The critic calls the film an epic barnstormer and weird self-aware epic. They single out Cary Fukunaga's terrific panache and the portrayal of a romantic, uxorious Bond unafraid to show his feelings.
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No Time to Die (2021)
25 reviews from 25 publications. Critics’ score 70: 17 positive, 3 mixed, 5 negative.
The critic describes the film as an extravagantly satisfying last chapter to the Craig era. They single out the unfashionably colourful visuals and one of the great Bond action sequences in Matera.
Read the full review →The critic declares the film magnificent and a huge thundering epic. They single out its heart as a moving portrait of an antiquated hero facing obsolescence and Fukunaga's expert direction.
Read the full review →Daniel Craig bows out with a feast of heart and spectacle, the best Bond since Casino Royale. It surprises with strong storytelling decisions, humour, visual grace notes and emotional sincerity.
Read the full review →The critic calls it a terrific, briskly paced conventional Bond thriller and the best entry since Casino Royale, with high finesse and soul that delivers a satisfying emotional send-off for Craig. He singles out the ingenious weave of action, gadgets, quips, and romance that keeps the long runtime sharp and engaging.
Read the full review →The film dutifully ticks all the boxes but brilliantly does not always feel like a Bond film. Fukunaga finds vulnerability in the hero with a stunning finale that gives Craig the send-off he deserves.
Read the full review →A sprawling, occasionally disjointed but exhilarating swan song with irresistible entertainment value and terrific set pieces. Craig delivers a superb, human performance amid some flaws in pacing and supporting roles.
Read the full review →This is a surprisingly tender-hearted farewell to the 007 we have known for over a decade. The film soars when smartly combining the old with the new, as with the introduction of new MI6 agent Nomi.
Read the full review →Even a disappointing villain cannot detract from a bold, satisfying climax to Daniel Craig’s time in the tux. Craig is given just what he needs with a performance that offers a fitting end to his tenure.
Read the full review →The critic finds the film elevated by a fitting emotional farewell for Craig’s Bond and praises the tender, vulnerable human portrait of the character amid the action. The main complaint is the convoluted, protracted plot that drowns the story in villainy and pacing issues.
Read the full review →The review describes the film as often exciting yet inward and agonized in its thrills, overly reliant on self-referential callbacks to prior Craig-era entries. It singles out the debonair Cuba sequence with Ana de Armas and Bond for its witty, flirtatious energy.
Read the full review →The critic finds the film a somber, lengthy send-off for Craig's Bond that leans more toward superhero saga than classic espionage caper, with mixed results on its emotional weight. He singles out the crisp, stylish Havana party action sequence featuring Ana de Armas for particular praise.
Read the full review →The film breaks many canonical rules with elegant solutions to wrap up the Craig cycle but is oddly lacking in pleasure or real wit. Craig persuades with more human substance while the whole lacks joy.
Read the full review →The film is action-packed but hindered by an unconvincing emotional storyline and an underused ensemble cast. It struggles with a baggy plot while managing some excellent action scenes.
Read the full review →The critic calls the film bloated and personality-free in direction, criticizing how it makes viewers feel every one of its long minutes through ponderous plotting. Praise goes to some supporting character moments and Craig’s performance, but the overall arc feels like a treacly sop rather than savage Bond pleasures.
Read the full review →The review notes that the film is fun only when it embraces proper Bond action and visual spectacle on the big screen, with strong set pieces. It criticizes the overly convoluted story, lack of substance, forced emotional beats, and weak chemistry that make much of it feel like a slog.
Read the full review →The critic calls it a thrilling and emotional exit for Daniel Craig as Bond, a fitting finale that humanizes the character while delivering action and risks. He singles out Craig's complex performance and the film's emphasis on human conflicts alongside the stunts.
Read the full review →The review deems it Daniel Craig’s best James Bond outing, one remembered most for its emotional impact and Craig’s layered performance. It singles out the focus on memory, mortality, and emotional spaces rarely explored in the franchise.
Read the full review →The critic highlights the film's emotional stakes, believable chemistry between Craig and Seydoux, and fresh humor from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, calling it surprisingly moving. Some plot choices and the villain feel clichéd or compromised, but the bold risks and finale make it a fitting send-off.
Read the full review →The critic praises the film as a fitting, emotionally resonant close to Craig’s tenure, highlighting its exploration of grief, mortality, and a heartbreaking final scene. It notes the lengthy runtime and some underutilized elements but calls the ending worth toasting.
Read the full review →The critic finds the film messy with a convoluted script but praises how it understands the core of Craig's Bond as a three-dimensional character seeking love beyond sex and violence. It highlights the strong chemistry and craftsmanship as enough to overcome the flaws, marking a fitting end to the era.
Read the full review →The review calls it a thrilling swan song but notes it drops some balls juggling responsibilities, grows fatigued, with crisp but occasionally languid direction and a creaky script. It praises the attempt to adapt the series while acknowledging the weight on its shoulders as the 25th entry and Craig's farewell.
Read the full review →The critic finds the film an uneven but worthwhile swan song that delivers strong gadgets, humor, and Hans Zimmer's score while struggling with vignette-like structure and underused supporting players. It ultimately argues Bond is eternal despite the definitive ending.
Read the full review →The critic praises Daniel Craig's layered, multi-dimensional performance as Bond but finds the film overstuffed with a thin central story and a muddled villain. It delivers intense action and emotional depth but strives for epic sweep without fully achieving it.
Read the full review →The critic sees it as an outlier full of sentimentality and resolution, a parched solemn affair heavy on pathos that wears the viewer out, with a monotonous villain and unnecessary plot. It notes the paradigm shift signaled by female operatives and views the film as a fitting if joyless endnote for Craig's run.
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