NO TIME TO DIE | One Year On...
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- It has been a year since the most postponed Bond film ever was released to mixed sentiments from fans... Has time made it better?
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Nothing celebrates a 60th anniversary quite like blowing up the main character we've all grown to love. That's my biggest problem with the film and why it will forever be remembered as "the one where Bond dies"
The most divisive Bond films are often summed up as "the one where..." aren't they?
The one where Bond goes into space
The one with the invisible car
The one where Bond dies
Right. That's its legacy forever
@@tcaudiobooks737 BUT the difference between those films and this? Bond doesn’t die hhaha
I think it's also far worse still that they didn't even do any justice to the whole killing off of James Bond. It felt so cheap and tacked on. His supposed relationship with Madeleine came out of nowhere. They didn't even seem that likely to have a romantic fling, let alone become the love of his life who he quits for and ends up impregnating. I mean, also, how many women has Bond slept with? Suddenly, he gets one pregnant and it just happens to be right before he gets killed. Madeleine wasn't just a bad character but played by a wooden actress too. I felt nothing between them whatsoever.
The complete disdain for James Bond that comes across in most of the Craig movies is something I've always found weird and unpleasant. Nobody else seems to sense it, but it's like they just hate James Bond now and want to ridicule, humiliate and then kill him off in a weird Netflix style feature series that tries to make every movie a run-on story but they didn't even bother planning it out before starting!
And now that Bonds dead they can’t do anymore films it was kinda stupid how do they go on now they can’t
I rewatched DAD just the other night and I'll be damned if it isn't an entertaining piece of cheese! I think biggest mistake of the Craig era treating a purely escapist franchise as an art house project. Bond is a capable, charming cad with a penchant for sex, violence and one-liners. Let's get back to the fun of it all!
“Hong Kong’s our turf now Bond!”
Exactly. It's supposed to be a fun ride, not depressing and ultra personal. Viewers are supposed to want to BE bond, and that doesn't ideally involve baby mama drama and dying
“NO TIME TO DIE is a funeral it’s not a party” - Very well said.
It's a party at a funeral. And everyone is drunk as fuck. Good times.
8:06
I doubt it. From what I've read online, Craig's return was on the specific condition his Bond died at the end of NTTD. Craig didn't want another three years or so of B Broccoli pestering him to do a sixth film so he said "Bond dies in NTTD" and she accepted his demand. The ending wouldn't have changed with or without the coronavirus pandemic.
How is it a funeral.
@@bobsmithy9024 Couldn't have Craig said no to a sixth film without killing Bond?
@@bobsmithy9024 this is where Babs should've gave him ✌ instead of katowing to the man like a lovesick child
Licence to Kill always flew under the radar - I’m pleased it’s finally getting the recognition and credit it deserves. Die Another Day is very much a guilty pleasure. Utterly ridiculous film, but very fun.
Totally agree about Licence to Kill, but Die Another Day is just awful. I can't even agree that it's 'harmless/brainless' fun.
Die Another Day is fun. A bad movie, but a very fun one. And also starred by Brosnan that's my favorite Bond. I rather watch it above other movies in the franchise like Diamonds Are Forever or A View To A Kill. A guilty pleasure, 100% agree with that.
@@AdAstra78 Die Another Day is the perfect guilty pleasure. It’s not a bad film
The BEST guilty pleasure bond is Octopussy 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@AdAstra78 well your lost its not anywhere near the top of best Bond movie but it is a fun movie when you can switch off the absurd nature of it.
Great video Calvin.
I agree with you about the ending. I hate the ending, not only because it a big no for me to kill Bond, but also it was badly constructed like you say. I dont want a Bond film where it's personal for Bond. It can work, because I love OHMSS and CR, but they have a good plot and a good villain. I really don't like the idea of Bond have a kid and that he dies. Why can't we just get Bond on a mission? At least DAD and QOS had a story and Bond going on mission. NTTD and Spectre is always going to be at the bottom of my ranking and I'm not going to see them outside of a marathon.
NTTD wanted to be the Endgmae/Logan/TDKR of Bond franchise. I think the ending not working is due to a few factors:
1. Bond and his daughter, Mathilde, have a nonexistent relationship. It's not like Logan where they have to spend the entire movie together, so when Bond sacrifices himself for her, you'de feel anything.
2. Bond and his lover Madeline have also not that much of an impactful relationship. Maybe because the series keeps shoving Vesper back into the storyline, maybe because of the age difference, but I find it a bit hard to believe she would love someone like Bond.
3. The sacrifice itself is muddy. They try very hard to have no other way for Bond to survive. So instead of a last heroic act on Bond's part, he is kinda forced into it.
4. The villain sucks, and has no lasting impact on the viewer. If Raul Silva killed Bond in Skyfall, I would've believed him. Not this weirdo, however.
Spot on !
Here's my take: Spectre wrote the series into a sharp corner. NTTD had to try and bring Bond out of that corner, which it kinda did, but then ended up putting him back into an even sharper corner. No wonder they're having a hard time deciding what to do next.
With Craig though, as the wheels got rolling, it was clear that the next Bond would be a fresh start regardless of what happened in SPECTRE and NTTD. I don't think NTTD wrote it into a sharper corner. Although I definitely agree that SPECTRE left NTTD with very few options on where to go
@@davidshillaker7578 I'm not saying it was wrong to kill Craig off at the end. It creates a clean slate, and noone wants to see 007 with a wife and kid in tow. However, what to do about the future? Ignore the legacy and start an alternative universe with the same character name? Create a new 007 with a different name?
What makes things difficult also is that Bond films are always contemporary, and the fan base doesn't forget the past very easily.
@@sevensevenalways7995 Well, I mean, that's what they did with Casino Royale. That film was a complete reboot of the film's continuity with zero connections to the previous films outside of the main character's name (and also Judi Dench). With that in mind, I don't see why they can't do that again, especially considering we live in a timeline in which we've had countless Spider-Man, Batman or Superman reboots (and probably loads of other franchises doing just the same)
@@christianwise637 Agreed. I don't know why people are having a hard time with Bond being rebooted when Casino Royale was a reboot.
This makes no sense, bond gets rebooted at the end of each outing. This movie won't effect the next one. Bond is immortal.
I agree ... NTTD was not the Bond film the world needed at the time of its release. I appreciate it had been finished before the Pandemic hit and they had no idea how the world would have changed ... but its a bare fact .. it just needed to be a positive movie..
Agreed; if they needed to have a change of lead actor, they could have either done as all the films before and just have the new guy, or, they could have had Bond get out of the situational the end of NTTD, and close with him slapping his badge, gadgets, and gun onto M's desk and tell him he quits, he's done, for real this time!!
