No Time to Die (2020)

Can't anymore. They have closed all cinemas in Australia now. Managed to get one film in over the weekend before they shut.

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

I'm confidently pessimistic.

Why so certain it'll be bad?

Xenia93 wrote:

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

I'm confidently pessimistic.

Why so certain it'll be bad?

A number of reasons. Following the story arc established in CR06 means NTTD begins on shaky foundations. None of Bond's personal journey in CR06 works at all so to use it as the framework for subsequent films is the first poor creative decision. Following on from that is the rehiring of Craig, who is so miscast in the role and further, he doesn't want to be there. I can see his acting from a mile away, too, so I'm hardly engaged emotionally in his performances. Even in SF, and I rate that film rather highly. Then, to bring back certain characters from SPECTRE - another film that is so illogical, void of emotional resonance and so very thin - is the next mistake. Madeleine is so poorly constructed to revisit her means to revisit a character no one actually cares about. And what they did to Blofeld is embarrassing and reprehensible so it will be a reminder of how severely they fucked it in SP. I also think Wright's Leiter is massively overrated, extremely bland and further, tokenistic, but I'm less concerned about his inclusion when there's so many worse things to consider.

Of course the reported scripting issues and the massive delays that don't inspire confidence.

This all culminates in the trailers we get, that showcases many of the issues we predicted. It's personal again. It kicks off with some exceptionally photographed/choreographed action, but is intercut with issues about trust of a supposed loved one (again, why Bond is so enamoured by this woman is a mystery after how she was used in SP) which sets up the story as something that isn't palatable in a Bond movie. Maybe once in a while but not every damn film fo the last 15 years. The drama, like in CR, QOS and SP, feels so inorganic and contrived that it's doubtful it's going to sustain the longest running time of any Bond film. And with CR and SP as examples, I'm not sure Eon are up to the task for that, either.

Nomi being 007 isn't the issue many think it to be. Of course, if Bond is retired his number would get reassigned. Being a black woman in the number isn't the issue. However, we're watching a James Bond 007 movie. So it can only end with Bond getting his number back (i.e. character development) which means Nomi would have to die or be a traitor to warrant the transfer of the codename. So there's no tension with her character as far as I can tell. She wouldn't simply give it back because that would be cringeworthy and un-cinematic. And on the topic of new Bond girls, both appear very similar. Both agents, wielding guns. Even DAD, that had two agents, felt very different, even in the trailer. Not here. Or in GE - two Russians that are worlds apart. Here, two agents trying to show us how they can out-badass each other.

Remains to be seen about the use of M, Q, Tanner and Moneypenny, but chances are they'll be overused again to justify their casting. Remains to be seen if they decide to shit on the legacy of DN too. Sad thing is I wouldn't put it past them, now.

As far as I can tell, the only highlights of the film is how superbly photographed it is, and that the action is a huge step up from SP. But overall, it feels like it's SPECTRE II just with better action.

The issues I'm in agreement with you on, regarding apprehension about NTTD potentially being not very good, are the Spectre continuation (that is certainly one of the weakest Bond films, which I discovered on repeat viewings) as well as the (again) personal angle. I'm also afraid they're going to bring back the Scooby-Doo gang a-la Spectre. That really grated.

I disagree about Bond's character development in CR and about Craig being miscast.

I'm excited for the film, but the "this time it's personal... again" angle worries me, as well as the continuation from the fairly poor Spectre

On t'oher hand, The Last Crusade and The Undiscovered Country were continuations from fairly poor entries...

Xenia93 wrote:

I'm also afraid they're going to bring back the Scooby-Doo gang a-la Spectre. That really grated.

Going by the poster, it appears the Scooby gang will indeed have bigger roles than the likes of Paloma, as Ana de Armas isn't even listed at the bottom.

AMC Hornet wrote:

On t'oher hand, The Last Crusade and The Undiscovered Country were continuations from fairly poor entries...

Were they direct sequels, tying up loose ends from their previous entries and following on from narrative strands/character arcs established in films within the 15 years prior?

Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wrote:

Xenia93 wrote:

I'm also afraid they're going to bring back the Scooby-Doo gang a-la Spectre. That really grated.

Going by the poster, it appears the Scooby gang will indeed have bigger roles than the likes of Paloma, as Ana de Armas isn't even listed at the bottom.

I like, if anything, how Craig's eyes are coloured against anything else bar the title.

EDIT- that's not a new poster is it? Release date is still April 2

Correct - I don't think they'll release new posters. Just updated the dates on existing ones.

As for his eyes, it screams of Bab's influence. I'm not crazy about it.

I figured it wasn't new but I did a doubletake all the same.

Damn Babs and for someone letting her in the group chat online

Damn, nice catch on the poster Fields (I think that's you, right?). I'll be so happy if/when the series gets back to a more exclusive focus on 007. Sure, I loved seeing Q out in the field in LTK, but that's more Desmond than it is my love of MI6.

Of all the letdowns in Spectre, that had to be one of the biggest.

Xenia93 wrote:

Damn, nice catch on the poster Fields (I think that's you, right?). I'll be so happy if/when the series gets back to a more exclusive focus on 007. Sure, I loved seeing Q out in the field in LTK, but that's more Desmond than it is my love of MI6.

