Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

No Time To Die 

This film is shocking, breathtaking and truly captivating. Now this film I’ve been waiting for to see for years. As this project first went into development back in 2016 and it’s been 6 years since the last James Bond Film which was Spectre. Now this is the last time we’re seeing Daniel Craig as James Bond and for me it’s very emotional. As for me I grew up watching Daniel Craig’s performance as James Bond since 2006’s Casino Royale and ever since I was young he’s always been James Bond I remember even seeing Skyfall on my birthday in IMAX and just always being excited to see him return as the iconic super spy and for that to be coming to a big grand finale it’s incredible to see but very emotional for sure as i think Daniel Craig is truly the best James Bond we have ever had. He embodies this charming wit that oozes charismatic energy and then he also channels such a darkness to the character that is chilling and brings layers to him that hasn’t been channeled in past Bond Films and that’s what makes his take on the character so memorable. And so to see his 15 year journey with the character come to this grand conclusion I will say No Time To Die does a fitting farewell to Daniel Craig in crackling action sequences with some truly emotionally hard hitting scenes that will have you in tears. No Time To Die delivers on every level and it’s truly outstanding from start to finish. 

Firstly, The narrative of this film is incredibly emotional and it goes to places with the character that I haven’t seen them do before. Now that being said this film takes some very big shifts and makes shocking and truly unexpected outcomes for the franchise that is truly jaw dropping. Now the film prior to this was Spectre and I don’t think I am alone when I say that film was good but definitely could have been better narrative wise as the weakest part of that film was the shaky storyline. It had great action, fantastic casting it was just the paper thin plot that held it back from being truly great. Now what makes the narrative fantastic for this film is that it is a very well structured plot that has a truly heavy amount of emotion to it yes that has be done before for the character but it closes the arc for Daniel Craig’s portrayal of the character in a satisfying way that will definitely shock people. Now what I have liked specifically about the Craig Bond films is that the Plot lines intertwine meaning the following film will pick up on the previous plot and expand upon it now for a James Bond Film that is a rarity because 99% of the time they never carry the plot over from one film to the next the only ones that have done that is Daniel Craig’s films and I like that as from Casino Royale to No Time To Die the narrative ties into each other to tie up all loose ends and answers questions that may of not been answered in the previous film. As it mentions plot lines and characters from every single one Daniel has been part of and satisfies the fans by giving Daniel Craig’s James Bond the closing arc he deserves. This film has some of the franchises biggest action set pieces I have ever seen along with truly well written new  female characters that stand on their own and truly are fantastic additions to the franchise with many twist and turns. Since it is Daniel Craig’s last go around as this iconic character the film has this emotional weight that feels natural and also sad because it is a end of an Era and this is one of the best James Bond plot lines I have seen that is emotionally satisfying while also giving us a film that dose not lean into the tropes of the franchise but makes truly bold moves and tries new things which I respect as then it isn’t repetitive. As a lot of the films that are the last for that specific actor that plays Bond usually the film isn’t that strong and Daniel Craig goes out in a bang not in a fizzle as the narrative is as strong and compelling as its title character. 

Secondly, The Performances are incredible from everyone involved! Lea Seydoux gives an amazing emotionally shattering performance that tops the work she did in the last film and truly throws herself into some truly deep emotional depths that will amaze you. Adding to her great performance you have Lashana Lynch who is introduced to us for the first time here and she is one of the best parts of the film truly as she is able to hold her own and give the audience a fresh new character that I think has truly amazing potential for the franchise as she is so entertaining to watch and I definitely would love to see more of her. She gives a fun charismatic performance that is wrapped in toughness. Then there is the amazingly talented Ana De Armas who is given a very small role and I hope this role of hers is expanded upon hugely for films to come as we get a glimpse of her. She brought this breath of fresh air through cheeky humour, her adorable charm but then shows off her action star qualities as well all of that is greatly brought to the screen by Ana yes her performance is brief but from the moment she’s onscreen she steals the show and you will be asking for more as she’s so captivating to watch in the few minutes we get with her. Then you have the man the myth the legend Daniel Craig who gives one of his best performances of the character to date! Now I will say I think his best performance as Bond is in Casino Royale I think his performance in that was dark, emotionally raw and so truly captivating. That being said his work in this film I would put as second place as here we have seen the arc he had been building up over the course of the last 4 movies and so here we see his arc become completed. Daniel brings an emotionally openness to the character in this film that is similar to what he did in Casino Royale but he approaches it from a different perspective emotionally.  He brings such a vulnerability to him that will shatter your heart into pieces and Daniel opens up his heart and shows every layer of himself onscreen giving his absolute all in a truly punch to the gut emotional performance wrapped with so much depth that will have you crying by the time the credits roll. 

Lastly, No Time To Die was a film I was very nervous about due to the troubled production and the constant push back with the filmmakers involved but ultimately they pulled it off with a compelling story that doesn’t repeat narratives that come before it but sets itself apart by doing something unexpected and new. Last thing I’ll say is the villain wasn’t that memorable and it’s not Rami Malek’s fault he does the best with what he’s given the same thing happened to Christoph Waltz in Spectre it was a great performance just a poorly written character. That being said the film fires on every caliber Giving truly spectacular action sequences, witty dry humour, a narrative with so many twist and turns you’ll not expect anything that happens and wrapping it all up it gives a satisfying conclusion to Daniel Craig’s era of James Bond in a finale that will have you emotionally rattled but satisfied No Time To Die is a grand finale that is explosively great and should be seen on the biggest screen possible with the best sound system. I recommend everyone go see this film it’s truly terrific. 