At least we don't see the 'main-man' as such get killed-off...not a great way to end a film in a franchise like this which has always been high adventure, a bit of comedy, action, explosions, and the hero riding, sailing, floating, walking off into the sunset - usually with a gorgeous blond...!! 🙂
Idk why Bond fans feel the need to overly justify where they rank their favorite and least favorite Bond movies; the fact is this series is a VERY eclectic bunch, and each serves a different function for each viewer. There are times when I wanna feel the intensity of a Skyfall or License to Kill and there are times when I wanna drown my brain with Diamonds are Forever or Moonraker. These movies at the end of the day are meant to be events, and experienced as pieces of entertainment. With 25 films you’re gonna be a little all over the pace with rankings because it slips and slides between a film that’s quality and a film that’s just purely entertaining. I have yet to meet two people whose rankings are even close to identical. Personally I still haven’t gotten over the parasailing scene in DAD, just as much as many won’t get over Bond’s death at the end of NTTD. But if a Bond movie is on, you bet I’m gonna sit and watch it.
How is an 8 day old comment appearing on a video uploaded 1 hour ago?
@Shobhit. Most likely early access Patreon supporters.
I completely disagree. It's that vast canvass of different tones and genres that makes me love seeing other people's lists.
"If a Bond movie is on, you bet I'm gonna sit and watch it." Yeah, basically.
It’s a matter of taste ; do you want some comedy? (Roger Moore/ Sean Connery/ Pierce Brosnan) or do you just want the hard nosed depressing “modern” Bond (Daniel Craig)
Just going to say I'm completely jealous of you guys in the U.K getting reruns of the whole franchise. I'd kill to go drag my grandpa to the theater and watch From Russia with Love and Goldfinger on the big screen with him (the first bond films I ever saw, thanks to him)
Go and see them. I didn’t see as many this year at the cinema in the UK as I wanted (which was all of them) but saw a large chunk, some I’d seen at the cinema as a kid, some I wasn’t old enough, but they all looked gorgeous.
@@loftlegacy I think they were saying that they don't live in the UK, so they can't see them in the cinema.
@@loftlegacy I'd love to see them, but I'm in the US where to my knowledge no one is currently playing any bond films
@@calvinskye I live in the US and they never do reruns. At least where I live which is in the western half of the country.
@@calvinskye Here in the US we have theaters that play old movies. My local theater playes a different dong movie ever week. This week is Moonraker.
If no time to die was on at the same time on TV as view to a kill I would pick OAP Rog every time !
The fact that this is the last bond to be released during Elizabeth II reign, makes this film was more defining than ever
Indeed! That is quite remarkable.
It's very fitting, isn't it? Might as well as fly a big banner with "THE UK'S DEAD" outside every cinema.
Same
The Queen wouldn't have wanted a completely contrived and forced funeral of a movie though. She'd have wanted something fun and celebratory, full of hope, not full of amateurish writing and complete misery.
Don't be daft.
They need to get Christopher McQuarrie to write the next phase of Bond. He will be done with MI as well by the time they start planning.
He's booked for tropic thunder spinoff iirc
The amount of re-shoots and re-editing around the villain's plot as a response to the covid pandemic and how close his original plan mirrored it is very telling
How can I get to massage you as well?
I've spent a ridiculous amount of time over the years toiling over my ranking of the series, and it usually gets tweaked a little whenever I do a full series rewatch. But I haven't even attempted to put NTTD into my ranking because it is very much a film of two halves. The first half, especially the pre-London scenes, is top 10 material, but I really dislike the second half. I doubt this opinion will change any time soon. Once Bond arrives at Madeline's home, I can just see the cogs and gears of the plot grinding away in an attempt to justify the decision for Bond to die. Also, I've been seeing each film religiously each week in the cinema as part of the 60th anniversary. It's been amazing but I won't be seeing NTTD because ending by weekly cinematic celebration of Bond with his death just feels inappropriate.
Could not agree more. First 50 minutes pre London, the film is a fast paced romp that, despite loving my Bond to be gritty, was a welcome levity. But after that, a big major nosedive.
I split the film in 3. Great 1st act, potential to be a classic Bond. 2nd act - turns into a strange and boring soap opera. 3rd act - totally falls apart.
I have to ask, do you think that Bond is actually supposed to have died? Because I keep seeing "they killed Bond" comments here and I have to assume you Gentlemen are just trolling the storyline, when anyone with a quantum of movie-sense knows that definitely did not happen, right? I mean, we all got why Bond needed to cut ties and to make the self sacrifice seem permanent, didn't we? I'm just asking because surely we watched the same film? I mean, I'm pretty sure it's the "downbeat" ending (to me, the heroic and fitting, bravura send off) they're complaining about, rather than a genuine lack of understanding? No offence btw, because I'm probably just missing the air-quotes, the "duh" look in eyes raised to the heavens, and the cynical, sarcastic tone of "they killed Bond," what with only seeing it in text form. That's got to be it, right?
I have the same exact opinion
@@hgwells1899 wut
I totally agree with your sentiment on people wanting Escapism in the cinema. I saw No Time to Die with my grandad on his birthday who's been a fan since the 60s, it was our first time back in the cinemas. He came out incredibly deflated which shouldn't happen in a Bond film and ruined my night
"Ruined my night" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Always thought that was a better reason for On Her Majestys Secret Service being not that successful and not just Lazenby. Bond films are watched for expected happy endings.
I completely agree. A big part of enjoying the Bond films at the cinema is going with family and sharing the experience together. Should never leave a Bond film on a downer.
The goal of the film was to punish your grandad for liking a straight white male hero, it worked.
My dad & I r huge bond fans. He passed away in 2016. I for one am happy he didn’t live to see this film. He finished with Spectre which is a far better ending he drives off with what’s her face & that’s it.
I totally agree, Calvin. Die Another Die was enjoyable but absolutely ridiculous (the invisible car was just too much!), and is the worst film in the series in my opinion. However, the ending of No Time To Die was just too heartbreaking and the only time I have left the cinema (let alone a Bond film) feeling downbeat and upset.
By the way, I loved your use of the Goldeneye N64 soundtrack in the background!
I still think not having the villain turn out to be Dr. No was a big missed opportunity, esp giving all the hints fans saw pointing to that (How DID he survive little Maddie's gunshot, if his heart is in the normal place?). Ah well...
Honestly I'm happy that they didn't do a Dr No with Safin. I didn't want a rehash of the pointless twist in Spectre of Oberhauser being Blofeld.
@@Paul91- They didn't need to do twists with either of them. Call your movie SPECTRE and we're going to expect Blofeld to show up in it, we're not stupid - there wasn't a single gasp when Oberhauser revealed his true name. In NTTD they should've just called Safin Dr. No from the get go.
Safin’s henchman do say “yes doctor” to the said man whilst awaiting the first shipment. A hidden easter egg. Up to the audience to decide if it is Dr No or not.
