM-uk3vm And that he could get his mangina diversity bs opinions in the movie.

[@pr-tj5by]

@@pret0n I think Craig was a dreadful Bond, I'm just glad he's gone tbh

[@jamesf7795]

@@pret0n I don't see why you like Daniel Craig. I agree with most of your points, and I like Daniel Craig as an actor. But as a Bond... he has no charm... no sense of humor... he is short... and he has big ears. Jason Statham would have been a better Bond. Furthermore, Bond as a character worked just fine when he wasn't an emotional mess. Bond used to work great when it when the story was more about figuring out who the bad guy was and what their plan was. And lastly, Why even have the new girl play 007 she contributed nothing to any scene. Her role in the film was utterly pointless. I desperately hope they can get back to making FUN bond films again.

[@nicominott4122]

About the gunbarrel; I think Bond fading away foreshadows his death. Also, because he dies, there is no blood, as the "shooter" in this instance won.

[@TANG3RINE95]

Oh wow that's a really cool interpretation!

[@1980redkremlin]

That's cool 😎

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

It was a terrible gunbarrell, crazy how the 90s Brosnan CG gunbarrell got it so much better.

[@plosis]

This was my thought exactly

[@TrekBeatTK]

I totally came to the same conclusion! His shot missed this time; he lost his duel with death.

[@JLee-ws4dl]

I didn't really like how easily Spectre was taken out, they'd been built up since Casino royale and then they're all killed off

[@dreamawake2670]

It was a sham, Spectre and Blodfeld came of as decadent losers that went to a victory party and then died of. Silly.

[@OfficialJab]

Spectre was built up since Casino?

[@JLee-ws4dl]

@@OfficialJab yes there was the mysterious organisation from Casino, which was then revealed as Quantum, which then later was revealed as a section of Spectre

[@OfficialJab]

@@JLee-ws4dl True. Not sure that was intentional building along the way, more continual retconning.

[@michaelgrist72]

I wept at the end. The line "I won't be a minute" was a great call back to OHMSS. I feel that the Craig Bond was always destined for tragedy and I felt that it was fitting that it would be his choice how he goes out. I'm trying to make a definitive list starting with Casino and ending with NTTD. when I'm done I'll try to post it once again here.

[@HiddenGhul]

My feelings are pretty similar to yours. Really really liked the first half. Cuba is some Craig era gold. The plot was also quite interesting, with Spectre and MI6/CIA operating while Safin is trying to undercut their plans. The second half just feels like Spectre all over again to me and I was pretty bored outside of that great stairwell scene.

[@alexdas2000]

I loved that Bond yells Die Blofeld Die! Right out of the YOLT novel

[@chrishandsome4267]

I hated that part, that’s not his character in the movies

[@demetrisross17]

The US release didn’t have that weird new gun-barrel, which I’m honestly glad they didn’t. It was the regular MGM lion then the pure black screen before the dots moved in classic fashion right to left. Pre title sequence I liked the Dr. No dots homage. Also...Safin is CLEARLY Dr. No save for his obvious name. Also the wind tunnel with the Aston Martin at M-I6 looked like the Q lab from Everything or Nothing.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I got far more of a 'Dr Shatterhand' from Fleming's 'You only live Twice' vibe from him rather than Dr No. He shares the now insane Blofeld's almost depressive mood and lack of faith in humanity.

[@demetrisross17]

@@jamesatkinsonja That I feel you on, as far as his mannerisms, he felt like a classic Bond villain. It was a shame he wasn’t fleshed out more.

[@troyschulz2318]

Different distributor, I believe.

[@jhjhjhjhjhjhify]

The thing about the Craig era was the fact that the producers decided to experiment with the Bond formula, push the limits of the series. It worked so well with CR and SF but Spectre was a mess in part because of this. The whole Bond and Blofeld are 'brothers' thing could have been avoided with the producers taking one look at the first draft of the script, realising it was taking a plot point from Austin Powers and got them to rewrite it with some limits in place. It's great that they have a more collaborative process now, especially between the actors, but the producers saying 'no' and taking a hard line on certain things is really needed. For all Cubby's odd decisions during his run he at least kept the basic formula alive, even when he continually reinvented the series.

[@samuelbarber6177]

I think, really, the aim was to see if they could do a Bond series, that had an overarching plot, like a lot of film series now, and tell a definitive story of 007’s life.

[@jhjhjhjhjhjhify]

@@samuelbarber6177 True, but at the same time I think there's something to the idea that Bond as a character is bigger than the actor who plays him or the series of films that they do, even if they reinterpret different aspects of the character. Again, it's a sort of respect for the series as a whole that I think the producers should really be there to embody. Also, just remember this, if they go for the whole 'James Bond is a codename' thing, they'll essentially be doing a Casino Royale '67. No one wants to do that...

[@samuelbarber6177]

@@jhjhjhjhjhjhify I completely agree. Bond is like Batman, Superman, or even the Doctor from Doctor Who or any other long lasting character. As with any long running staple, he’s going to be interpreted differently by different people, writers, directors, actors, who will each leave their own mark on the character’s history as well as update it for what modern audiences want. I don’t really agree with the ending of this film, but it’s an interesting ‘changing of the guard moment’ and after Die Another Day, the series really had to go as far as possible in the other direction to wash that bad taste from audiences’ mouths.

[@UmbrellaGent]

It pains me everyday that we never got more films which followed the exact or similar approach that Casino Royale was created (I think Quantum of Solace definitely copied Bourne films way too much). I think it stroke a perfect balance between realism and espionage-fiction of previous Bonds. Skyfall came close and I like that they pushed the gadgets aspect just a little bit but it still doesn't quite hit it at the right spot for me.

[@samuelbarber6177]

@@UmbrellaGent Skyfall’s themes only really make sense when viewed with the other 22 films prior, because when seen just with Craig… Mate you became an agent like six years ago, you’re not a WW2 veteran.

[@charliewalker9443]

So……wouldn’t the EMP charge from Bonds watch simply have destroyed or stopped the Nano Bots inside of him? I even went to look it up and found this: “Generators onboard the nanobot could use the electrolytes found within the blood to produce energy, or nanobots could even be powered using the surrounding blood as a chemical catalyst that produces energy when combined with a chemical the nanobot carries with it. Capacitors operate similarly to batteries, storing electrical energy that could be used to propel the nanobot” So it looks like there is/was a very good chance they would be rendered useless in Bonds case because of his Watch.

[@redcommander27]

They were organic. Not really robots.

[@charliewalker9443]

@@redcommander27 When/where did they say that?

[@redcommander27]

@@charliewalker9443 M or Q refers to them as organic.

[@charliewalker9443]

@@redcommander27 I shall have to watch it again to see. Either way, they would not be permanent.

[@redcommander27]

@@charliewalker9443 Some viruses stay in your system for the rest of your life.

[@thegabrielhyde]

"They didn't want people to compare it to Avengers"-you mean where Tony Stark has a five year old daughter and then dies?