This film centres around James Bond having to confront his past years later after being retired from his double o status  and also seek to know the truth of his legacy at large while darkness lurks in the shadows 

Rated PG - 13 : Sequences of Violence & Action|Brief Strong Language|Some Disturbing Images|Some Suggestive Material

Daniel Craig : Craig opens his heart and shows every drop of humanity of Bond in his final outing of the iconic super spy. Daniel Craig is the best James Bond and I wanna tell you why I think that. We have had amazing actors play James Bond over the almost 60 year old franchise Sean Connery brought the charm and sexual attraction of The character Then Roger Moore brought the character to new heights with depth and great fun energy that kind of showed the more playful side of the character without taking him to seriously. Timothy Dalton he was ok but no offence to him did not really bring anything new to the character and then Pierce who brought the charming wit of Sean Connery but also a real action star quality that showed a more violent side of Bond. Now I have read every single Ian Fleming book and I can tell you that Daniel Craig is the most accurate depiction of James Bond as described by Ian in his books. As what sets Daniel Craig apart from others that came before him is his ability to show the man behind the gun he shows the inner demons he fights and it really had not been touched upon until Daniel Craig. As well he brings a brutal violence to the character that isn’t violent for the sake of it but he shows the realism to the violence and the darkness of the character as James Bond is a spy and he kills people Daniel shows that Brute force that is the character but has not been shown in such a honest way before and the sheer depths he has gone with the character from a human element is truly unseen.  He shows the emotionally cold aspect of the character and why he operates that way due to his pain That is why I gravitate towards his portrayal so much as well because he dose not make it about getting the girl and saving the world yes that has always been the formula but he has veered away from that trope that the franchise  has fallen into from previous years and he refuses to lean into it as he shows the inner battle emotionally the character faces and does not play it one dimensionally that is also why his portrayal of the character is some of the most critically acclaimed of the entire franchise because he approaches the character from a perspective that had not been done before. In No Time To Die he brings a real emotionally shattered aspect to the character as in Casino Royale that film was a introduction to show us why he is the way he is and then Quantum was peeling back the layers of the man to show his thirst for vengeance, Skyfall was brining a spy with old school ethics and thrusting him into a world that had changed around him and trying to adapt to a new society, Spectre was tying to move on from his past and compressing his pain from his previous experiences. Brining us now to No Time To Die he brings all of what he has built up from the last 4 films and he is forced to confront his pain for good this time and it is shown in such a powerful way by Daniel Craig. Their are specific moments I would point out but I do not want to spoil anything the only scene I will explain to provide reasoning for how he really delves deep into emotional depths is their is one scene where he is begging for the villain to spare a persons life and he not only begs but literally gets on his knees and actually begs for the persons life as Bond has lost so much that has made him close his feelings off and he refuses to let what is left of what he cares about to be hurt in anY way shape or form. Daniel shows such hurt and heart shattering pain through his eyes and he has always shown his emotional rawness by his eyes in all the films he has done but here you can truly see the years starting to take a toll on him. As he has been emotionally put through hell of people he has lost the toll it takes on his heart is to much for him to bare and he knows there is no room for failure. That being said the emotional complexity he brings to the character in this film is truly incredible and  he still brings that dry wit we love about Him as he delivers his humour amazingly at the most perfect times and This being Daniel Craig’s last outing as the character he truly gives us his heart in this film and it’s a emotional goodbye to the character that will have you sobbing by the end of the film. Daniel Craig gives this film his absolute all emotionally and psychically in a performance that will amaze you and bring you to tears what a beautifully outstanding farewell performance by Daniel Craig. 

Cary Joji Fukunaga : Cary brings a breath of fresh air to the franchise! Now before I continue I will say the last time a director had brought such a fresh face to the franchise was Sam Mendes when he did Skyfall back in 2012. That being said what Cary brings to the franchise that is truly is it didn’t feel formulaic. As much as I love what Sam Mendes brought to Skyfall when he did Spectre that film did feel very much a paint by numbers of films we’ve seen before it and it did feel repetitive of other films in the series. No Time To Die though takes the character to new heights narrative wise and character wise we have not seen before. The film also brings us back to the gadget side of Bond which had been veered away from for a while as they wove the gadgets into the narrative with reason and not for the cool factor which I respect. Now Cary brings this story to life on a massive scale that is enormous and gives car chases, shoot outs, amazing hand to hand combat scenes and he delivers amazingly with the action while also serving the emotional aspect  of the character and closing his arc and brining a full circle moment for Daniel Craig. He also explores aspects of the character that we had not seen before I can’t go into detail what those are but he shows very revealing information about James as a person in a way that heightens the stakes to an all time high. All the while he introduces great well written new characters that set up for new films to come with these new sets of characters that all get their moment to shine and capture our hearts. The tone of the film was well balanced as it goes between dealing with legacy and the impact of what ones to leave behind and then you have the explosive spectacle of it all and what I will say I respect the hell out of Cary’s approach was he never let the cool stylistic action compromise the man behind the gun. He has a even balance of both tones and they never feel heavy handed but equal. Cary delivers a fun explosive bond film with truly bold choices that will divide fans for sure but untimely you’ll understand why he chose to do what he did as it’s the best for the characters and for the franchise. He packs the fun popcorn action but also gives a hell of a emotional punch that will have you in tears overall Cary gave solid direction to this finale of Craig’s Era and a solid Bond film in general.