"But to hand his retired Double-Oh number off to someone new, who happens to be a woman, was a stroke of genius."
A stroke of genius indeed. I was worried that the producers would force the issue to pander to sentiments of the "woke" generation. But the way they executed Nomi as 007 felt so natural, and quite simply, sublime.
I also loved how they included the DB5, gimmicks and all. They did it so seamlessly, and never in any moment did it make me feel like the gadgetry was forced. It felt very right.
Share your sentiments with Paloma. Too short a screen time. Her action sequences were oh so good. I think I am in love.
Great review Jason, I agree with most of your points, and I'm glad the film took risks with the franchise and tried new things. Some more traditional-minded fans may thought some of it was blasphemy, but I hope they develop what a Bond movie can be with whatever comes next. I think the biggest negative was the Safin's plot for world destruction was unexplained, his goals were complete when he killed Spectre. Honorable mention to the OHMSS references, felt like "if you know you know" for us hardcore fans. The classic one liners were well done too, especially, "I showed him your watch Q, it blew his mind." Overall No Time To Die balanced the dated norms of the character with our modern times well, which I think is essential to keeping Bond relevant.
As a father of young kids, including 4 and 6 year old girls, seeing Bond as a father protecting his family (the funniest moment to me in the film is when bond himself realizes aloud that this is who Madeleine and Mathilde are) took this film to the very top for me, just beneath Casino Royale. Nearly everything was just masterfully done.
Anyone who is triggered by the passing of the 007 designation to Nomi should listen to you here. James Bond will return.
My biggest (and really only) gripe is the crooked scientist character's maddening tendency to speak aloud the obvious, as though the audience were incredibly dull. For example: "I can't jump, there's no elevator; Oh, magnets; My nose is broken!" It was like Fukunaga was saying "get it, slowpokes??" and it's the antithesis of the best sleight-and-subtlety, have-to-watch-it-three-times-to-fully-grasp-it conceit of quality spy films.
As a die hard Bond fan I thought it was great. One of Craig's finest performances.. not just in Bond, but in anything he's done. Loved watching those Rovers get run off the road by the Toyota... I was so jazzed I almost ran a few off the road on the drive home in my 4Runner (I suspect Giles and Winston would've put up more of a fight). I also got a kick out of the interplay between both 007s.. made for some fun moments. All in all a great film. I enjoyed it even more the second time.
"But to hand his retired Double-Oh number off to someone new, who happens to be a woman, was a stroke of genius."
A stroke of genius indeed. I was worried that the producers would force the issue to pander to sentiments of the "woke" generation. But the way they executed Nomi as 007 felt so natural, and quite simply, sublime.
I also loved how they included the DB5, gimmicks and all. They did it so seamlessly, and never in any moment did it make me feel like the gadgetry was forced. It felt very right.
Share your sentiments with Paloma. Too short a screen time. Her action sequences were oh so good. I think I am in love.
Great review Jason, I agree with most of your points, and I'm glad the film took risks with the franchise and tried new things. Some more traditional-minded fans may thought some of it was blasphemy, but I hope they develop what a Bond movie can be with whatever comes next. I think the biggest negative was the Safin's plot for world destruction was unexplained, his goals were complete when he killed Spectre. Honorable mention to the OHMSS references, felt like "if you know you know" for us hardcore fans. The classic one liners were well done too, especially, "I showed him your watch Q, it blew his mind." Overall No Time To Die balanced the dated norms of the character with our modern times well, which I think is essential to keeping Bond relevant.
As a father of young kids, including 4 and 6 year old girls, seeing Bond as a father protecting his family (the funniest moment to me in the film is when bond himself realizes aloud that this is who Madeleine and Mathilde are) took this film to the very top for me, just beneath Casino Royale. Nearly everything was just masterfully done.
Anyone who is triggered by the passing of the 007 designation to Nomi should listen to you here. James Bond will return.
My biggest (and really only) gripe is the crooked scientist character's maddening tendency to speak aloud the obvious, as though the audience were incredibly dull. For example: "I can't jump, there's no elevator; Oh, magnets; My nose is broken!" It was like Fukunaga was saying "get it, slowpokes??" and it's the antithesis of the best sleight-and-subtlety, have-to-watch-it-three-times-to-fully-grasp-it conceit of quality spy films.
As a die hard Bond fan I thought it was great. One of Craig's finest performances.. not just in Bond, but in anything he's done. Loved watching those Rovers get run off the road by the Toyota... I was so jazzed I almost ran a few off the road on the drive home in my 4Runner (I suspect Giles and Winston would've put up more of a fight). I also got a kick out of the interplay between both 007s.. made for some fun moments. All in all a great film. I enjoyed it even more the second time.