No Time To Die (2021) Review

After 4 films and 15 years we are finally at the end of Daniel Craig's run as James Bond with No Time To Die and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Bond attempting to start a new life with Madeleine when he is dragged back into the fray. 

Main Character

Daniel Craig has been James Bond for so long and you can tell he really wanted to go out on a high and he does a fantastic job here. He really gives it his all and manages to combine the charisma and grit that has defined his time as the character, this might even be his best performance in the role. The character goes through a lot in this film and you see just how much he has progressed since Casino Royale and real credit has to go to Craig for that. 

Supporting Characters

I admitted that I wasn't a huge fan of Lea Seydoux's character of Madeleine in Spectre but I thought she did a much better job here. I actually bought the chemistry between her and Craig and the whole romance option was much improved and it actually provided a lot of great dramatic moments. Lashana Lynch plays a new 00 here and she is also great, I really liked her competition with Bond and how her character shows how the world has changed even since the Craig films started. Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, Ben Whishaw and Jeffery Wright reprise there roles from previous films and they are all great and actually get some decent screen time and plenty to do. I also just wanted to give a shoutout to Ana De Armas, she is barely in the film but she gives a really great performance and is so fun and likeable, it is just a shame there wasn't more of her here. Rami Malek plays the villain here and you can tell he is clearly trying, but the character is so poorly written that it gives him no chance, at the end his acting isn't the issue but this is a weak villain for sure. 

Story 

The film delivers a really good and personal story for James Bond and the characters that are around him. It feels like a big deal and the chemistry between the characters is what drives it through and things are just improved from some of the other films. But the issue is that there is just too much here and some doesn't make much sense, take the bad guys plan, it makes zero sense and it makes it hard to care about that element of the film. The story could have been tightened up and shortened the run time which would have benefitted the overall film. 

Script

The script is great, there is some real drama here that adds real depth to the characters and there individual stories. But the playfulness and slight bits of humour are there too and it really builds this great script that will keep you invested in this really long film. 

Style  

The action scenes are great, they have been the biggest strength of Craig's time in the role and they are once again great with the stakes being really high and the stunts really delivering. But the biggest issue in the film is the length, its nearly 3 hours long and it really doesn't need to be, if the plot had been more cohesive you could have shaved plenty of time off of the film. 

Overall

Overall, No Time To Die is a great film that ends Craig's time in the role in a satisfying and enjoyable way that is a good time in the cinema. 

Rating - 8/10

Spectre (2015) Review

The last step to No Tie To Die sees me watch and review Spectre so here we go. The premise of the film sees Bond on the hunt for a mysterious organisation that sees his whole life and career come into greater focus. 

Main Character

Daniel Craig once again plays Bond and he does just about enough here, you can tell this is probably the least enthusiastic he has been about the role but he still gives a good performance and he keeps the essence of Bond alive. He is good in the action sequences and has some charm but this isn't his best time in the role. 

Supporting Characters  

Christoph Waltz plays the bad guy and he does an entertaining job, I have issues with the way the character is presented but he brings his usual amount of commitment and there is enough there to get interested in. Ralph Fiennes gets a larger role as M and he is just a great actor that really delivers in this role and again there are issues with his character arc but none of that can be aimed at him. But there are some issues that I have, Lea Seydoux plays the new Bond Girl here and I guess I just kind of never grew to care about her character and I didn't think there was much chemistry between her and Craig and it affected the whole 2nd act of the film. Andrew Scott plays a large role but it is a really generic role and it feels like a complete waist of a great actor and like why did they even bother if this was how he was going to be used. Even characters such as Q and Moneypenny aren't done as well here which is a shame. 

Story 

Now, we are at the point of the review where I talk about how much I hate the story of Spectre. Bond is on the hunt for this organisation and this has been building at least somewhat through the other films and it just falls really flat. Waltz isn't in the film enough and I didn't find the dynamic between him and Seydoux interesting at all which is a huge part of the film. There is also a plot arc involving the intelligence agencies and that feels really generic and dull aswell. 

Script

The script is alright, the drama doesn't ever really hit enough but there are bits and pieces. Craig has some fun moments with dialogue and that helps make the film a bit more entertaining then it has any reason to be. Overall, it feels weak and a bit drab, kind of like the film. 

Style 

This film has some fantastic action scenes. The opening Day of the Dead sequence is brilliant and it is a shame that nothing else in the film comes close to that, the film looks great and when the action happens it is on point. The issue is that the film is boring, it slows massively down and makes the film feel like a drag and a much longer film then it actually is. 

Overall

Overall, Spectre is a really disappointing average film. Luckily this wasn't Craig's last Bond film as it really goes out on a whimper. 

Rating - 5/10

Skyfall (2012) Review

With No Time To Die upon us, I just have to finish off my Daniel Craig review series and that continues here with Skyfall. The premise of the film sees Bond go after a man linked to M's past that threatens all of MI6. 

Main Character

Daniel Craig is obviously playing James Bond here and he is fantastic. This is an older and more experienced Bond in this film and Craig sells it really well, it feels like at this point that he can play the role in his sleep and the more dramatic and emotional pressures put onto him are done effectively. 

Supporting Characters

Judi Dench is back as M and this is possibly the largest role she has ever been given in a Bond film and she is fantastic. You see how the role is starting to get on top of her and how the tough calls she has had to make in the past and she really does an excellent job of developing this character here. Javier Bardem plays the villain and this is a truly memorable villain, his entrance in this film is a scene that sends chills. The film takes a while to introduce him but when it does it makes him a villain that you will not forget in a hurry. Naomie Harris joins as an ally to Bond and she is a really fun addition to the franchise just as Ben Whishaw is as the new Q and there dynamics with Craig are some of the highlights of the film. Ralph Fiennes is good in the film, his role isn't too meaty but he does what he can and is another great cog to this great cast. 

