007, No Time To Die (Review)

[WillBrink]

JAMES BOND 007: No Time To Die (Review)

The last Bond movie with Daniel Craig and the end of James Bond himself... I have to start this review by being honest: I have not enjoyed a Bond movie since Casino Royale, and had high hopes for Craig and the direction of Bond movies as more gritty realism, but it was not to be. This Bond movies tries to incorporate some of the classic Bond moments of old, but misses the mark at every turn.

There's some good action scenes, but they tend to drag on, and the movie seems more focused on his emotional state and heavy drinking trying to forget a lost love and move forward with the new one (plaid by French actress Léa Seydoux) who does a convincing job all around. Bond movies themselves are perhaps passed their due date culturally, and trying to fit Bond into today's culture - something Bond and M (Ralph Fiennes) actually lament about in the movie - does not work any more. There's some all inclusive wokeness in the movie that will annoy some viewers to be be sure.

If you enjoyed the past Bond movies with Craig beyond Casino Royale, you'll likely enjoy this one too. If you feel as I do about it, see this one for no other reason that to say goodbye to Craig as Bond, but the movie is not the Bond you grew up with to be sure. I think it's probably best they don't continue the franchise... B-/C+

[SteyrAUG]

Casino Royale is the last Bond film I can remember and the only one I can rewatch.

I can't even remember the Bond girls from the films after that. Gemma Arterton is hot but I don't remember her from Quantum of Solace or anything else about that film. Vaguely remember Olga Kurylenko being in it.

Only thing I remember about Skyfall is it sucked and Naomie Harris was really not that hot.

Apparently Monica Bellucci was in Spectre but I really don't remember anything about that film and I love Monica Bellucci.

Apparently they've brought a bunch of those forgettable hacks back for this film as well. I have heard the next Bond will be a female and they might as well. I have all the important films on DVD.

[Diamondback]

If I was brought in by the Broccolis to try to save the franchise, I'd go as far from Woke as possible--roll back to the '50s/'60s and do them as Period Pieces in original Fleming storyline sequence, ditto the authorized continuances approved by Glidrose (who hold the Fleming Estate custodianship). Lightly massage things as described in the books to fit what actually existed in the day, set them against a backdrop of historical events and then always add a closer with M discussing the official cover-ups that explains why, as with the opening text of The Hunt For Red October, "nothing of this... ever happened."

[Sam]

NTTD is my favorite Bond of ALL time. So there I said it. It was sad to see him die and leave his woman and his kid without a father.

Loved Skyfall too, that movie cost me over $4000. Well actually less than that as I sold the Quantum of Solace Omega Planet Ocean and used the money from that plus $1500 toward the Aqua Terra.

It's going to be tough to replace Daniel Craig.

Sue me. LOL.

[SteyrAUG]

If I was brought in by the Broccolis to try to save the franchise, I'd go as far from Woke as possible--roll back to the '50s/'60s and do them as Period Pieces in original Fleming storyline sequence, ditto the authorized continuances approved by Glidrose (who hold the Fleming Estate custodianship). Lightly massage things as described in the books to fit what actually existed in the day, set them against a backdrop of historical events and then always add a closer with M discussing the official cover-ups that explains why, as with the opening text of The Hunt For Red October, "nothing of this... ever happened."

Yep, I would "Mad Men" the entire atmosphere of every film. That would be a winner.

[Diamondback]

Yep, I would "Mad Men" the entire atmosphere of every film. That would be a winner.

The Gardner novels were set in the '80s-'90s, with an older near-retirement and later semi-retired Bond who unfortunately still has the curse of getting every woman he ever actually loves killed. Interestingly, in the Gardner books the DB5 "Silver Beast" was sold off as MI6 surplus and is now Bond's personal ride. If you could find a pair of actors to pass for young/old versions of each other the way Mark and Sean Harmon do, maybe stagger them so you have a Fleming and Gardner movie interleaved for side-by-side production and staggered releases so you get Casino Royale first, then License Renewed, then progress down the two parts of the storyline in parallel.

[Adrenaline_6]

The highlight of this movie was Ana De Armas.

[SteyrAUG]

The Gardner novels were set in the '80s-'90s, with an older near-retirement and later semi-retired Bond who unfortunately still has the curse of getting every woman he ever actually loves killed. Interestingly, in the Gardner books the DB5 "Silver Beast" was sold off as MI6 surplus and is now Bond's personal ride. If you could find a pair of actors to pass for young/old versions of each other the way Mark and Sean Harmon do, maybe stagger them so you have a Fleming and Gardner movie interleaved for side-by-side production and staggered releases so you get Casino Royale first, then License Renewed, then progress down the two parts of the storyline in parallel.

Honestly I don't even know who Garner is. Casino was written by Fleming, unfortunately the 1967 film was f'ed over by Woody Allen and a bunch of other shitheads. David Nivens is NOT James Bond and even Ursula Andres couldn't save this turd.

I also think the plotline of a cursed 007 who gets every woman he loves killed is freaking retarded. Probably another reason I hated all the recent films.

The highlight of this movie was Ana De Armas.

Can't you say that about pretty much every film she's ever been in. War Dogs, she was the main attraction. Blade Runner 2049, unnecessary sequel but had Ana De Armas in it.

[Diamondback]

Honestly I don't even know who Garner is. Casino was written by Fleming, unfortunately the 1967 film was f'ed over by Woody Allen and a bunch of other shitheads. David Nivens is NOT James Bond and even Ursula Andres couldn't save this turd.

https://jamesbond.fandom.com/wiki/Ca...Gardner_novels Quite agreed with the '67 blight upon the IP... the '54 CBS TV version was better, and it was no prize either. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino...le%20(Climax!)

I also think the plotline of a cursed 007 who gets every woman he loves killed is freaking retarded. Probably another reason I hated all the recent films.

It's a straight lift from the books IIRC, going all the way back to Fleming establishing the first two dots with Casino Royale and OHMSS.

[Adrenaline_6]

Can't you say that about pretty much every film she's ever been in. War Dogs, she was the main attraction. Blade Runner 2049, unnecessary sequel but had Ana De Armas in it.

Yea...pretty much.