[@imranbecks]

The difference here being Stark died heroically sacrificing himself to kill Thanos and all his goons. Bond's death doesn't come close. This is basically Safin 1 Bond 0.

[@mrmac1483]

The script for No Time To Die was written before Endgame even released and filming started around the same time Endgame was in theatres. So they definitely didn’t copy anything from it, it just seems that way.

[@thegabrielhyde]

@@mrmac1483 I'm not saying they copied it, I'm saying if their aim was to avoid comparisons... oops.

[@jameschapman9236]

Copied Logan though…..

[@MrDylanJones]

It's going to be weird watching Casino Royale knowing most of the major characters die by the time No Time To Die. Vesper - Dies in Casino Royale Mathis - Quantum of Solace M - Skyfall Felix - No Time to Die Bond - No Time to Die

[@hristol7537]

Hotel - Trivago

[@MrDylanJones]

@@hristol7537 That was the saddest one 😭

[@NJTCOMET]

Mr. White aswell

[@Dohsoda]

Mr. White died in Spectre. He's really been a critical character since his 3rd turn up in Spectre and the factor that Bond ends up with his daughter.

[@abisnow1843]

something I spotted in the title sequence was that the Athena statue had a moment where blood appeared on its cheek.... the same place where he's poisoned later. The Athena statue in general was really cool, it had a trident thing that became Bond's symbol on Q's screen. Oh, and the guns firing and looking like a double-helix. I spotted that, and instantly knew it was something to do with DNA. I really loved the sequence.

[@nascarsam6161]

The opening credits in Skyfall and Spectre (especially Spectre) foreshadowed events that would take place later in the movie. So not surprising it happened in No Time To Die. Still a very interesting detail to notice though.

[@Threadoflength]

All said, i would give this film a positive mark. Certainly better than Spectre (not that that is a hard bar to cross). Pros: - The plot in general. The nano virus was a different take on the classic "virus that kills the world" trope, and one that made at least a bit of sense. Bond being retired and then coming back for one more mission was also handled well for the most part. - The score. Billie Eyelash's terrible title dirge excepted the score was wonderful. - Sets and setting. The settings were tremendous and with sets to match. The island base, the Norwegian woods, the sinking ship, 10/10. - The call backs. I really enjoyed all the little nods to previous bond films. It's not something you'd want in every film, but for this one it seemed appropriate. - Bond's death. I was really worried when i heard that bond dies in the film that it would be played for cheap shock value, but it wasn't. It actually made sense narratively and was handled respectfully. Now I almost wish they had killed off all the previous bonds too xD Cons: - The baddie. Remi Malek is creepy as fuck, which is good, but Saffin is a hot mess. His backstory is... not necessary? Honestly i don't need a back story for the villain. Not every villain needs to be like Silva. The most bothersome thing was actually his power. I feel like the Craig universe was suffering a little from DBZ syndrome where each bad guy introduced needs to be even more powerful than the last, but when the first one is already Omnipotent (silva) it gets ridiculous and hard to believe very quickly. Blofeld suffered from this in Spectre too, but at least he was the head of a massive cabal, so it was.... at least somewhat believable. Saffin takes down spectre and breaks through Mi6's security so easily yet they make 0 effort to tells us how that would be possible. - Blofeld. Once again Christoph Waltz rears his ugly head and reminds me of what a shit show Spectre was. They could have cut all the spectre/blofeld shit out and the movie would have been better for it. - Maddy Swan. Still terrible, just awful. No personality, no emotion, nothing worth dying for at least, lol. Compared to Vesper and Tracy she really drags down the emotional impact of a lot of the movie. - Title song. Easily the worst title song of all time. A boring dirge that does complete disservice to the amazing title/credit visuals, which were actually some of the best.

[@Keeneye47_Wolfkeen]

Honestly, while I do agree the ending has a lot of plotholes and such. I DO still think it was the logical ending for this version of Bond. This bond is distrusting, has suffered and lived through tragedy and still has never learned to trust or even forgive himself for Vesper. We learn more about his past in Skyfall and there he loses someone else who is precious. In Spectre, he meets someone new, someone who can maybe make him believe he can trust and create something for himself. And in this film, that trust is broken once again. The ending is him coming to terms with his past, present and future. He has someone to trust and love, he has put the past behind him and he is now ready to see what comes next. Even if it means never seeing the ones he loves ever again. Skyfall is still my favorite Craig era bond film for a lot of reasons. No Time To Die I feel is a solid enough film, but I also wouldn't blame anyone for finding the ending the biggest reason they knock it down to enjoyable, but flawed. For me, I'd say it is a solid conclusion for the Craig era of bond films and I look forward to what we see next. Both in terms of a new Bond and the next line of movies.

[@ohauss]

To me, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace are far superior to what came after. These movies had a reasonably consistent concept. Skyfall pitched the more human Bond of the Craig era against a cartoonistic villain, and that was trying to fit two very different movies into one. And No Time To Die tried to one-up that with an even more cartoonistic villain with even more over-the-top abilities/resources.

[@Keeneye47_Wolfkeen]

@@ohauss Oh yeah I agree. Though I do feel Skyfall is a really good movie in terms of it's concepts. Especially since while yes the villain is very cartoony, he was also very intimidating and powerful. Cause he came from the same place as Bond.

[@pr-tj5by]

@@Keeneye47_Wolfkeen I never understood how people saw Silva as anything but Cartoonistic, then again I've never been a fan of Craig's Bond

[@pr-tj5by]

@@ohauss Never liked Craig's movies except for CR , The most I enjoyed his Bond was the first part of Spectre before he met Dr Swann and ruined it by falling in love again, he actually started to show the funny and cool side like yesteryear's Classic Bond's of Brosnan Moore and Connery but it didn't last

[@Zeltik]

I was pretty mixed after my first viewing, but on my second I actually enjoyed it a lot more, going in knowing the twist(s) already. I think the film has numerous plot holes and flaws which would be FAR easier to ignore if this story didn’t result in Bond’s death. Because the story is carrying such a huge emotional payoff, it needed to be airtight, which it wasn’t. If the film ended with Bond escaping the island, keeping the whole nanobot-pariah twist with Safin’s vial, we’d leave the cinema having seen a really vibrant, fun adventure film with a tragic twist like that of OHMSS, and all the silliness could be waved aside like with most entries in the series. Italy, Cuba, Norway are incredible action sequences, some of the best in the entire series, and some parts of Safin’s base were brilliant too. Bond squad wiping Safin's goons in the blast door control tower was a highlight. I personally loved the music, and the humour often landed well. Loved how it wasn’t at all afraid to lean into silly Bond, with Blofeld’s bionic eyes and an absurd apocalyptic threat. Still feel like I'm missing something about Safin himself - he's creepy but I think there are a lot of loose threads with his story. Blofeld was again handled poorly. Craig shouting “die!” and choking him seemed so out of character that I thought it was going to be revealed to be a dream or a hallucination or something. Truly bizarre way to end a Blofeld that never really got going. I think Bond’s death is well done (despite a convoluted setup involving completely arbitrary time limits), and would have been a great end to another protagonist. Maybe I’m still a bit in shock, but I still can’t believe they killed him. And again, the film building up to such an impossibly huge ending makes any and all flaws in the script stand out far more than they would otherwise. Would anyone really care too much about how underdeveloped Safin was if his purpose was to give us a villain with a cool base for Bond to blow up? I doubt it, but because NTTD will be known as the film that killed Bond, the film’s flaws are far more exposed. Overall I think it’s a really fun film, but I still need to chew on some of the massive decisions they made to work out what I think about them. Despite plot holes, underdeveloped characters and an ending I’m not sure on, NTTD is a really entertaining film imo