Completely agree with you here Calvin. Like you, I've been going to the weekly screenings of the films every Tuesday, and its really helped me appreciate some of the films I thought were lesser in the series. DAD was so awesome on the big screen, and like you, left me feeling excited and happy after I'd seen it. NTD definitely does not do that and it's a shame, because it starts off so string at the beginning
DAD underrated since 2002
I watched NTTD again about a month ago and I don’t think my opinion has changed too much on it kind of evening out in the middle of my rankings, possibly a little lower.
I don’t know, it’s a weird film for many different reasons you’ve gone over in other videos and this is coming from someone who doesn’t (completely) hate the ending.
I would agree with License to Kill being better, but I still can’t bring myself to like Die Another Day haha. I think the most interesting thing I’ve gotten out of NTTD is the divisive opinions about it. I think it leads to interesting discussion.
Side note, I’ll always agree with you on Thunderball lol. Not a huge fan.
Whenever I’m tempted to rewatch NTTD (mainly for the great action), I get somewhat dissuaded because it means watching the ending. I have nothing against Bond dying - actually I quite admire the boldness of it - but in the film it feels oddly forced and, at the end of the day, it isn’t pleasant watching Bond have fire rain down upon him. As you quite rightly said, a funeral, not a party.
I have to say, a year on… and being at least a few years yet from a new Bond film… it does feel like the more time that passes, the easier and better it’ll be to have (another) reboot. Last year I was like WHAT are they going to do next?!
It's obvious, they're contriving a black Bond now. The only point, if any, for them doing such a severe statement as killing Bond here was a symbolic killing off of white Bond. So instead of them happening to find a back actor who is just so brilliant for Bond that they cast him and just make some great Bond movies with him, they're making a big song and dance of showing off how enlightened they are as billionaire white Hollywood producers. I can just see it coming, a big self-aware publicity parade and then movie trampling the fourth wall and showing off how in touch with current racial issues it is. 🙄
My personal preference would be time- pieces!!! New anthology stories set in the 60’s or 70’s.
@@AD-kv9kj Surely they’re looking at Top Gun: Maverick and realising their mistake in going woke and killing off Bond. You think they’d double down and go BlackBond after all this? Is Broccolli that suicidal?
Black and non binary
A comment I never got around to making for Calvin's original review, where he was baffled that everyone seemed to somehow know the girl was Bond's daughter despite Madelaine fervently denying it: It is a long-standing trope/cliche that when a couple doesn't see each other for years, and the woman has a child the same age as when they were last together, the child is ALWAYS his...and the woman will ALWAYS lie about it! Not sure why this is, or if there is any psychological truth to it, but it can be seen in countless soap operas as well as in movies like Superman Returns...And I for one *love* that Bond sees right through it and doesn't buy it for a second, even pointing out that she clearly has his eyes!😅
I completely agree, there were some elements that were really good in the film. But for me the ending is just too much. I feel it takes away from what Bond has been for 60 years, always finding a way out of situations, never giving up etc. So I feel this ending is a bit disrespectful to the legacy that has come before. That’s just my take on it. I would rank it almost at the bottom of my ranking list
Same thing for me. The only thing I liked in it was Ana. For me it’s at the bottom of my list just slightly above quantum. I liked Spectre more & think the ending of Spectre ends of Craig’s series much better. He drives off & that’s it. I only own casino royal. Skyfall & Spectre. That’s it.
I agree. It feels more like a condemnation of Bond instead of a celebration.
"Disrespectful" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
I didn’t necessarily have an issue with Craig’s version of Bond dying cause his whole tenure was very experimental but it was more the way he was taken out. And by who. If Bond is going to die, then he should be going up against a villain who is worthy of that very difficult feat and Safin wasn’t it. He was fucking lame. His death should’ve been at the hands of arguably one of the greatest villains Bond has ever faced, if not the greatest.
Craig's Bond was supposed to be a more realistic spy, and in real life the hero doesn't always win, or does make his goals but doesn't make it out alive.
The biggest problem with No Time to Die, besides the awful villain, is that they went into creating this film deciding that Bond HAD to die, rather than them making it and realizing they had a really good idea to tell a story of him dying. They so obviously decided they had to end his life
Yes, and every major plot point revolves around Bond's death which is why this film has a rather bizarre feel to it. Things just seem so off point and you can't put your finger on it until you get to the ending. The fact that Bond's death is so contrived is ultimately what ruins the movie.
I feel that, whether we like the Craig era or not, Bond's death complements the themes from NTTD (retirement... end of the old glories of MI6... absolute disappearance of the faces that Bond met... permanent loneliness... disappearance of the 'spy Bond' due to his blood family... etc.) and of the Craig era since Casino Royale (Bond being a locus of pain and disaster for innocent people... presentation of a world that might be better off without Bond... James with allies who need him, yet look down on him at the same time... and Bond's eternal & tormenting struggle against decay).
His death would have upset me in another adventure with another version of the character (say, Moore's Bond or Brosnan's Bond) or in a story that didn't have the themes from NTTD.
So I feel like Bond's death was a unique and faithful way to end the Craig era.
@@007johnsnake It's just fitting for Craig's Bond IMO. Any other Bond actor I would have a huge problem with it.
That being said though, I still think it's better if Craig's Bond didn't die and instead secluded himself or fake his death like Bruce Wayne from Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.
@@007johnsnake The problem with killing Bond in the Craig era is that it ruins the happy ending of Spectre. It also begs the question of what the Craig arc was all about. Why create James Bond from the ground up just to brutally tear him down?
@@LeonWick526 NTTD can be seen as an alternative chapter to the Craig era (since the connection between both films is very superficial and NTTD is pretty much a "What if.../Elseworld" kinda story), if you like Spectre's ending as the definitive conclusion for Craig's Bond, good for you (I personally prefer NTTD as a final chapter for Craig because its bondisms pleased me more than those from Spectre).
I think Craig's arc was about showing a non-classic version of James Bond, an archaic destabilizing force that needed to be put down since Casino Royale (I mean, even Judi Dench's M considered him as an archaic brute she'd rather do without).
The Craig movies, instead of being simple stories about James Bond doing routine missions, were a series of explanations for why James Bond is a locus of pain and disaster. So I think NTTD told us that, at the end of the day, (a retired) James Bond's struggle to fight against decay was futile (pointing out his death as a natural conclusion), but he will be remembered as a badass & heroic agent who left a legacy... a great impression in MI6 & his closer allies.
That's not a bad thing for me; it's cool to have different takes of this character (even if the Craig era is almost a nihilistic take on the 007 mythology with a cynical & kinda evil MI6). I just hope the next version of Bond is more cheerful and less dramatic in his stories.
Having said that, I'm glad the Craig-007 movies exist (with its strenghts & flaws) and have a special place in my heart.
