"...We have all the time in the world..."
"...this is the end..." (Skyfall by Adele), blogspot readers, yet this is more than a swan song ...a final Daniel Craig performance as Commander James Bond 007 with license to kill appearance. It's an ode to the longest running movie franchise that started with Sir Sean Connery in Dr. No spawning countless imaginative Q gadgets, the memorial evil geniuses as the baddies who were always out to clip James' 007 wings, the sexy, beautiful but deadly Bond girls with clever names like May Day (from A View To A Kill) and Pussy Galore (Goldfinger), and of course the Bond theme songs performed by top artists like Tina Turner, Louis Armstrong, Tom Jones, Gladys Knight, Garbage and the legendary Shirley Bassey. *sighs* The next actor - male or female will have very large shoes to fill as the next 007, blogspot readers.
No spoilers in this review as always, blogspot readers.
No Time To Die plot begins with years later after Bond's last mission ...he's no longer in service and living peacefully with the love of his life. However, leaving Her Majesty's service doesn't mean you don't stop looking over her shoulder either because it doesn't take long before James is slowly drawn back into that former life when a laboratory in London is destroyed. What it contained was a deadly DNA-altering virus (almost like real life but without the DNA-altering part) which is now in the hands of someone unknown. Through the twists and turns of each clue as well as secrets revealed leads Bond closer and closer to his new nemesis (Rami Malek) behind this plot. Does Bond save the humanity from the evil plot this time, blogspot readers?
For the answer and the "wow" moment of an ending, SouthSide highly recommends checking out No Time To Die.
SouthSide believes this one of the best ...probably the better out of all Bond movies ever made ...and she has seen most of the Bond movies made starting with Dr. No. This current Bond movie contains a lot of "firsts" within it such as the opening not doing the usual opening or projecting a reversal homage to a Bond movie predecessor which also includes a famous Louis Armstrong song. Plenty of "easter eggs" tucked inside this movie that had this reviewer closely watching the opening title sequence (very clever putting bits and pieces from Daniel Craig's other Bond openings) to noticing the original Aston Martin DB5 to many other hidden gems. Somehow it brought tears to this reviewer's eyes too. Yes, blogspot readers, tears will be flowing especially at the end. Now that was a first for SouthSide. No other Bond film has done that to her ..ever. Daniel Craig does give it his all during every scene in No Time To Die, blogspot readers. The stunt and action sequences are definitely intense ...sometimes even hardcore to imagine that he did most of them whether he's swinging on a rope off a stone ledge of a bridge in Italy or surviving explosive blasts in deep waters. A few scenes kept this reviewer's heart pounding and had her sitting on the edge of her seat.
However, the one part ...person that blew SouthSide away was Bond's new nemesis - Lyustsifer Safin (love the new spelling of Lucifer) portrayed by Rami Malek. And this is NOT your typical Bond villain here, blogspot readers, like Goldfinger, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (head of Spectre) or Kanangya (from Live and Let Die). Rami's approach to his Bond villain persona was completely different in which you don't usually see. He's someone who speaks to you rather calmly ...peacefully in a smooth subtle vocal tone yet very persuasive and suggestive with his words. Watching him convey his persona even without speaking with the use of his eyes as he stares longingly was frightening, blogspot readers. And sometimes it's not what he says that delivers his evil message. Those eyes as well as body language sent chills down SouthSide's spine. Though his screen time is somewhat brief, Rami Malek has definitely elevated being a Bond villain to the next level. This reviewer feels sorry for the next actor - male or female taking on the villain role. They certainly will have to up their acting game including the long staring gaze, blogspot readers.
Of course, no Bond film will be complete without the lovely beauties adorning 007's arms. However, during No Time To Die, we're introduced to a new class of Bond girls who are not only mysterious but also are kick- ass deadly as well as kick ass without James' help. Nope, not your typical damsels in distress anymore. Both ladies, Lashanna Lynch (as Nomi aka the new 007) and Ana de Armas (from Knives Out) as Paloma ...fresh out of a 3-week training course (yeah right) were cleverly written to be immune to Bond's dinosaur misogynistic charm and piercing blue eyes. SouthSide knows for certain she would. Men with blue eyes are her "kryptonite", blogspot readers. The other Bond beauty, Lea Soydoux as Madeliene Swann holds a special place within James Bond's heart as well as a few secrets in this movie. There's one secret to which he holds dear and it's also a definite first for this franchise too. SouthSide loved the look of real chemistry between these two actors that went beyond the sexual lust and tension to the point you could honestly believed James loved her until the...
Ah ...then there's the music! Hans Zimmer and his original movie soundtrack taps into nostalgic Bond theme by John Barry as well as creating some of his own that's now part of Bond movie history. SouthSide highly recommends checking out Zimmer's music for No Time To Die to which she did before reviewing the movie. She listened to the music first that she could see the movie inside her head from the way it told the story. While actually watching it, she found Zimmer's composition quite exhilarating and easily pushing the action or plot along like intricate quick-paced tango dance steps. Putting both music and movie together - totally mindblown moment here, blogspot readers. Also, Billie Eilish impressed SouthSide with her saddened melancholy theme song, No Time To Die. Though quite moody, dark and hauntingly emo, the song itself strangely sums up James Bond's life and career as a 007. The addition of Louis Armstrong's We Have All The Time In the World was a fitting touch, blogspot readers, that got the tears flowing again.
Sadly, all good things ...heroes must come to an end, blogspot readers. Don't leave right away after the last scene. Stay for the LONG list of "thank you" to the army of people behind the scenes who helped make each of Daniel Craig's Bond movies legendary. Like always, there's a "James Bond will return" message tagline at the very end. Huge shoes to fill after this heartfelt send off, blogspot readers.
Overall, SouthSide highly recommends seeing No Time To Die ...don't fret over the long movie runtime. You'll get caught up with the movie plot's twists and turns that you won't realize how long it was until it's over.
Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide
