No Time To Die

No Time To Die follows on from Spectre in plot, several characters and some of its tone, along with Skyfall. It’s also the first time a James Bond has gotten a proper ending, as Casino Royale was the first time we got a beginning. And I think it’s the best final outing for a long-running Bond. Even if you count The Rock.

The setup to get another adventure going for Daniel Craig’s James Bond is my least favourite element of a film I largely very much liked.

So it has to be a bit of a bleakquel. This is established in the second sequence, before the credits. James and Madeleine have to break up. Unfortunately James’s reasoning comes from unverified claims by his archenemy so while it speaks to his deep trust issues it also seems a bit placeholder. A little more evidence would have sold it better.

(This follows the opening sequences establishing some of Madeleine’s relevant backstory, played like a slasher movie. Also featuring a surprise cameo by Wallace & Gromit!)

The Billie Eilish backed title sequence starts with dots like Dr. No and then references all the previous DC Bond title sequences as well as some other possible references like the hourglass from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service which also gets referenced throughout this film big time.

Then... five years later. In case the length of the film, the finality and the size of the threat didn’t feel enough like an Endgame...

The comic relief is also a major villain, which is a surprising choice.

Hugh Dennis! That kind of takes me out of the moment, especially remembering his own spy adventures, A Man Called Martin. Sadly he doesn’t get to say “Damn you!”

Loving Lashana Lynch as the new 007.

Ana de Armas as Paloma really only is in that one scene. Huh. Is she going to be in the Bond Universe Avengers in a couple of years?

(Her next role is as Marilyn Monroe, and I can really see it now.)

And while referencing the MCU - all of which has happened since Casino Royale! - Heracles is also a bit Project Insight.

SF and Weird Level tags due to bionic eye and nanotech threat. The kind of thing the comics started by W*rr*n *ll*s features.

Proper Bond villain base complete with pool that opens onto a silo! It’s part of the finale setup taken from For Your Eyes Only and, apart from the details, not used in the film version.

And then...

Well, that was unexpected.

Not entirely unexpected because I noticed the little setup bit. And because this Bond could have had his happy ending last time.

His death brought about by the petty cruelty of a villain aimed more at Madeleine, and actually killed by the Royal Navy firing on orders from M, so his old job really did get him in the end.

They’re going to have to reboot again pretty thoroughly next time.