[@mikulaszach2652]

Agreed, It was a great film with some bugs, but I enjoyed it so bloody much! And yes, I did read the whole text 😄

[@marcokrueger3399]

Thumbs up for your comment, I 100% agree. I think if they didn't kill him, I wouldn't have had mixed feelings about it. The cinematography was so beautiful, the comedic aspect was on point imo, the score was good, it didn't pop like Skyfall's did (but that was bad at Spectre where they recycled whole pieces of Skyfall), but I hate the ending. Maybe some plot idea: Bond get's off the island, then they blow it up. Bond discovers that he can kill the nanobots with his EMP-Watch and his life and the life of his daughter would have been saved by Q. Q saved him so often, and now he saved his entire family. What do you think?

[@DafyddBrooks]

I just wanted Tingle to help Bond out :)

[@gamonstudios]

This, so much this. I believe the movie would’ve ended stronger if bond’s death was ambiguous. Look at it this way We see bond’s last message for Madeleine, but we never cut to shot where we see bond explode. Instead we see the island being bombed from far away, whilst everyone is being dramatic (or cut that too, just the island explosion deliver its emotional impact). Then we see MI6 mourn bond like in the movie. Thenwe go to madeleine’s final scene with mathilde. But instead it shows them arriving to their home in Norway. Now, remember that bond picked up mathilde’s rabbit before exploding? Well then we see a cleaned up rabbit tied up with a bow or bow tie or something like a gift left inside the house. Did bond survive and deliver that rabbit? Who knows? This is what I think would’ve improved the ending and would allow for more online buzz by having people wonder if bond survived or not.

[@jackbauer5455]

I didn’t mind them killing Bond however the way they did was a bit of a wild one I mean he was blown up 😂 why not let him die with dignity from his injuries or not show his death make it ambiguous it would far better ending in my opinion.

[@davidmills1213]

Upon the 2nd rewatch there is a scene when Bond meets up with Nomi on the Island with Madeleine & Mathilde. He starts introduces them both to Naomi saying, “This is… err This is….” then turns around and mumbles the word “My family”

[@RhetoricalMuse]

Nomi. Sure you watched it twice ?

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I think he knew from the start. Things were still frosty between him and Swan and I think she was trying to warn him off, but he stays and there is a thaw between them

[@bigvern586]

Was a nice scene; comedic and poignant. Unfortunate that it is a continuity error, as Madeleine and Nomi had already met each other at Belmarsh prison

[@ssrreevvaadd]

@@RhetoricalMuse as an American I found it hard to figure out if her name was Nomi or they just pronounce Naomi differently than I do

[@davidmills1213]

@@RhetoricalMuse my bad, I had to check IMDb for that, my brain must have just autocorrected all this time lol

[@KalEl290]

Thank you for your thoughts Calvin. I’ve been looking looking forward to and holding off from watching this video for about a month as I’m in Australia. I loved the film. It’s messy in places, and I can see what you’re saying - they contrived quite a bit to arrive at the ending that they wanted. But emotionally it still landed for me. Perhaps part of that was, as you say, because it was also Craig saying goodbye, but it was still engaging for me either way. Based on your non-spoiler, I thought you were going to have more problems but it really feels like the ending was the one aspect for you that upset things. I’m sorry it didn’t work for you. Thank you for all you did in keep the community fuelled while we waited for the film!

[@bobbyharrop8817]

In relation to Safin; I really think that his character arc was heavily rewritten in relation to the pandemic. This explains why his end goal is pretty unclear and could also be why we never elaborate on how he survives the shooting and fall in the pre credits, how Mr White never sought revenge on him, what took him so long to do anything in relation to Spectre

[@davidjames579]

@Longface Which would fit with the rumoured Cloning storyline.

[@leejones8582]

The nanobots were basically corona China has killed millions and not faced any punishment or anything

[@mrmac1483]

I don’t see the big deal behind the mystery surrounding Safin’s survival. He went to the house armed with a mission to kill Mr. White and his family…of course he’d be prepared with a bulletproof vest or some other form of armour under his clothes. The force of the bullets is what knocked him back and the fall probably knocked him unconscious.

[@argento2665]

Not to say I don't believe EON but they announced in April 2020 that there would be no reshoots or re-edits. The film would be released as is.

[@RichardHorpe]

@@mrmac1483 yeah probably cracked a few ribs too.

[@alexlazzerly3677]

Considering this was Daniel Craig’s last film anyways and the next Bond will be rebooted, I think killing him off by the end was the only place they could have concluded this Bond’s story. I feel like it’s been leading up to this moment. How else were they gonna end it? Him retiring AGAIN? It just made the most sense that he would give his life the way he did.

[@ghostgalaxy2000]

i agree

[@JTOKIPPER2008]

I agree, if Bond is going to be a franchise that lasts another 50 years then it’s inevitable he would die on screen at some point. As for the future I think it will benefit it, and it will add stakes to every Bond film. Do you remember actually watching a Bond film, believing he could die? It’s adds a whole other element. Also he was shot in the back by Safin, he wouldn’t have been able to get a boat, get to shore, and survive that. He chose to use his last moments to save the world, there is nothing more “Bond” than that.

[@bigkmoviesandgames]

I'd just have him drive off into the sunset. He's like 50 let him live his life it'll be fine.

[@cookiesontoast9981]

I do see where everyone else is coming from but overall yeah I agree with you.

[@MrBassem95]

I think him becoming the new M would work

[@Spacemonkey_Mafia]

My thought re: the nanobots is that Bond knew that, if he left the island with the bots on him, they could be transferred from person to person; and that even if he was on another continent, they might never be truly safe. This is at least the narrative I’m telling myself to make the ending “work” in my mind.

[@ZGBurk]

That's the idea. He's a danger to them. Plus he just isn't interested in life without them anymore.

[@FireTrainer92]

@@ZGBurk Basically Metal Gear Solid 4

[@luc-rikardofils6673]

I am with Calvin. I really hope that somehow someway James Bond survived all that. My theory on how he would is that Q mentioned that he didn’t know how powerful the electromagnetic watch was. Maybe the watch was so powerful it disabled the nanobots and Bond’s body. There have been powerful gadgets like that in Bond movies before. And that potentially we did see the explosion hit the building he was on, but he miraculously could’ve been blown off into the ocean. Stuff like that has happened before too, including in real life!

[@skiko15]

@@luc-rikardofils6673 but the EMP device was not powerful enough to break/disrupt his communication device with Q..? 🤷🏻‍♂️ That part irked me.

[@SaberRexZealot]

@@FireTrainer92 yeah it was very MGS4

[@PictureProductStudio]

Rami Malek is exactly 40 years old. He's just one of those actors who's age is somewhat hard to pick up from their looks. Safin might even be like 18-19 in this scene, because Malek can sell that and it sort of makes sense. Oh, and maybe I'm too fond of downer endings because they hit closer to home in my case, but I liked it for what it's worth. It is pretty hard to make a memorable ending you will think about in a series that has 24-26 other movies (I am counting Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again, I like both too which I know is usually odd for a fan of franchise overall), but they managed to and at this point in the franchise... Why not? I might be biased because sad endings with philosophical sacrifice or questions uplift me way more because they make me think, while most happy endings just feel unearned from my perspective of the world. I am honestly not sure how on Earth I am also a James Bond superfan with that perspective of the world (said encyclopedic knowledge pretty much applies to me sans a few novels and movies here and there I've been hoarding purposefully and still know pretty much all of the plot: being spoiler-immune has perks), but here we go. I guess I'm more of a Fleming writing guy than a Bond guy, actually, come to think of it. OHMSS is one of my special favorites in the series and I liked all the callbacks.

[@MrStuDubb]

Casino Royale - A Quantum of Solace - D Skyfall - A+ Spectre - C No Time To Die - B+

[@scottjo63]

I think a REMAKE is in order for QOS.

[@PsychoMetalKid]

@@scottjo63 hell, I’ll accept just a RE-EDIT of the film, making the all the shots in every action sequence last long enough to comprehend what is going on, in a similar style to Casino Royale

[@bkc6873]

Quantum of solace is much better then Spectre

[@TheSkyline35]

Spectre is so bad, and that's why I completely went through No Time to Die... In comparison, QOS, following the brilliant Casio Royale, is a good follow up, and at least action scenes are intense, you feel the urge to survive, the emotional state of Bond after the lose of Versper, it's solid. I really didn't bite the Madeleine story, so poorly executed

[@elwallas7712]

@@TheSkyline35 FINALLY SOMEONE THAT THINKS THE SAME

[@georgemackay5735]

It would be great if Bond movies went back to being fun. This trend of each one being more dour and miserable than the last is killing me.

[@jimbogreen7029]

This one is more fun than spectre, probably the most colorful since Casino Royale

[@benneidl9336]

You know, I agree it turned out that way. I loved Casino Royale and how it gave us a more grounded Bond that steered away from the vanilla and sometimes silly lows of the later Brosnan films. But over the course of the last four movies the Craig era baby stepped its way over to a really dreary place. I totally expect the next iteration to be a lot lighter. That’s not just a pendulum swing thing (although it is that too). A lot of the most successful action movies these days include a lot of humor and don’t take themselves too seriously (Marvel, Fast/Furious), and I think you’ll see them go after that in the next Bond chapter. You might even see them seek out a Taika Waitit or James Gunn to direct it. This would probably be the way to go because, whether you liked them or not, the Craig movies are the quintessential “serious and heavy” take on the property-there’s really no point in doubling down on that with the next guy. We haven’t seen light and fantastic Bond in a while, so I think that’s where they’ll go. When Die Another Day came out I said to myself, I’m ready to move on, this has gotten to silly. With No Time To Die, I’m ready to move on, this has gotten too dreary.

[@spencerrichards3532]

Well said George. We need that cheekiness - that wink...Brosnanesque....Hardy could achieve that.

[@captainbrodude8251]

@@spencerrichards3532 Hardy.....you're basing him bringing a lighter tone on Inception (and a lesser degree Venom) aren't you?

[@spencerrichards3532]

@@captainbrodude8251 plus he’s done comedy. I would more say in the vain of the Legend Hardy. Good fit.

[@agraradudedude9564]

I don’t know if anyone noticed, but when Bond leaves Swann on the train and she’s crying that he left her, she holds her stomach. Maybe that was some foreshadowing for the daughter reveal

[@rickbatulan9535]

I noticed it

[@jacktorrance3522]

I also noticed it.

[@hollandfray4521]

When they’re first leaving the hotel she also says “there’s something I need to tell you” but but he’s not in the mood to listen.

[@tusidex5228]

I wasn't invested in No Time to Die at all. The plot line of the evil guy seemed so generic and uninteresting. Also for 4 movies The Spectre was behind everything but in No Time to Die Rami Malek comes along with his garden and destroys the entire organization in 15 minutes.

[@iainjames03]

After seeing NTTD, Mr White's "my wife left me years ago" line in Spectre could (at a reach) be taken to mean that she'd left him emotionally...? She was clearly an alcoholic at the very least and showed little love for her daughter. Though yeah - it seems a little strange that he would say that as if she was still alive...

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I thought it was odd that White said he turned against Blofeld because of his attacks were harming woman and children given he worked with terrorist financier Le Chiffre but even more so now we know he killed nearly an entire family.

[@iainjames03]

@@jamesatkinsonja the pitfalls of trying to bring some cross-film continuity to a movie franchise that really hasn't had much before.

[@DiagonalByte]

It could also be considered a euphemistic line, simple as that.

[@nicktalksbond]

The whole ending is rendered pointless given the very last words on the screen, after the credits. BTW nice to bump into you at BFI IMAX yesterday, sorry if I embarrassed you 😅 As for my thoughts on the film after two viewings, cracking first hour (up to return to London), real shakey second half. Cant make my mind up about it still. Makes me very concerned for the future, and ultimately, you shouldnt be walking out of a Bond film feeling that way.

[@calvindyson]

Haha not embarrassed at all it was great to say hi! 😁😁 looks like we’re on a very similar page regarding the film!!

[@nicktalksbond]

I would speculate that it was a condition of Craig’s return, the ending, and Broccoli indulged him, because in her words “she cant imagine Bond without him”. Interpret that as you will. Marketing guff, or an element of truth? Not that I wish to be cynical or anything. But to me it felt like a case of “we have to get to this point no matter what” rather than the story and creative decisions naturally leading there.

[@sashaking1115]

Wow you got to meet Calvin? You are so lucky!!!!!!!!!

