By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
“No Time to Die,” from director/screenwriter
Cary Joji Fukunaga (“Beasts of No Nation”) marks the fifth and final film for
Daniel Craig the debonair, super-spy Agent 007. It’s quite a swan song for Craig who has "dutifully" embraced the role of James Bond. “No Time to Die” is also a fantastic finish for devoted fans of the storied franchise.
In the movie James Bond (Craig) is reluctantly pulled out of retirement by his old CIA buddy Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright, TV’s “Westworld”).
The world has become even more dangerous. This time the mission involves tracking down a kidnapped scientist and getting technological weaponry out of the hands of a megalomaniac named Lyutsifer Safin (a hammy Rami Malek, “The Little Things”).
The assignment reunites Bond with M (Ralph Fiennes “The Kings Man”), Moneypenny (an underused Naomie Harris, “Black and Blue”), Q. (Ben Whishaw, TV’s “Fargo”) and Blofeld (Christoph Waltz, “The French Dispatch”).
Other new CIA agents and operatives include Logan Ash (Billy Magnussen, TV’s “Made for Love”), Paloma (a terrific Ana de Armas, “Knives Out”) and Agent Nomi, (a sensational Lashana Lynch, “Captain Marvel”), who M designated as the new 007, much to the surprise of Bond.
Things get messy and complicated quickly and Bond probably wishes he could have stayed chilling in Jamaica rather than dodging bullets at every turn. Plus, he’s still trying to come to grips with the drama surrounding his old flame, Madeleine (Lea Seydoux, “The French Dispatch”).
The stunt work and action sequences are spectacular throughout “No Time to Die” especially that lengthy motorcycle chase scene. The majestic and scenic backdrops particularly of Scotland, Italy, and Norway are also breathtaking.
I place “No Time to Die” right up there with “Skyfall” and “Casino Royale.” Even at two hours and 43 minutes long, “No Time to Die” is time well spent much like bonding with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"NO TIME TO DIE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