Calvin for the next movie, dont you think the time is right for EoN to use 'FOR KING & COUNTRY' as the title? Also how would everyone feel about On HIS Majesty's Secret Service as a title without the movie being a remake or connected to OHMSS 1969 in any way?
I totally agree with you. The ending was dreadful, and it felt like they were backed into a corner to do it by Craig himself. No one person is bigger than a film series, particularly one with the quality and longevity of the Bond series. Please Lord let’s move on with the next Bond actor from the emotional story arc journey rubbish…. the Bond films are meant to be escapist fun, with high quality production values, and a visual spectacle. And, as you say, people should come out of the cinema with a smile on their face. The series is much bigger than one D Craig, and that is not to fail to recognise the huge contribution he has made to it. The film answers its own question - it really was ‘No Time To Die’.
I absolutely hated NTTD at first but I reread YOLT this summer and realised NTTD is an adaptation of it which made me like the film maybe 25% more (seriously though I can’t be the only one who never realised that…), Safin’s plan still doesn’t make much sense to me which I think is the biggest issue I have with the film
I feel you, Calvin. When I saw Casino Royale a few weeks ago at the cinema, I left the screening punching the air, humming the Bond theme and YKMN. I had witnessed two hours of escapism, great entertainment and I went away from it with on a positive note, strutting down the street with Craig-swagger. As for NTTD, even though I love elements of it, the ending just leaves me emotionally wilted. It's not a feel-good film. It's weird, but I never actually feel like it's a good time to put on NTTD, whereas I could put on any of the other 24 and get more enjoyment out of them. Now, I have been wondering ever since, why OHMSS does not deflate me like that, despite its comparable ending. Maybe it's the Bond theme kicking in so quickly, maybe the short wait before seeing the JAMES BOND WILL RETURN caption, or maybe I got used to it over time - I don't know.
NTTD was designed to deflate you - as punishment for being and/or cheering on a straight white male. Demoralisation is the purpose of the woke agenda.
The reason you can watch OHMSS and not feel like slitting your wrists is that Bond survives. It’s sad and it’s a tough blow to our hero but, crucially, HE SURVIVES.
I watched OHMSS recently and boy did I have a great time with it, it might be back on top of my personal ranking for the first time since I saw it as a teen, it was that good. As for the difference of feeling regarding the ending, I think it all comes down to Majesty’s feeling true to the character: as Barbara Broccoli eloquently puts it herself, Bond can’t settle down, he carries a heavy burden for us all… while in NTTD, he refuses that burden. He gives up. And there are so many contrivances to come to that result that it ends up not feeling earned. At least that’s how I see it :)
Completely agree. Wasn't a fan of Die Another Day in the cinema but it was the movie I watched to cheer myself up and remind me what I love about these movies after watching No Time to Die. It's the only Bond I've only seen once which says it all really.
The killing of Bond is not entirely unheard of. Let's remember even Ian Fleming was unsure whether he wanted to even continue writing the novels at one stage and rewrote the ending of _From Russia With Love_ to have Rosa Klebb succeed in poisoning Bond resulting in him collapsing to the floor struggling to breath. All that being said, I would like to reserve my judgement on _No Time To Die_ until the next film comes out to see what direction they are planning to go next. I see two possibilities. 1) It's a straight up reboot. Or 2) in something of a more faithful adaptation of _The Man With The Golden Gun_ we see Bond survive - presumable all chard and busted up in need of reconstructive surgery - suffering amnesia from the explosion, and brainwashed by the Russians. It seems like an obvious way to continue where Craig left off with a new actor in the role.
This is the only Bond film out there that I have serious trouble rewatching. I rewatched it a grand total of one time, and I still felt completely miserable. I absolutely love the first action scene, and that's it. It's a bad sign if I'd rather watch Quantum of Solace.
Honestly ill watch Quantum of Solace anyday. given i do actually quite like it despite its problems, but i think thats cuz the screenplay is a lot less fucked up and contrived, and the pacing is SOOO much better. Wow does No Time To Die have a lackluster abysmal pacing. Its like a broken car it just speeds up at random and then drags its feet at certain parts. Im a big fan of dialogue-heavy movies but this was just exposition and boring plot scenes taking up so much time and so many scenes dragging out too long. Quantum of Solace is ripe for re-watching with a quick pace, it is straighforward, it has plenty action too.
Literally same though. Like I can’t get over the ending. After watching it I just feel depressed and mad about the movie. 🤷♀️ Makes it exactly as you said: not very rewatchable.
For me, this movie works best if I think of it like an opera; negative emotions are heightened but so are positive ones, so there’s fun to be had even in the buildup to impending tragedy.
Edit: At the time I wrote this I had never seen an actual opera. Now I think I was giving them too much credit. There is very little fun to be had.
What kills it for me is the feeling of no hope. Normally I wouldn’t mind that, but in an era of pandemics, climate instability and now a war that has the very real potential of going global, I actually need to watch something that can make me excited and hopeful. I think No Time To Die for me would work better in a different context
A year on and NTTD is still in my Top 5
My opinion hasn’t really changed much. The film falls apart during the last hour because tons of flaws compound upon each other: The lack of an arc in Nomi and Bond’s relationship, the lack of chemistry between Bond and Swann, the villain’s nonsense motivations, the contrived steps leading to the ending. All the failures of the film add up in a climax that has nothing good going for it.
NTTD was a horrible film. The sooner it’s forgotten the better.
Having watched every previous Bond film hundreds of times (literally), this is the very first time I've been able to say... "I'm happy to never watch that one again".
My thoughts on where it stands for me:
Sorry if it's a bit long. Gotta give context.
The first time I saw it in theaters, the ending didn't really hit me. It was more shock than anything. But the second time I saw it in theaters, I actually cried at the end(and I've shed even a couple tears every time I've watched it since).
Calvin, you and I are around the same age and we both saw Die Another Day as our first Bond film in theaters. I cried because James Bond was like a friend to me. I had spent twenty plus years of my life with him, watching the movies and such. It really hit home to see him die. BUT I have been slowly reading through the Bond novels over the last couple years(and reading a fair amount this year alone, 5 books), shortly after NTTD came out, I finished reading From Russia With Love and at the end of it, James Bond dies. Ian Fleming was sick of writing the books at the time, and decided to kill him off.
Now, obviously that didn't happen and he survived and carried on thru MANY more adventures, BUT when, at one point, even the CREATOR of the man, decided to kill him off, it made the ending of NTTD sit a little better with me. Now, would I prefer he lived, of course. HOWEVER, I can now see through different eyes, that Craig's Bond really did have a "life story" from the birth of his 007, to his death. And in the novels and films, has he not been portrayed as fallible and human? The man died, just as we all will.
Overall, at this stage in my life after having seen the movie many times, with all the positives of it, music, cinematography, Cuba, acting, action ALL of it, I can't fault the film all THAT much based on his death. In conclusion, I would rather he have lived, but it's still a great movie and when it came out I placed it at 10 in my ranking. Now I would probably say it moved up to around 6 or 7. Thanks for reading Calvin and keep up the great work!! I always look forward to and enjoy your videos. Been watching you for almost 2 years now.