[@YouTubechannel-sb7mv]

What were the words on the screen after the credits? I walked out of the cinema before that happened

[@nicktalksbond]

@@KZbinchannel-sb7mv The usual “James Bond will Return”

[@pavlovajack3561]

THANK YOU Calvin for articulating EVERYTHING my husband and I were feeling throughout this film. Like every single thing you mentioned; spot on. The ending WAS a writing/plot disaster, you're not being precious. We did feel way more when he put her on the train and when Felix died, (that really got me.) But the ending wasn't earned at all. They spent the first 2/3 of the film doing all the cool things they wanted to show during the first round table discussion, and completely forgot to set the plot up and establish character's motivations leaving us, well, not invested in any of the character's motivations. Which is why when characters were acting emotional at the end, it didn't resonate. I feel they didn't adhere to Bond's archetype here. (He's not supposed to talk that much or express his feelings so overtly. He's usually economic with his words. His job is everything and to change that you need a long drawn out set up explaining why he's changed.) In short, just bad writing. Bond deserved better than this.

[@kennythegreatbear]

Casino Royale is a masterpiece, Skyfall is a near-masterpiece, this was just a well directed movie with a very flawed script.

[@t.l3846]

@@Mike-wf1nm discourse has literally ruined franchises for people. Star wars, terminator, DC and star trek. I don't want that for bond. Honestly don't get how u can love this film. It's not a bond film from the third act within story. The base was cool but the whole nanobot virus reveal shit was super obvious and annoying. Watching bond die was just a downer of a ending. It's seems to be following a weird trend in films and tv, of killing off main characters for closure because people can't be imaginative to have something open ended these days. Iron man, luke skywalker, john connor and now bond to name some.

[@t.l3846]

@@kennythegreatbear well said

[@chrishandsome4267]

THIS!!! Thank you so much. They completely changed who Bond is at his core and that is a trained assassin who’s only mission is THE mission, I hated all the sappy love crap, a little bit is okay but god the new Bond girl is annoying af

[@t.l3846]

@@chrishandsome4267 i think they're chemistry is off tbh. His and ana de armas was way better in only 10 mins of screen time

[@jaquesravalec242]

I'm surprised you haven't referred to the For Your Eyes Only moment with Logan Ash.

[@mattjames7386]

He literally did

[@adamfreddo5703]

I'm just kidding, but imagine if Bond was like "welcome to hell Blofeld" when he died. Also, I found out the ship that launched the missiles at the island was called "Dragon". Now it definitely is a coincidence, but there are so many references to Dr No I found it an ironic touch (referencing the "dragon" that guards Dr No's island). Like how it's ironic that Blofeld has a close subordinate with one eye, like Largo in Thunderball.

[@ARCtrooperblueleader]

I love it.

[@lovablesnowman]

HMS Dragon is a real Royal Navy type 45 destroyer though

[@vikramkachroo8844]

Also, the one thing I would say is that this is the first time that you have had a Bond actor with an all encompassing storyline over the five films. With that in mind I think it was always going to have an ending - be it happily ever after or a death. With the nature of Bond's life, he was doomed to never have the former. BTW - love your work

[@beethockmtee8565]

I agree. I think that the fact that Craig's Bond has an overarching narrative sealed the fate of this film's story. It couldn't end with Bond saving the day and bonking Madeleine over a bottle of champagne like a Roger Moore film could. It would be super unsatisfying as the end to a 15 year story. Bond driving off into the sunset with Madeleine a la Spectre wouldn't ring true either. That's not the life that Bond leads. He doesn't get a happy ending because of the life he's chosen. It had to end with Bond (or mayyyybe Madeleine) dying in my eyes.

[@SPECTRE_Madman]

I felt depressed after watching him die. Before he was killed, I was thinking come on you can escape they will find a way to get rid of these nanobots and you can be a family with Madeleine and your daughter.

[@AlphaShark]

I always have loved heroic sacrifices in movies, they are some of the few things that make me cry. But I had no emotion here because you’re absolutely right it didn’t feel earned! I would’ve rather this been the “bond has a family” and he retired movie. But I feel they wanted to be edgy and kill him, but they only decided that in the final draft of the script and rushed the ending. My sister who has literally never seen a James Bond movie absolutely loved the movie! She also called that he was going to die and I kept whispering back “no way! He’s never died, I’m betting a helicopter gets him out.” And she was right. So she was happy she was right and she has no emotional stakes with the character so she came out enjoying it.

[@thecurrentuniverse]

Oh, I wept. First time ever in a Bond movie. I've only seen all 5 of Daniel Craig's and one with Roger Moore.

[@marcuskahn3783]

The lab break in was sloppy; you'd think a secret bio weapons lab would have armed military + reinforcements instead of a handful of security guards that loiter around looking bored. Even the rural space station in Goldeneye had armed soldiers + an AWACS on standby despite getting wrecked.

[@Viking_Raver]

I’d agree with you in that, but after the last nearly 2 years, (if the theory is correct) it seems that Bio labs aren’t the safest places. Credit to the writers. SPECTRE foresaw surveillance and police state issues caused by Big Tech. And this had it not been delayed originally, saw the crisis of viruses before the one we are in

[@DiagonalByte]

I presume it's because the lab was in London- that is, in the heart of the empire.

[@Alfie-cu4np]

I went to see this film last night and I was blown away by it. I will definitely need to see it again but it’s safe to say that this film exceeded my expectations. Especially as it was my first time seeing a Bond film in the cinema. The start of the film felt like a horror a movie and the introduction to Safin was truly creepy and it was a rather tense opening with Madeleine’s mother being brutally murdered is horrific and the transition from Madeleine being trapped under the ice to her resurfacing in the water’s of Italy is a perfect transition. I love the drive to Matera and I was smiling as soon as I heard Louis Armstrong’s “We Have All the Time in the World” and the beginning of the film builds up to the bombing of Vesper’s grave perfectly. Then we get to the action sequence with the DB5 which is amazing and the Square Escape is really cool. And when Bond dumps Madeleine on the train is tragic and then we get to the title sequence. Billie Eilish’s No Time To Die is amazing and the opening titles by Daniel Kleinman are perfect, they are better than his Spectre opening titles, and I would say it’s on par with his Skyfall opening titles but not as good as Casino Royale opening titles, but his work is outstanding on this film. The scenes in Jamaica and Cuba are really cool, the reintroduction of Felix Leiter is perfect and the introductions of Nomi and Paloma are perfect, the action sequence in Cuba is amazing and the it’s a rather violent sequence which I enjoy as it doesn’t get Quantum Of Solace brutal, but that’s okay as there’s plenty of brutal action but it’s very enjoyable. Paloma could have been in it a bit more but her character serves her purpose and doesn’t outstay her welcome. The scene with Felix’s death really shocked me and I found really tragic as it harks back to Vesper’s death is an extra punch to the gut. When Bond gets back to MI6 is really cool, with Hans Zimmer’s rendition of the Bond Theme blaring away is perfect. Bond’s relationship with Mallory is the best in this movie as they bounce off each other perfectly and the rest of the MI6 crew are utilised perfectly especially the relationship between Bond and Tanner, as they have had a lot of screen time with each other in the previous two films, and the way he reprimands Bond for strangling Blofeld is interesting as Tanner hasn’t lost his cool with Bond before in Craig’s tenure, so that’s something I adored, a nice tiny bit of character development there. Q is amazing in this film especially with his home life and it’s rather cool to see how he lives. The scenes in Norway are excellent and the build up to the car chase and forest sequences are amazing, the suspense that was at the start of the pre titles sequence with Safin returns perfectly, Fukunaga is brilliant at building suspense in this movie, if people dislike his other creative decisions he is brilliant at creating suspense, there’s no doubt about that. Logan Ash’s death is so perfect and Bond avenging Felix’s death had me smiling with delight. The ending had me pumped it was suspenseful, action heavy and emotional. The dialogue scene between Bond and Safin was really chilling and it harks back to his dialogue scene in Skyfall with Bond and Silva which I thought was rather cool. The action sequence on the stairwell is really cool and editing works exceptionally well and Hans Zimmer’s score is perfect in that sequence as is Primo’s death, and it is the best fight/action sequence in the Craig Era. The final confrontation between Bond and Safin is quick and brutal, it could have been longer but I believe it serves it’s purpose. Nomi killing Obruchev is so satisfying as while he is comical he is a rather sadistic villain in the end and when Nomi kills him is brilliant and she dispatches of Obruchev in a rather brutal fashion which I believe was well deserved. At the end, when the realisation of Bond dying hit me hard, my eyes began to well up and I began sobbing, and I wasn’t the only in the cinema sobbing, I could hear other people crying in the screening and it was really tragic, the death’s of Bond and Felix hit hard and the ending was extremely emotional. I enjoyed the score and I can see why you dislike certain aspects of this film, and it’s okay to be precious Calvin as you are an expert and die hard Bond fan and I respect your opinion on this film. But I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and whilst it may not be everyone’s favourite, for me it’s above both Quantum Of Solace and Spectre, but I would say it’s not as good as Casino Royale and Skyfall. But I believe it’s a definitive and fitting ending to Craig’s tenure. I loved it, and as it was my first cinematic experience with James Bond, it will be a favourite of mine in that regard. Overall it’s the most gorgeous looking Bond film and I love the film as whole, it may not be one of my favourites, but it’s in my opinion, a perfect conclusion, not an excellent conclusion, but a perfect one.

