No Time to Die

Having played James Bond since 2006, Daniel Craig stars in his fifth and final outing as OO7 in No Time to Die. After an attack from Spectre leads a retired Bond to part with Madeleine Swann, he decides to go off the grid. Five years later, Bond is recruited by Felix Leiter for the CIA and then brought back into MI6 to look for a scientist who has created a DNA based bioweapon. Initially taken by Spectre, the scientist is recruited by a new terrorist group led by the mysterious Safin. With this bioweapon, Safin is able to kill the rest of Spectre and, with Madeleine's unwitting help, Blofeld. Upon tracking Madeleine to her childhood home, Bond learns that she has a daughter, though denying it's his child. Soon after they're chased and attacked by Safin's men, who manage to kidnap Madeleine and her daughter. Tracking Safin to a secluded island where he will make more of the bioweapon, Bond and Nomi, the new OO7, head to the island to rescue the hostages and open the silos so a missile strike destroys the bioweapons. Once there, Bond and Nomi face off against Safin's forces or risk a global catastrophe that would affect millions. With 25 films in the series, this entry stands out as one of the most daring by tackling things that's never been done before since 1962. Craig's portrayal of Bond has always been more grounded, darker, and at times terrifying compared to his predecessors. In this, we still get that, but also hints of more humanity and normalcy that can sometimes feel strange due to the past movies, but Craig's performance makes it believable. With Rami Malek portraying Safin, we get a more subdued Bond villain who always finds a way to get one step ahead. He's not over the top, doesn't make outlandish plans, or relies on extravagant traps, he's simply cunning, intelligent, and scarily realistic. Though one can't deny that he has similarities to Blofeld in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Stromberg in The Spy Who Loved Me, and Drax in Moonraker that still give it that special flavor. The bold choice of both killing Bond and having a child is a great way of ending Craig's already distinct era. It helps that the writing done not just by regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, but also Phoebe Walter-Bridge and director Cary Joji Fukunaga is exceptional and manages to make it still feel true to the franchise and natural. As for Fukunaga's direction, it has a similar style to Sam Mendes but with more dynamic camera movements and superb set pieces. The stunts and fight sequences are not only well choreographed but have certain aspects of originality due to how they're presented, whether the opening chase scene with the Aston Martin, a shootout in Cuba, or the final fight between Bond and Safin. While Roger Deakins's work in Skyfall gave us the most astounding cinematography out of all the films, Linus Sandgren gives us a close second. The editing between Elliot Graham and Tom Cross helps keep the nearly three hour film, the longest Bond entry as well, feel brisk and have great pacing. Of course, one can't talk about a James Bond movie without bringing up the music and the theme song for the title sequence. Hans Zimmer does a superb job with the score, giving us the regular themes while adding bits and pieces of On Her Majesty's Secret Service's soundtrack that makes you weary of what could happen between Bond and Swann. This entry's theme song, same title as the movie, is performed by Billie Eilish who cowrote it with her brother, Finneas, and Miles Ale. At 18, Billie is the youngest artist to record a Bond theme and regardless of her age, it is an amazing song that fits both her style and the franchise's previous hits. It's perfectly moody and somber, but still keeps you magically invested due to foreshadowing what will occur in the rest of the film. Of all the Craig era songs, this is the second best right behind Adele's title song for Skyfall and one of the most iconic alongside Goldfinger's, Live and Let Die's, and For Your Eyes Only's. With No Time to Die being a perfect end to Craig's time as Bond, there's no doubt that it will be difficult to try to not only find a perfect successor to the role but have a movie that will be as regarded right away. Over all: 100%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. No Time to Die

3. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

4. The Green Knight

5. Candyman 2021

6. The Suicide Squad

7. Free Guy

8. Nobody

9. Black Widow

10. A Quiet Place Part II

11. Respect

12. Raya and the Last Dragon

13. Malignant

14. Jungle Cruise

15. Cruella

16. Wrath of Man

17. F9

18. Venom: Let There Be Carnage

19. Snake Eyes

20. Old

21. Space Jam: A New Legacy