I'm with you 100% Calvin. I've watched No Time to Die' only once since the cinema, and it went down in my ranking. Totally agree with your comments on Die Another Day too. I've disliked it immensely since it came out BUT I watched it with kids a few months ago and they loved it. And watching them enjoy it made me enjoy it so much more, and reminded me that THIS is exactly why we become Bond fans. It was like watching an eight year old me falling in love watching Moonraker with my dad.
Bond fans have become contrarian to where die another day and moonraker are good movies. lol
Two points. First there’s the way Bond dies; after we’ve all been through the Pandemic he’s infected with something and just gives up. A re-cut could have left it open but they didn’t go for it.
More seriously in my view there’s the last caption - “James Bond will return”. Either that’s as a period thing but we all know he’s doomed or it’s as a reboot, in which case we lose any sense of tension because even if they kill him they can just start again. It makes killing Bond look like a gimmick.
One hundred percent agreed😢
Honestly it's really grown on me... like made the back end of my top 10... honestly I think it's a really good story of an old bond looking back on his life and realizing that on a personal level, he has very little to hang his hat on. He lives in anonymity in the carribean because he doesnt trust anyone and MI6 has simply moved on and reassigned his number... it's not even as much about the love story as much as what it could have been if Bond was able to trust and what still remained from it despite his effort to leave it all behind. Bond died at the end a happy/complete man finally realizing that he had something of value which does complete the setup from royale. Honestly his characterization in the film felt very fleming to me, maybe more than any other film in the series. Film speak made a really good video on nttd that really made me observe some aspects of it with a new lens....
I will say I also am not someone who gets the Licence to kill love though... Licence was just too poorly made for me to think of it as anything but a missed opportunity. Bad Cinematography, awful supporting performances, jarring leftover Roger Moore humor and logic(it doesn't get talked about enough how Pam blows a perfect bugs bunny hole in the side of a bar with a shotgun.)
Agreed. LTK is such an ugly film. Looks crap and has some nasty violence as well as that stupid happy ending.
@@carlitostcb or the bit where in this gritty, grounded revenge tale, Bond encounters Chinese agents that are dressed like actual ninjas and fight him with karate chops, kicks, throwing stars and nets... as opposed to dressing practically and using modern weapons...
@@sammonroe882 Or doing an impromptu wheelie in a truck...
The thing is for me is that since Casino Royale, the movies have been trying to take risks and get away from the stigma of Bond movies saving the world and getting the girl. BB and MG really want to make their movies their own and also not be behind modern movies coming out that can be more surprising and amazing for people, not just in spectacle, but story too. The producers will be in trouble if they hear an audience saying "I prefer other action adventure movies to Bond movies".
On the other side of things, because of all the new inventive and creative ideas they have been able to produce since Casino Royale, people will want the film makers to surprise them again and again if they want to keep em coming back. But just because you do something different or original, it doesn't mean your being clever or innovative. You run the risk of alienating an audience that have come along on this journey so far and producers certainly don't either want to hear " I prefer older Bond movies to this new one"
At the end of the day, its not like this hasn't happened before with this series or other film series for that matter. This is still early days and its a movie we havent been use to seeing Bond in such a situation. These things take take time. OHMSS, TMWTGG, LTK and DAD have been down this situation before.
Imagine if 13 year old Calvin saw this movie instead of Die another day, would you still hate it? or love it?
Remember, just know in you heart Calvin that its only a movie,
and James Bond will return :)
and now cue Louise Armstrong!!!!!!! LOL
One thing's for sure, Paloma should have been in the whole film.
Movie had good elements (like all bond films do) but wasn't a great emotional coaster, or thrilling spy romp, or action packed flick.
In the end it was a limp, beaten to death, dragged out Craig in a situation where everyone was either very much done working on the film or had all the wrong ideas about what a bond film should be.
Totally agree with pretty much everything you’ve said Calvin. Although I really like NTTD on the whole, (may seem strange with what I’m about to say) I agree that the ending is poorly handled. Charlie Higson’s assessment was bang on the money: the fact the character was somewhat of a fantasy and one of the most renown aspects was that he is the man that always finds a way to survive. NTTD totally kills this fundamental part of what Bond is.
For years I struggled to rank a bond movie last, with NTTD I no longer have this problem 💁🏻♂️Watched it once. No plan to revisit this movie. Needed subtitles for the villain, ripped off OHMSS, worst style for Bond EVER!. Too emotional not a fun watch. Bond has a kid! Come on really! Felix and Bond die! Well done Barbara for turning this franchise upside down!!! Story arc my ass!(Sharkey voice) this is what happens when the producers don’t produce 🤷♂️. Just my opinion, great video as always Calvin!👍👍
It's funny because before this film came out the main question I was asking myself as a Bond fan was always "What's the most divisive Bond film?".
The Craig era for me has two parts. CR and QOS feel completely different to the rest, they are; vibrant, fresh, action packed, exciting and more believable. Then the second part being SF, SP and NTTD; more slowly paced, more artsy, too personal and emotional. Not that I don’t like those films at all, but I much prefer the earlier part of Craig’s run.
It would have been better for everyone had Craig quit after Skyfall. Spectre & NTTD leave 007 in as bad a state as the early 1990s. If Craig had been such a great 007 then the series wouldn't be in desperate need of a reboot.
Me too. CR and QOS are Craig's best. A different era started with SF...IMO
My thoughts exactly.
Really enjoying the content on your channel keep up the good work 🎥👌👌
I would rather watch Die Another Day any day over No Time To Die
NTTD was an absolute disaster! Ms Broccoli was so in thrall to her beloved Daniel that she more or less gave him carte blanche. &, as we know from Quantum, as well as his stylistic preferences, his instincts are extremely flawed.
Agreed. This film is all about Craig, not Bond!
Right. They cared more about craig than the character. If that wasn't the biggest red flag
My biggest problem with No Time to Die is that this “Bond” isn’t Bond at all…. He’s so lovey dubby, so emotional and they tried so hard to make Bond so politically correct. I understand that in the past we have seen Bond’s sensitive side, but this film completely breaks the character. I also can’t buy that Madeline is Bond’s soul mate who’s supposed to be above Vesper. Nah, I honestly don’t think the screenwriter understands who James Bond is. I really dislike this film. Daniel Craig was so awesome in Casino Royale and Skyfall. The other 3 films were garbage and No Time to Die is the worst offender in my eyes.
Couldn’t agree more, Calvin!
As someone who's exclusively seen the Craig Bond films (curse you streaming services for not having Bond movies here in Germany), and with No Time to Die having been the only ever Bond film I saw in the cinema, I like it a lot. The ending was very fitting and well set up in my opinion. In terms of bad endings, I'd cite Spectre, which is just ludicrous from the point on where they arrive at Blofeld's base.