[@wroncsu]

I've watched these videos for a while, but this is the first time I've felt the need to comment (and its a long one - so kudos to anyone who makes it through this novel of a comment). When Craig burst onto the scene in CR, he helped breathe new life into the series. It was a reimagining of Bond in a sense, but at the same time - it still felt like a Bond movie. But it was a gritty, more realistic take. This was the only film of his five where Craig had no input directly into the script writing process and I think that may partially be why its my favorite of his tenure. QOS doubled down on the vibe established by CR - and then some. It had its issues with the writers strike and script, but it still functioned as a movie that moved Craig’s Bond’s story along. It was billed as the first 007 direct sequel, but in reality, I don’t feel like that was ever that big of a deal. Other than Bond, M, Mr. White and Mathis - there was no carryover. I was frustrated by the script, Greene's plot not being over clear, and the way they handled Mathis' demise, but it's still a film I enjoy that has a lot of great moments. SF is admittedly a good film. But it’s where the Craig era went off the rails IMO. Him being old and over the hill after 2 movies of him “becoming Bond” felt so odd and misguided. But it ended with him back in M’s office and in his role as 007 and it felt like the future movies would carry on from that moment. But then came SP. Bond's off rogue again at the start of the film and they tried to make a film that felt like a Roger Moore vehicle at points - while also trying to introduce more of the emotional baggage and angsty pouting that Craig's era is synonymous with. IMO, EON getting the rights back to Blofeld and SPECTRE prior to this film was the worst thing to ever happen to this film franchise. If you screw up a film with a bad villain like in DAD? Well, you kill them off and move on with the next one. But because it was *Blofeld*, they had to bring him back and make him an element of Bond 25 unless they recasted/rebooted for Bond 25 - or just went full blank slate and ignored the events of SP. In watching the trailers for this film, I was initially hugely excited to see Mr. White back, see the continued Quantum storyline, and how it all fit together. But instead it felt like awful fan fiction. They retconned the 3 previous films into a single storyline, gave Blofeld and SPECTRE nothing interesting to do, and then ended with Bond retiring with Madeline (in a relationship that made next to no sense to me). In the time before Craig announced his return, I hoped like hell he would move on. Not because I didn’t enjoy him in the role, but because I did not want to see Bond 25 have to continue on with the plot threads left over from SP. Move on, new actor, clean slate. That's always been the beauty of Bond films, when DAD was a clunker, CR followed it up. When MR got too big and outlandish, FYEO followed it up. That's always been my favorite thing about this franchise. There's been very little throwing bad ideas after bad ideas and doubling down on things that didn't work. But Craig's era wasn't just about introducing "continuity" into Bond, it was about making one film, getting to the next, having some "grand" idea, and then inserting stuff in the next film that retconned plot points from the previous film(s). It feels like they made CR, had no idea where to go next with the franchise and literally made it up as they went along. But the films kept making $$$ and weren't getting critically panned like DAD - so hey, I guess they kept with that "formula". NTTD ended up confirming all of my fears about where Bond 25 would go after SP. I enjoyed the first hour or so and really did enjoy other chunks of the film. But they (again) gave Blofeld and SPECTRE nothing interesting to do, continued to force the Bond & Madeline relationship down the audience’s collective throats (and yes it was more believable this time around, but the foundation in SP was a joke - and I hate that across 5 films, Craig's Bond girl was his "true love" in 3 of them). NTTD seemed to again follow on with the tone issues in that they just couldn't ever figure out what type of film they wanted to make and what tone they wanted to strike. It took two films for Craig's Bond to "become Bond", but in film 4 with SP - he falls in love (again) - and then in film 5 with NTTD they write the plot to a point where Bond is essentially cornered with no way out and back into a "normal" life - so they kill him off. I personally don't like having any of the Fleming characters (Bond, Blofeld, Felix, Mathis) killed off. If Fleming didn't write death scenes for these characters, the crew who were a part of NTTD (or QOS for that matter) shouldn't have been afforded that "luxury". I felt the same way with what Benson did with Mathis and Draco in his Never Dream of Dying novel. At the very least with M's death in SF, that felt earned. Much of the other major deaths in the Craig era felt like contrivances that existed simply because they felt like "this is Daniel Craig's Bond - we have to up the emotional stakes at every turn". The Craig era undoubtedly took some risks, some good, some bad. However, if you’re going to take risks, why then try to placate fans by tossing in quotes from Fleming, the DB5 (again and again and again), OHMSS cues, etc? It's almost like they knew they were going to do somethings to upset people, so they threw some aspects of Fleming into the film to simply point at and say "see, we gave the hardcore fans what they wanted too". If you’re going to divorce the Craig timeline from everything that came before it and after it, then I wish they hadn’t tried to dump all of those references to the past everywhere. It all just felt so messy and moving in a million different directions from a script point of view. I also sincerely wish they’d opted to wait and roll out Blofeld and Spectre with Bond #7 because Craig’s era wasted those immensely. Waited decades for their return and they ended up as afterthoughts to the Craig era no matter how much they kept trying to position Waltz' Blofeld as a big bad in SP and NTTD. Between NTTD and SP, there was the story where Craig says he thought his Bond’s story was done at the end of SP, but Barbara convinced him that there was more story to tell. Did she promise to kill off Bond if he agreed to come back? And what of the Boyle script? What was the idea behind that script and did it have the same ending? It just feels like after CR, they had no idea where to go with these films and they stumbled their way in the dark for 15 years and ended up with this mess. Craig’s era has no collective feel, is all over the place narratively, and with SP - and now NTTD - has negatively impacted the films that came before it during his run in my eyes. I adore CR - and really like QOS and SF. But damn I wish Craig's era had simply ended after SF. Skyfall would have been the perfect final film for his Bond, the problem is that they made it for his 3rd one just 6 years into the role. It's also a shame to me because I would have loved to see Fukunaga get a shot at making a proper Bond film that didn't have to function as (1) a film in its own right, (2) a film to tie up the mess SP left behind, and (3) a swan song for Daniel Craig's tenure in this role. I think this film is going to do very well at the box office and Craig's tenure will be celebrated overall. It'll all be deemed as a success. But even with "James Bond Will Return" flashing on the screen at the end of this film, I think it's going to be years before we get any definitive news on Bond 26 and how that reboot will be handled. And in the eyes of the general public, I'm sure we'll be getting loads of "James Bond is a codename" and "they aren't making anymore, they killed him off in the last one" type of comments. Not to mention that Barbara and Michael G Wilson seem like they (1) are exhausted of Bond and (2) don't seem like they can dream of a future for Bond post-Craig. It's not just that the film ended on a very melancholy down note, it's that the future of this franchise seems to be so up in the air and that absolutely sucks as a life long fan of these films.

