An okay finish but I genuinely thought Spectre was a more fitting ending.
"If I’d left it at Spectre, something at the back of my head would have been going, ‘I wish I’d done one more.’ I always had a kind of secret idea about the whole lot in my head, and where I wanted to take it. And Spectre wasn’t that. But this feels like it is."
The above quote is from Daniel Craig, which I find interesting because I was thinking quite the opposite as I watched the ending to No Time to Die. The ending to Spectre sees Bond unambiguously choosing love with Swann over the job, walking to her on a bridge and tossing his gun into the river. This was after they escaped the implosion of the former MI6 building, a final remnant of Bond's time with Judi Dench's portrayal of M. Along with the subplot of eliminating the 00 program for modern spy methods, Spectre really felt like closing the chapter of Craig's Bond.
No Time to Die just felt like more of the same, making the goodbye too long. There really isn't anything new here. In many ways, it felt like Spectre with attempts to up the ante for justification. But at heart, Bond is in the same position: he no longer wants the job because he's found something better. For all of the film's other problems, Spectre's ending felt like just the right amount: we know he chooses Swann but it's left to our imaginations what they do next. Yet, there is absolutely no ambiguity with No Time to Die. Further, it felt like there was no thematic purpose in his death or their child other than an attempt at emotional gravity. Where Spectre was simple, No Time to Die felt overly complex. Just because it's goodbye doesn't mean it has to be heavy handed.
Setting the story aside, everything else was of the same caliber of the other Craig Bond films. Cinematography, action sequences, and supporting roles were all well done. In fact, I thought the supporting cast was the best we've seen so far with Craig's Bond. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching it and Spectre was a heavily flawed film as well. I would rate Spectre just above this film but they're both at the bottom. Casino Royale and Skyfall were masterful and even Quantum of Solace had its moments. To me, these three were clearly on another level compared to Spectre and No Time to Die.
In short, despite all of Spectre's flaws, I think it would have been more satisfying to keep its ending for Craig's incredible portrayal of James Bond.
Review by Graham T.BlockedParent2021-10-19T04:00:49Z
An okay finish but I genuinely thought Spectre was a more fitting ending.
"If I’d left it at Spectre, something at the back of my head would have been going, ‘I wish I’d done one more.’ I always had a kind of secret idea about the whole lot in my head, and where I wanted to take it. And Spectre wasn’t that. But this feels like it is."
The above quote is from Daniel Craig, which I find interesting because I was thinking quite the opposite as I watched the ending to No Time to Die. The ending to Spectre sees Bond unambiguously choosing love with Swann over the job, walking to her on a bridge and tossing his gun into the river. This was after they escaped the implosion of the former MI6 building, a final remnant of Bond's time with Judi Dench's portrayal of M. Along with the subplot of eliminating the 00 program for modern spy methods, Spectre really felt like closing the chapter of Craig's Bond.
No Time to Die just felt like more of the same, making the goodbye too long. There really isn't anything new here. In many ways, it felt like Spectre with attempts to up the ante for justification. But at heart, Bond is in the same position: he no longer wants the job because he's found something better. For all of the film's other problems, Spectre's ending felt like just the right amount: we know he chooses Swann but it's left to our imaginations what they do next. Yet, there is absolutely no ambiguity with No Time to Die. Further, it felt like there was no thematic purpose in his death or their child other than an attempt at emotional gravity. Where Spectre was simple, No Time to Die felt overly complex. Just because it's goodbye doesn't mean it has to be heavy handed.
Setting the story aside, everything else was of the same caliber of the other Craig Bond films. Cinematography, action sequences, and supporting roles were all well done. In fact, I thought the supporting cast was the best we've seen so far with Craig's Bond. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching it and Spectre was a heavily flawed film as well. I would rate Spectre just above this film but they're both at the bottom. Casino Royale and Skyfall were masterful and even Quantum of Solace had its moments. To me, these three were clearly on another level compared to Spectre and No Time to Die.
In short, despite all of Spectre's flaws, I think it would have been more satisfying to keep its ending for Craig's incredible portrayal of James Bond.