Story

The film 's story is effective when it is looking at the characters and there depth, the relationship between Bond and M is really put in the forefront and it is done so well that it just adds another dynamic to this franchise. But this film does have a slight issue that its plot is a bit muddled, Bardem doesn't appear on screen for so long that it takes away from the tasks that Bond is doing and makes it feel like the plot could have been trimmed down a bit for a more effective time. 

Script

The script is really good here, the dialogue is quick and witty but serious and heartfelt. It manages to blend these two in a way that it makes these characters stand out and feel much more human and relatable then they might have been without it. 

Style

The action scenes are fantastic, the opening 10 mins alone are some of the best action scenes you will see in an action film. It feels really impactful and the creative fighting techniques and stunts done is a real credit to the actors and crew. But the film is just too long, there is easily 10 to 15 mins that could have been cut and it would have been more effective especially when it comes to its pacing which doesn't always stand up. 

Overall

Overall, Skyfall is a great Bond Film. It has action, drama and good characters and feels like a real return to form for Craig's Bond. 

Rating - 8/10 

Quantum of Solace (2008) Review

Before I go see No Time to Die next week I have some catching up to do and I watched Quantum of Solace today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees James Bond attempting to take down a mysterious organisation that is attempting to take over a country. 

Main Character

Daniel Craig returns for his second go as Bond and I think he is good here, there isn't as much intrigue or development for Bond but he is fantastic in the action scenes. Also when there is some drama for his character to deal with I think he does it well enough. I think he is let down by other elements of the film but in terms of his performance, I thought it was good. 

Supporting Characters

Judi Dench is back as M and she gets a meatier role in this film and she is good as you would expect. They do build the relationship between her and Bond and both both of them do a good job in doing just that. But the issue is with the rest of the cast, Olga Kurylenko plays Camille and I think there is a decent character in there but it isn't conveyed well enough and the main issue is that she basically just disappears for half of this film which forces them to rush into trying to make you care. Mathieu Amalric plays the bad guy here and he is dull it is unreal, this is just a guy that happens to be in James Bond's way and he could have been any villain and it wouldn't have mattered and thats a big shame. The film brings back Jeffery Wright as Felix Leitner and just wastes him and I forgot David Harbour was even in this film because he was used so little. 

Story 

The story for me is where this film really falls apart, it just isn't interesting at all. It tries to build up this mysterious organisation and Bond hunting them but basically gets pushed to the back to see Bond being chased for some convoluted reason. It tries to balance too many things and it ends up failing at pretty much all of it leading to a real lacklustre finale. 

Script

The script is okay, there are some good dramatic moments and as I mentioned before the relationship between Bond and M is handled maturely and appropriately. But there is a real lack of intrigue and depth to the rest of the drama and this film is incredibly serious, lacking the little subtle bits of humour that Bond films usually have.

Style  

The style has some good action scenes, they are high impact, exciting and for the majority well filmed. But it is also a bit of an issue, there is so much action that it feels like the pacing of the film is off. The film just clocks over 90 mins and it feels way too short and that affects the overall quality of the film. 

Overall

Overall, Quantum of Solace is an average film that really fails to follow on the great work that Casino Royale had done. 

Rating - 5/10

Casino Royale (2006) Review

With No Time To Die finally set to hit cinemas in a few weeks, I thought it was time to go back and watch the other Daniel Craig Bond films and that starts with Casino Royale and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a newly minted 007 have to win a high level poker game in order to stop a criminal funding terrorism. 

Main Character

This was Daniel Craig's first time in the role and I thought he did a fantastic job as James Bond in the film. He is super intense and basically plays a cold hearted killer, but it really works and Craig nails this action machine that easily makes him the deadliest Bond and one that fits the modern age for sure. When he needs to put the charm on he does a good job and I thought the combination of the two really worked for the role that was needed here. 

Supporting Characters

Eva Green plays Vesper and she is truly brilliant, for years we have seen Bond Girls be damsels that are submissive to Bond but that isn't the case here. She matches Bond for smarts and intelligence with her being her own character that has development and I really liked how the two of them progress throughout the film. Mads Mikkelsen plays Le Chiffre our villain here and he is also great, this is a desperate man who feels pretty human despite of the terrible things he does and I really liked how this bought him to Bond. Judi Dench reprises her role as M and she is just great, I really like her and Craig's dynamic and she feels like a mum who is pushing her son but gets frustrated all of the time and it works well here. Giancarlo Giannini and Jeffrey Wright both have roles here and are effective despite their limited screen time. 

Story  

The story is really good, seeing this relatively new 007 is fascinating and it feels like this world is updated and is done really well. The stakes are really high and the scenes at the poker table are so effective and tension building with great characters throughout. Literally my only issue is that I feel like the film goes on for too long. The final 20 mins feel unnecessary and for me could have been cut and used as the start too the sequel and would have been much more effective. 

Script

The script is really good, the mix of drama and humour is really well done and due to Craig's charisma it is really effective but it allows him to build relationships with the other characters and create an interesting journey for us to watch. 

Style 

The action is fantastic, this action is brutal and has some of the best stuntwork that you will ever see in a film. This film has one of the best parkour chase and car crash scenes that I have ever seen and credit has to be given to the crew to really make this action seem less silly and way more intense and destructive. 

Overall

Overall, Casino Royale is a fantastic film. It stands out as a top level Bond film but also a top level film in general and if you haven't seen it then you should as if you like action this is the one for you. 

Rating - 9/10