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

This ⬆️

[@Yuritotheworld]

Well said! Especially about SP and NTTD. I don't mind kill of major character, but as you said, it need to EARN it. M's death done it right, Bond's not. In my opinion, Felix's death feel more impact than Bond's. And that's saying something.

[@gillyharwoodl70]

I agree ., if Fleming didn’t kill characters off then they shouldn’t be killed off .

[@theinquisitor5518]

Totally agree with everything you wrote

[@geekliberty]

Thanks so much for articulating these thoughts. My initial reaction tonight was "this was a film that deserved better writing from the previous films to create a five film arc." The ending left me angry for feeling undeserved. I'm partially relieved that Bond didn't turn out to be a clone, and that they didn't Frankenstien the previous four Bonds to create a 25 film continuity, which would have broken the franchise for me and many others. Craig's era has ran into a similar hole of the Star Wars Skywalker Saga. Here we have a competent director Cary Joji Fukunaga, given directives to wrap up Craig's tenure, as well has retcon the last four films into a laughibly weak story arc. I'm happy with Fukunaga's execution from a technical standpoint, yet I'm left with little emotional impact at Bond's death at the end of NTTD. I mentioned Star Wars, because 'The Last Jedi' has grown on me over time, displacing 'The Force Awakens' in terms of enjoyment. Much like with Johnson's contribution to Star Wars, I would have appreciated for Fukunaga to havee been given the reigns of a fresh trilogy, with the same writers developing an arc across several films. A great arc requires consistent writing, the Craig era may as well be defined as a game of narrative telephone, unable to reach the operator to connect the call.

[@evajohnston4497]

Watched for the first time today as it just opened in Aus. Have also been waiting eagerly to watch your review and I have to say that I completely agree with you Calvin! Fantastic in parts but the end...I did get emotional but reflecting back it was more from a state of confusion, disappointment and panic with a touch of pulling on my heart strings, but that was maybe just the OHMSS music. It will definitely take time to digest this one.

[@justice5408]

To address what are Safin’s motivations for using the nanobots to kill people, it was about control. He craves it. We see in the first scene that he loves being above Madeline under the ice and in the scene with hostage like Safin-Bond deal with madeline’s kid, when Bond bows down to him he gets all thrilled. He loves it when people are submitted to his rule, and also when he spares the life of one he, as he says, develops a strong bond with them. So, by killing millions of people not only does he have control over the world (as in an instant he could kill anyone with their DNA) but he is now in love with everyone he “spared” also, and this may be misunderstanding, but i think the DNA nanobots we’re going to target world governments. i think he wanted to wipe them out so he could be in charge. i don’t know if the killing was meant to be indiscriminate or targeted regardless, i believe his motivations are relatively sound and straightforward in that he wants control over people

[@calvindyson]

Thank you so much for this detailed comment, justice! This made for a great read and really rings true to what we see in the film. I'll be keeping this in mind when I have my next cinema trip to see it again!

[@aaronmoore1597]

Also I think that bond chose to die because he couldn't be with Madeline or matild because of the nano bots safin smashed on his face so he had no motivation to escape because by just living he was putting his family in danger and he had already lost enough like Felix , vesper,M and he could not afford to lose his family because bond always has a reason to carry on like killing a villan savings people or being with loved one but he killed safin he saved everyone from the island and he can't be with Madeline or matild.

I thought he also wanted to do a death note thing by killing the people he thought to be bad to the world. And like Light in Death note get mad with the power.

[@aledseago8631]

Thanks for this Calvin. Interesting re: "too precious" to appreciate the ending. I'm probably as nerdy as you are about bond but I really rated everything, including the ending. I totally bought into it. Though I found myself actually sobbing at the end as I felt like I'd lost a big brother that had got my through a lot! Thanks for your review - even though we disagree about the ending I still really appreciated hearing your thoughts 🙂

[@P0UTY1]

I went a second time and enjoyed it much more

[@jxy566]

I've just come out of the cinema then came straight here. Still wiping tears from my eye. I loved the film and loved the ending.

[@jackboyce8296]

@@jxy566 same here and here. Felt like I lost family.

[@jons355]

You didn't miss anything, Safin was just incredibly thin as a villain. Great review of a solid but flawed end to the Craig era!

[@keithwysocki9003]

Calvin, I thought there was a "ticking clock" at the end because they had to wrap things up before the Japanese and Russians arrived. I suppose M or the PM could've just explained things to them, and it would've been fine, but maybe the diplomatic situation was so sticky that they thought they had to just get it over with? Not sure if that was the filmmakers' intent, but it was my interpretation.

[@Zroolmpf_Celmbror]

But the situation wasn't wrapped up in the slightest! They still blew up half of a disputed island. The Japanese and Russians were buzzing the British plane for even flying around in the area. It's not as if they're going to see the smoldering island and say, "oh well that's fine old boy. Carry on then!" Ridiculous

[@chrischiu-tabet9462]

I'm not sure if it's Bond's death that's the issue, but the denouement: less than five minutes must've passed between the moment of impact and when the credits began to roll. The Dark Knight Rises and Avengers: Endgame had significantly longer epilogues that really let the sacrifices of their heroes sink in, despite being as long or longer than NTTD.

[@HoustonSoto]

Those were ensemble pieces, the Bond films are about Bond. Once he died I don’t think hanging around for too long was a good idea for the audience. It would feel like they were milking it and being overly sentimental.

[@horrisnorris6478]

I felt there was a real lack of action spectacle in this film, and I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone else talking about it. It's such a Bond staple to have over the top action scenes that wow you with their sheer creativity, spectacle or silliness, and that put a big grin on your face - like the parkour and airport scenes in casino royale, skiing down a hill in a wingless plane in spectre, or fighting in a komodo dragon pit in skyfall. There were a couple of fun moments like that in the first act, but pretty much none at all for the rest of the film. The action scenes went for gritty gunplay and hand-to-hand combat, which was very well done, but I found it got quite samey and forgettable after a while, and it just really lacked that Bond magic and fun. I want Bond action to have me grinning ear to ear! The other big complaint that I have is that Bond just doesn't feel like Bond at all! He says exactly what he's thinking and feeling - the whole point is supposed to be that his emotions and pain are implied but hidden under the surface. I found that there was just a huge lack of subtlety in both the script and in Craig's performance. He comes across as very much shaken and stirred throughout! Most of the plot is driven by stuff happening to him and him just reacting to it. I also felt that the overall tone of the film was very melodramatic, and a lot of the emotional moments felt very forced and overdone. I felt the film was trying to manipulate me into feeling sad through music cues and people crying etc, rather than just letting these moments speak for themselves. Obviously this was at its worst with the ending, where there was really loud, sad music as Bond died, that went on for so long that it just felt really cheesy and forced. Also Safin and his island just felt like a total clone of the bad guy from Skyfall to me. The writers seem to have become obsessed with these creepy, awkward villains, which can be great, but this trope has just become so overused. I would have loved to see a classic, over-the-top, charismatic Bond villain who can carry the film with their performance! Overall it just didn't feel much like a Bond film to me at all, aside from a few bits in the first act. I wouldn't say it's a bad film overall, the cinematography was stunning, and a lot of the performances were great, but I would definitely say it's a bad Bond film.

[@WH250398]

For me the movie completely turned to garbage after the db5 sequence. The only sequence I enjoyed to death from this movie.

[@b.chaline4394]

I agree with you on pretty much everything! I loved all the action in Norway, it felt very tense and gritty, but otherwise... meh. I'm surprised Calvin saw some of it as "the action highlight of Craig's era" but I'm glad he did! Overall I enjoyed the film, but action-wise I found it falling far behind Casino Royale and Skyfall, and any of the Brosnan films for that matter, Die Another Day included.

[@b.chaline4394]

Also, good point on the villain. Even though I think Safin was a pretty good villain, performance- and writing-wise, I agree that this "creepy, awkward" trop as you right call it is getting old, at this point. Graves is the last real over-the-top villain we've had, and that was 20 years ago! Although it's interesting to note that the Brosnan era went the other way around, with pretty much all of its villains falling into that catergory, save Trevelyan, I'd say. Moore's and Dalton's, and even Connery's to a lesser extent, did a much better job at varying between egomaniacal and more low-key villains.

[@eric_clover]

Sorry to tell you that "bad guy on his own island" is not ripping of Skyfall... This isn't new, been a series trope since the 60s

[@AIC5150]

Bond has always been an escape. You watch it to see “how will bond get out of this?” And not “will Bond get out of this?” - save the moral and emotional tugs for the Marvel movies. The James Bond franchise deserves better than this.

[@tboyd5150]

Yes! I would say I can't believe they killed him, but it's the Craig era so I used to disappointment.

[@tlshortyshorty5810]

I wholeheartedly agree. I was frustrated, straight up angry at the movie for doing this. Would it have absolutely killed the writers to let Bond drive off into the sunset with a new family to care for as a happy send-off? To hell with them! I was all okay with the movie until they decided to pull this damn stunt. *There is an unwritten but clear-cut rule in the entire franchise. James Bond 007 does not die.*

[@pr-tj5by]

@@tlshortyshorty5810 He's never been Bond to me, that guy died with Brosnan

[@echtblikbonen]

my big problem with the "nanobots aren't just for christmas" is that Bond's watch has an EMP that fries every circuit near it. I would think that he uses that once and all his nanobots are fried

[@EK_Beast]

I love how people point out the weird connections Spectre has to Austin Powers, but no one wants to talk about how No Time to Die literally uses nano bots sorta like in Secret Agent Cody Banks….

[@susie4975]

omg i literally thought no one else remembered that movie lmao

[@briteppr62]

Absolutely, and did you notice Q's cat? It's Mr. Bigglesworth!!

[@TheAwesomeDarkNinja]

I think they're too busy comparing it to Metal Gear Solid haha

[@jp_82]

And recent Mcgyver episodes

[@porsche911sbs]

I'm not sure where the original appearance of nanobots was, but Raymond Z. Gallun wrote "A Menace in Miniature" way back in 1937 dealing with a similar concept. Incredibly, Richard Feynmann didn't introduce the concept of nanobots to mainstream science until 1959.

[@MJagger89]

In the Craig era, the final acts are often quite lackluster. Seems they keep having script issues while shooting and then stumble at the end. They nailed it in Casino, but many of the subsequent movies struggle in the final act in my view. I can’t understand why they can’t get tight scripts before they start shooting.

[@MatiZ815]

Maybe that was the issue with Quantum but in the next ones I don't think the scripts were rushed. In general, it's tough to wrap up an action movie. All action movies struggle with that and finales are rarely a highlight in that genre. That's because in action movies plot is usually just an excuse for action scenes, you keep writing them and it's all fun and games but then the third act comes and you have to wrap up the plot somehow and the plot actually gets in the way of the action. That's also why openings to action movies are often the best part: because they can just put a great action sequence at the beginning without worrying about justifying it with the plot.

[@MrH77]

I managed to avoid spoilers going into the film which is quite an achievement these days. I thought as the rockets were flying over that I was watching The Force Awakens, not Bond. To be honest Bond should have died a few times in the film, but then he has obviously been invincible until now! I won't go for a second viewing but will definitely get the blu ray, pick up on stuff I missed and have 17 toilet breaks, and stand up and walk about a bit so my knee doesn't freeze up!

[@chrishandsome4267]

We’ll said

[@kaleyjoplinRAWRR]

Haha well said. I went in not knowing much. The only thing I knew was how long it was going to be. I don’t normally have a problem with long films if there’s a need for it or if it doesn’t feel like it’s long (like Wolf of Wall Street) but they could’ve left some stuff out in this film and shortened it. Anyways I agree about the rockets flying haha

[@michaelmoon622]

I have never cried to a movie, but the end broke me.

[@davidshillaker7578]

I was verging on tears

[@sarahrichards3909]

Same

[@Bragglord]

You must not have seen a great many films.