Edit: Only days after I wrote the comment they announced that from today, most Bond films will be on Amazon Prime. So it looks like I'll get to watch them now! Strangely, it seems they left 5 of them out (From Russia with love, On her Majesty's secret service, The spy who loved me, The world is not enough and No time to die).
Those left-out movies kill me. From Russia, Majesty's, and Spy Who Loved Me are among my favorites.
Good thing those (except for No time to Die) did show up a few hours later too... only for all the movies to be gone again 2 weeks later.
Great elements. Loved some of the scenes but this is a movie I’ve fully edited in my head.
I’d change Naomi’s character to be more of a bad ass during the Silo scene. She almost dies fighting those soldiers and loses Waldo in the process. He escapes and we respect Naomi for a tough fight.
During the missile strike, we get subtle hints he dodges the missiles. Cut to last scene, he catches up to Waldo after wounding him (throwback to Casino Royale). We see a detailed close up of Bonds wrist watch (EMP) Waldo says “How did you not to die?” Bond: “There’s No Time to Die”
End Credits
My word that would have been jaw dropping!
i don't think its aging well. It has better action than Spectre, but at the cost of slower pacing and more boring exposition dumps. Suffers from monolguism. Every character gets a boring speech. They didn't add more story to warrant 163 minutes. They added a bunch of fluff like a soap opera. Every film thinks they are lawrence of arabia these days and thinks the longer the movie is the more important it is. If you take out all the relationship crap with Bond reuniting with the team in London and Maddy/Matilde in Norway, the actual mission is super short, probably 40 minutes between 10 minutes in Havana and 30 minutes on Safin's lair. In every other bond film, the film is plot driven (actions move the story), and the entire movie is bond seeing the mission through to completion. This is the first bond film that is character driven (how they feel moves the story). That makes it the worst bond film of all time for my money. And i can't see Safin being any more evil than M. Id much rather trust him with the nanos than a government that broke the geneva protocol.
This is exactly why Craig is my least favorite Bond. He has a few great movies but his films aren’t FUN! The producers need to know their audience and not try to take the series too serious. Let Bond be a lighthearted adventure experience again.
No Time to Die? Sounds like a terrible film name. I'm glad it doesn't exist. Just like the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Or any Matrix successors. Or the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Despite the objective issues with "Die Another Day", I think it achieved its goal of being a dumb, fun popcorn movie. You can easily watch it and have fun without caring too much about the story; If you enjoy the story set pieces, then that's all the better.
No Time to Die desperately asks you to take it seriously, which it fails at on multiple levels. You can't watch it as a popcorn movie because you need to know the story, but the story has so many critical issues that it just takes you out of the movie.
The ending still makes me 😭 I still like it but I definitely want a more fun bond next time. I still love die another day or dad 😂 as I call it.
I loved it when it first came out, but honestly the more I rewatch it the more I think it really falls apart by the end.
It starts out super strong and has alot of really great moments peppered throughout but its majorly hurt by two main problems - Safin is a really boring villain with very thin and contradictory motivations, and the entire story feels like it was written in reverse to engineer the scenario in which James Bond could feasibly be killed.
I admire them for trying, but honestly the plotholes get to be a bit too much for me by the end, especially the way Bond's death actually happens. I'll admit that I don't much care for the idea of Bond dying to begin with, but if they had to do it, they could've at least tried to make it a bit more believable. We're told so little about how the nanovirus actually works that I find the idea of it being completely incurable ridiculous and the fact that the doors to the base are so strong that the missiles heading for the island (which apparently CAN'T be aborted even tho almost every missile in existence has at least two or three different failsafes in place for just such a scenario) would just bounce off if they happened to be closed...its just too much for me, I'm sorry.
I get they really wanted to kill Bond off and in a better written film with a more convincing scenario surrounding his death that might work a heck of a lot better, but the film we got just didn't make it work, at least not in my opinion. NTTD is far from a BAD movie, but it's definitely one I think is flawed overall. Better than Spectre, but honestly the more I look back on it the more I think I enjoy even QoS over this one. Messily executed as THAT movie was, it at least felt like a natural progression of the story. NTTD feels like a really forced conclusion to the Daniel Craig saga and, again, it really does feel like it was written backwards with the ending being the very first thing they came up with.
...also they totally wasted Blofeld imo. I get that Waltz' version wasn't exactly great to begin with, but if they were gonna bring him back, they should've had him be the main villain, especially with how underwhelming and confusing Safin turned out to be. Him showing up for like one scene only to die was just really silly if you ask me.
Looks good and good score. It ends there.
Thanks for the video - you've made me want to put my pennies worth in. Having been a Bond fan since I was a child in the 70's - my first cinema trip was to see Moonraker in 1979 and loved the Sean Connery films when they came onto ITV in the mid to late 70's:- I don't automatically think they're all great but even the weakest had something worthwhile to enjoy (unlike yourself, I actually think Spectre is fun!). Anyway enough background, what has this got to do with No Time to Die? Well, come the marketing for No Time to Die, I actually got to a point where I wasn't automatically looking forward to the release of a new James Bond film and then along with Covid and the constant (understandable) delays, I felt that I didn't want to go to the pictures and see it. After the reviews came out and many were quite negative, I felt justified in not going, however I couldn't criticise something I hadn't actually seen so I left things for a bit. Fortunately having an Amazon Prime account meant that in the fullness of time I could watch it at home for free, so come July, having moved home, I gave it a go. I have to say that, I was disappointed, there are one or two good bits (the Anna De Armas bit and some of the pre-credits sequence), but most of the fun and excitement was missing and as for the ending, YOU CANNOT KILL JAMES BOND! Killing off Felix Leiter was bad enough and the way Blofeld was finished off seemed perfunctory to say the least. I could go on, however I will leave it by saying that I doubt I shall watch it again and it will be the only Eon Bond that I do not have on DVD (as I have the Ultimate Collectors Edition Box Set, along with QoS, Skyfall and Spectre at least I can console myself with past glories). James Bond R.I.P.
I still thing No Time To Die is fantastic and gave me the level of escapism that I like. I do think you had to either kill or disable or permanently retire Bond in the Craig era. You can’t build on from the work he did because he’s explored of Bond’s psychology any actor coming in to that timeline would have struggled to build on to that.
Yes! Totally agree with you on that point.
@@meganhartmann180 I honestly thought at the very end in opening the doors he was going to get his hand or foot crushed. But face he chose to die because he would keep everyone safe and that’s what a hero does. We know in real life chances are most people wouldn’t be able to stop this but that’s the escapism aspect in that world heroes exist
Yes! Die Another Day is perfectly good fun, it's really not anything like as terrible as it seems to generally be regarded as being. My hope is, that when Bond returns, he does so in a film that's obviously following directly on from DAD, continuity is restored, and the Craig era can then just be seen as the aberration that it was. Anyway, as always, a great & entertaining video Calvin.
