Thank God I did my homework and rewatched the previous films. "No Time to Die" might be a mediocre action flick if considered on its own, but it indeed serves as a satisfying "season finale" for Daniel Craig's 007 reboot series. Pretty much the equivalent of "Endgame" for the MCU: while newcomers might find it subpar at best, most people familiar with the franchise will leave the theaters satisfied. The film manages not to close Bond's individual story arc on an emotional note with stakes on their highest, but to also give enough space to all the support characters we have met along the way since "Casino Royale". While the forcefully serialized storytelling of previous Bond movies didn't always convince me, it definitely became the film's sole reason to exist this time. The problem is everything else, from the forgettable and incoherent villain to all the time wasted on new characters that don't add anything to the plot (Ana de Armas' addition was at least entertaining, though).
The ending will prove divisive among fans, but at least it explores relatively new ideas for a franchise that kept having identical outcomes for over half a century. Other than that, we have the same old-fashioned tropes, camp humor, and over-the-top action sequences that made 007 an established franchise. It might feel a little weary at times, but it's at least better than "Spectre".
Review by manicureVIP 4BlockedParent2021-10-05T14:58:55Z
Thank God I did my homework and rewatched the previous films. "No Time to Die" might be a mediocre action flick if considered on its own, but it indeed serves as a satisfying "season finale" for Daniel Craig's 007 reboot series. Pretty much the equivalent of "Endgame" for the MCU: while newcomers might find it subpar at best, most people familiar with the franchise will leave the theaters satisfied. The film manages not to close Bond's individual story arc on an emotional note with stakes on their highest, but to also give enough space to all the support characters we have met along the way since "Casino Royale". While the forcefully serialized storytelling of previous Bond movies didn't always convince me, it definitely became the film's sole reason to exist this time. The problem is everything else, from the forgettable and incoherent villain to all the time wasted on new characters that don't add anything to the plot (Ana de Armas' addition was at least entertaining, though).
The ending will prove divisive among fans, but at least it explores relatively new ideas for a franchise that kept having identical outcomes for over half a century. Other than that, we have the same old-fashioned tropes, camp humor, and over-the-top action sequences that made 007 an established franchise. It might feel a little weary at times, but it's at least better than "Spectre".