No Time to Die

No Time to Die

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

I cried.

I love the sound track.

I’ve decided that Daniel Craig is the Best James Bond Ever.

Sure, all the old James Bond characters and tropes are still in place. Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) is still in the mix, the delightfully nerdy Q (Ben Whishaw) and of course M (Ralph Fiennes), along with some fabulously deadly widgets, the Aston Martin, shaken martinis … but the Bond of days-gone-by is now a 21st century man with a damaging/damaged past. All those doubts, regrets and trust issues are a critical part of this latest James Bond incarnation ‘No Time to Die’

I loved Paloma (Ana de Armas), possibly the only tribute to past Bond girls; a highly-trained killer in high, high heels and a plunging neckline. Paloma is the quintessential Bond girl and de Armas is fabulous in the role.

Other female characters are more 360 degrees in character. Emotional interest is Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux), the second woman James Bond has loved. A tease scene that is slightly ‘old-style Bond’ is Bond’s first encounter with the new 007 (Lashana Lynch) in his bedroom. Instead of removing her clothes, 007 removes her wig to reveal a buzz cut and to tell Bond not to interfere where he is not wanted (we’re talking espionage here, for clarity).

The soundtrack? To die for if you’ll pardon the pun.

Do listen. It is gorgeous?

(“No Time To Die”, the theme song for the 25th James Bond film, Billie Eilish)

I won’t reveal any more but I was definitely on the money with my essay of two week’s ago. More Bond here.