Agreed, they ruined the unbroken continuity of the ageless spy with Craig Bond. Hence they tried to bring back "continuity" with Skyfall.
I love it more and more. Top 5 for me.
Thanks for video 👍
A better ending would have had Q use some sort of EMP burst on Bond to kill off the nanobots. Have Bond retire again from the Secret Service in a touching farewell to all the characters. The very end would have been similar to the current ending, except have Bond be driving the car telling Madeline and his daughter the story of Bond, James Bond. Go into the circular tunnel, the end. Cue up Louis Armstrong music. I know that would have brought a tear to my eye, rather than the current ending.
I'm so glad to see Die Another Day finally getting some love. It's easily one of the 'worst' Bond films there is but good grief, I always have a blast every time I watch the stupid thing.
The series really dropped the ball with the last two efforts. The Craig era lost it's way halfway through Spectre and was working fine until the end of Skyfall.
From Bond/Blofeld adopted brothers, worlds best secret agent being related to the worlds biggest supervillain to Nanobots and Bonds death. The last two fall to the bottom of my rankings.
That said, the death works if taken into context with the notion of the Daniel Craig/Bond "Arc" through the five films.
That's if you like the "Arc". I really, really don't as it's forced, not well plotted and prevented us from having a simple Bond "Mission" from the start of a film to the end. Something hinted at at the end of Skyfall only never to materialize.
Summing up- NTTD comes across as a decent generic action hero film (sort of like a good entry into the Die Hard series-) but a lousy Bond film . .
As a long time Bond fan, No Time To Die is the worst Bond movie in the entire series all to set the stage to castrate him in the media thanks to Barbara Broccoli narcissistic ego.
Still the worst bond film to me. this movie pisses me off, it completely goes against James Bond as a character, and what an absolute joke of an ending.
I used to tell friends that 2/3 through, it felt like the perfect Bond film before it fell apart. Then I recently watched it and realized what I thought was perfect, ended after the Cuba scene. I looked at the run time and saw that was barely 1 hour in with another 1 hour and 40 minutes to go. I now tell friends it is only 1/3 of a perfect Bond film before it falls apart for the remaining 2/3.
That's pretty much what I think as well. The first third was amazing, the rest was messy and full of distracting contrivances.
Hard to believe it's been a year already. I still appreciate that they tried to do something different and that there are some great parts to this movie. Overall, I'm not keen on revisiting this one unlike the rest of the Craig era. Its lower on my list, and because it's a bit sad doesn't have much rewatchability.
These last two Bond films show that this series is in trouble. No more gimmicks, get back to tradition.
I have a love/hate relationship with the ending of No Time To Die. I wish he didn’t die but I can understand how it completes his arc clearly. There was a clear beginning in Casino and a clear ending here.
I think its just the tone. If Bond had died, but sort of with a satisfied smile on his face, and for a worthy cause (Not for a villain`s motivations that I dont really understand. And on an island that didnt need to be bombed right then), and the music was more in the spirit of celebrating that his family was safe and he had done his job, then I think it could have worked. Its just that as it is, in the words of the dude: "This is a bummer, man".
I’ve seen all 24 at the cinema so far this year so (sigh) I will see No Time To Die again on Sunday but it will be the last time as I’m permanently retiring both it and Spectre. I really can’t stand either of them, I just feel it’s a shame to end Craig’s tenure on such a low but Bond being killed off was what he demanded way back in 2006 if you take him for his word. I’m really looking forward to the next film, I hope it’s bombastic and over the top if only to be a palette cleanser from the overly emotional dross we’ve had to endure the past decade.
I hate this Movie, I think this is one of the absolute worst Bond films the ending pissed me off so much.
With you on Die Another Day. Like the Moore films, it’s a mini-vacation from reality and a ton of fun.
Totally agree it’s a poor flagship to celebrate 60 years of Bond. I believe it was Craig’s insistence that the character should die and the film was written backwards to accommodate that wish. I’m astonished that the producers went along with this. Whatever you think of various films throughout the series the feel good factor of Bond saving the world and living to fight another day can not be denied. It’s iconic and has had a positive impact on audiences around the world. I don’t think there’s been as much uproar about a fictional character being killed off since Arthur Conan Doyle killed off Sherlock Holmes. Such was public outcry he had to write him back to life. Well good luck trying to do that with Bond.
Did Craig insist Bond should die?
@@adamcollins915 Apparently he insisted as far back as Casino Royale.
@@tcaudiobooks737 Yes I just checked. Don't know why Craig's era couldn't just end the same way every other actors tenure ended - Bond still alive. Seems like an ego thing from Craig.
@@adamcollins915 Yes
@@adamcollins915 It deffo was his ego. Who does he think he is to kill Bond?
Regardless of how you feel about the ending, the problem with this movie is that the whole movie feels fractured. Most of the sections of this movie are just not connected at all. And the almost non existent Villian motivation hurts it even more. The ending of this movie feels wedged in there too. If the ending was written more competently than Bond dieing wouldn't be a problem.
I liked craig's run as bond, but was pretty disappointed he wished the character dead and that they acquiesced. I think it was a huge mistake and so the one viewing will always be enough for me
For me it's a conundrum. I think Daniel Craig gives one of the best ever James Bond performances. But yeah the ending....I tried to think of why the ending didn't work for me as truth be told, if he was to die, him dying for wife and child is way I would want it. But after second viewing, I realized why. Bond has his destiny taken from him by the villain. So it feels like he didn't win. Had he taken out the bad guy and himself (ha Anakin Skywalker style) then that COULD have worked. Rather than him having no choice like he does now
Amen. The coolest dude in the history of cinema DIES CRYING AND HOLDING A DOLLY NAMED "DO DO." That's all anybody need to know about the plodding, murky mess that is "Slow Time to Die." I left depressed and angry. A year on I am even angrier. And yes, DOD is better.
Agreed Calvin. That ending ruins the movie and is absolutely horrendous 😂
Self sacrifice is the ultimate act of bravery and manliness. The fact that so many Bond fans are agitated by this might be very telling.
That is why I've always personally thought that it's not wise to prematurely critique and analyze a Bond film .. especially on it's first anniversary,,. Relationships need patience and maturation and above all else in-depth thought as well as understanding.This Bond film "No Time To Die"is a prime excellent and relevant example of that very fact❗ Love you're thoughts and Bond content as always from here in the states,,,,from Longtime subscriber. 👍
I've now watched NTTD 3 times: first time was WTF, second time just made me angrier and third time reaffirmed my opinions.
The best way I can describe my view of NTTD is that it's a poor attempt to create a modern equivalent of OHMSS. Unlike Rosa Klebb, I definitely don't find the parallels amusing.
As you've said Calvin, it has good elements: Cuba scene is amazing but short, Matera scene is a good pre-titles sequence (it didn't need the first Norway scene though).
I am frustrated with the producers at this point for making so many poor decisions in the Craig era. I'd hate to think what Cubby would think the direction Bond has been taken.
I love NTTD, it’s the climax of Craig’s era, it dares to step into uncharted territory with Bonds death. It looks stunning and harks back to points in the series with sensitivity. Maybe we’re mourning Bonds death? This character who has been part of our lives for so long was killed off, and that still feels quite strange to me. I think in a year or two, and maybe when Bond is reinvented we may see it differently and be able to move on.
Craig’s era is extremely overrated
I get what you mean about Top Gun: Maverick. A couple of months before NTTD came out Lupin the Third: The First was released in UK cinemas (a very limited release and two years after it had its initial release in Japan, but still), and Lupin III is a series with a clear Bond influence. While I enjoyed both films, I had more fun with Lupin because it was just an enjoyable adventure that wasn’t trying to be cinema with a capital C and felt free to be silly in places (it also helps that the animation in Lupin was phenomenal, some of the best CG animation I’ve ever seen, but that’s beside the point).
But I suppose it’s the thing that, having influenced and inspired so many action films through the years, EON feel they have more to prove maybe. Once you establish “nobody does it better” you have to stick to that. With all the other series wearing their Bond influences on their sleeves EON feel they need to stand above them or else get lost in the crowd. Which leads me to wonder if the spectres (no pun intended) of Christopher Nolan and Austin Powers still haunt the EON offices, Christopher Nolan having elevated action films to a capital-C cinema level which EON feel they need to keep up with, and avoid being fun and goofy lest people make Austin Powers comparisons. Hopefully not because I think there is a comfortable middle ground (which I think NTTD finds at times - gattling guns behind the DB5’s headlights? More of that please!), they just need to be more comfortable in who they are rather than feeling they absolutely have to be the very best. Also the last Austin Powers was 20 years ago, I think EON are safe to dabble in the stuff Powers parodied, kids these days wouldn’t know.
(On an unrelated note, but since I’m on the topic, I wonder if Tom Cruise is also a fan of Lupin III, because in the trailer for the new M:I film he’s driving Lupin’s car).
Ha Great spot on Lupins car in MI :). Well dont forget that all the MI films from 3 onwards aswell have elevated action. Where as Bond movies felt the need to go in a diffrent direction, the MI films took over the stunts, action and fun that was associated with Bond for many years.
and don't forget that Jon Favreau said while making Iron man that he wanted to make Tony and the movie into an old school Roger Moore Bond.....with a sprinkle of sci fi Robocop and the politics of a Tom Clancy Novel :)
I love Lupin the Third and the movie was great!
Worth bond film in my opinion and the ending just a slap in the face
Can't bare to watch it again, too miserable of an experience.
That Aston Martin scene in the pre credits is killer, though.
HUGE MISTAKE killing Bond. 007 DOESN'T die.
I blame DC; his ego/desire to be the dieing hero, or he wouldn't do the film.
Make Bond fun again.
I concur. I thought the character was bigger than any one actor portraying him, but i guess not. If the people involved are sweet enough on you, you can make all the suggestions you like. Even if they aren't good
I think your point about Die Another Day is extremely valid... Although it's very silly, it will always be so - and often enjoyable because of that (for me, that's the same as Moonraker). It seems to me that NTTD will always be a dour affair, and take itself far too seriously (except Cuba).
As time has passed, I've reflected on the main differences between Casino, Skyfall and NTTD as specific examples of the Craig era. What I love about Casino is the serious, but playful tone. It's got swagger and confidence, but it remembers to be cool... it always feels like this could be the first chapter to any of the other Bonds.
What I love about Skyfall is the sophistcation and the tightly focussed, flowing story. It's not light in tone, but it manages to bring that sophisticated Bond world to live, and demsonstrates a brutal focus on the mission that we'd not seen in a Bond movie for some time (perhaps since Dalton).
I feel like NTTD has none of these elements: It's almost always serious in tone, but the plot contrivances are sometimes laughable; it's packed with characters, but their motivations are weak or completely unknown; the action scenes seem to be slotted into the story, rather than part of it; the story appears to be on rails - rolling inevitably towards a specified end point, regularly making me ask 'why?'.
Also, I still passionately feel that NTTD did a disservice to the idea of having multiple strong female characters. It under-utilised each one, like they were just conveniences to make Bond seem more modern at first glance. Don't just dress it up like it's modern... just BE modern! In many ways, Skyfall was far more modern in its portrayal of gender roles - not least the obvious contrast between Severine and M.
One year on... and it still sucks.
It almost feels like they took the best bits from a bunch of rejected bond scripts and very loosely connected them with the plot. Cuba especially felt like some rejected pre title but it just seems like they made an action movie first and a bond film second.
No Time To Die was the end of the franchise for me. They killed James Bond. Not just killed, obliterated, vapourised him. There's no coming back from that. Whatever convolutions EoN go through to resurrect the character, however they choose to do it, whatever the new incarnation turns out to be, I won't be watching it. I'm done. I'm an old guy, I've seen every Bond movie in a cinema, followed the franchise all my life up until this point. Nothing lasts forever, now it's over. Time to move on.
Giving some love to Die Another Day? I’ll raise a mojito to that 👌🏼
I think that the ending has really painted them into a corner. Far from being freeing for them to start afresh, I think killing Bond really broke the forth wall in a way that’s hard to come back from. His death is followed by a post credit coda that says “James Bond will return” which may as well say: “there are no stakes anymore, even death can’t kill him”. It’s also escalatory in that it sets a president for all future Bonds to go out in increasingly dramatic fashion. I think Bond probably died for me in this film. Whatever happens hereafter: there will be something missing.
Just do what I do and not consider it canon. Flush it down the same toilet as Never Say Never Again.
You’re assuming that they will continue on from Craig rather than reboot the franchise. They did it before, and it’s more than likely what’s going to happen again.
@@magnusprime962 No I'm not. I'm well aware that they will reboot, but the damage is done. They've effectively said that there are no stakes for that very reason: we'll kill him, but he'll be back as someone else.
I totally agree with you on the "there are no stakes anymore." Now that we've seen Bond die, the number one question we'll be asking ourselves is "Will they do it again at the end of the next reboot?" If they do, it won't have the same effect as before and if they don't, it'll feel weak because like you said: NTTD sets a precedent for future Bonds to go out in increasingly dramatic fashion.
@@LeonWick526 exactly. Total law of diminishing returns. Also: any actor going in without considering all of that is likely to be the wrong choice. One that does would likely have serious misgivings. I think they’ve painted themselves into a corner, but we’ll see.