Of all the letdowns in Spectre, that had to be one of the biggest.

Yes, had my user changed a while back because I was no longer just Fields' Man (though still open to the idea!).    What gave it away, the Brosnan-era appreciation or the antagonism toward CR06?  

Yes, I agree. There are two key differences when regarding the extensive use of the some of the old guard: 1. the charisma and screen presence of the likes of Llewelyn far outweighed that of Whishaw, Harris and Kinnear. It's a damn shame Maxwell wasn't used more in the 60s and Bond/Kitchen weren't used more in the Brosnan era. The 2nd difference is tone. Having the occasional expanded role of Q in some of the classics were justified because they were, more often than not, tongue in cheek. Even the more focused entries - FRWL, FYEO, TLD - retained that Bondian flair, that balance that illustrated the fantastic nature of these movies. Even with LTK, the sheer charm and ongoing relationship Boothroyd formed with Bond since FRWL rendered his expanded role justified. Once Craig came along - and you might disagree here - the films shifted to this faux grittiness that meant there's no place for the colourful and the bizarre*. And you're right with SP - the Scooby gang scenes dragged the film out so much. Had it been some of the previous actors in the roles, imagine the fun that might have been had, even with such dour material to work?!


*Skyfall excepted, which was a welcome return to form!

Yes, I agree with almost all of that. I do think there is some room for it in the Craig era, but it has to be handled correctly (as you've noted, SF is the best example of that). It is definitely trickier in this era, but I don't think impossible. I remain cautiously optimistic and excited about NTTD, but I have many reasons (most of them holdovers from SP) to be less-than-thrilled. And again, I'm a fan of Craig in the role and a fan of his era in general (I like CR and SF a lot, QOS is okay I suppose as an oddity, and I don't care for SP as a whole although it has its moments).

Well said about LTK, and about Desmond in general vs. the new group. Every time I think about the SP finale (the final 20 minutes, really) I want to go cry.

Xenia93 wrote:

Yes, I agree with almost all of that. I do think there is some room for it in the Craig era, but it has to be handled correctly (as you've noted, SF is the best example of that). It is definitely trickier in this era, but I don't think impossible. I remain cautiously optimistic and excited about NTTD, but I have many reasons (most of them holdovers from SP) to be less-than-thrilled. And again, I'm a fan of Craig in the role and a fan of his era in general (I like CR and SF a lot, QOS is okay I suppose as an oddity, and I don't care for SP as a whole although it has its moments).

Well said about LTK, and about Desmond in general vs. the new group. Every time I think about the SP finale (the final 20 minutes, really) I want to go cry.

It's needlessly trickier. They're doing it to themselves. If they decided to embrace what makes a James Bond movie a James Bond movie, it's certainly viable. Alas, they're intent on this faux-gritty tone which won't ever gel well with classic Bondian flair.

And yes, that final act in SP is by far the worst of any Bond movie. This thread might be of interest, Xenia93 [clicky].

There's a new interview with Cary Fukunaga out.

He describes No Time to Die as a tough shoot. Also says he had an idea (which I had seen previously in fan forums) how everything after Bond had the needle stuck in his head in SPECTRE had been dream). https://bit.ly/34OoPpN

If only everyone in the audience had a needle stuck in their heads!

Aye. If NTTD is a dream do we get Pierce Brosnan stepping out of a shower at the end and tells Samantha Bond's Moneypenny it was all in her head?

Napoleon Solo wrote:

There's a new interview with Cary Fukunaga out.

He describes No Time to Die as a tough shoot. Also says he had an idea (which I had seen previously in fan forums) how everything after Bond had the needle stuck in his head in SPECTRE had been dream). https://bit.ly/34OoPpN

Not a fan of retconning but that's a rather attractive suggestion. But then, any earnest continuation of that mind-numbingly stupid story is reprehensible so anything like Fukunaga's suggestion would be a vast improvement.

Hilly wrote:

Aye. If NTTD is a dream do we get Pierce Brosnan stepping out of a shower at the end and tells Samantha Bond's Moneypenny it was all in her head?

They could take the VR goggles to John Cleese. "Maybe you've been down here too long. That was a horrible experience."

Apparently the UK release date has been brought forward to November 12th.

Spoiler:

Heard the US date has moved up a few days as well. Haven't heard anything about Oz yet...

Given how utterly abysmal the US has handled the pandemic, I'm starting think more major films including NTTD are going to be forced to push back.

Bond is as bored as you are in this new look at No Time to Die. I rather like this last one. It isn't even mine.

https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/lifestyle/bond-bored-look-no-time-153900409.html

^^That's me realizing we're in this pandemic for the long haul.

I reckon the chances of this hitting the theatres in November is slim.

Word from the scientific community is that a second wave in winter will be worse than this one..gulp!

If they are relying on the US market to drop it's coronavirus cases before releasing this film then this film is pretty much doomed then. I'm in Florida and can tell you most still aren't taking this seriously and some will gladly beat you to a pulp if you dare even suggest wearing a face mask. This virus ain't going anywhere down here for a long time at this point especially now Disney World is back open and tourists are flocking in. Even if the cases were dropping I don't think No Time to Die would do that well in theaters anyways. It might recoup it's budget but I think EON is aiming for a Skyfall/Spectre box office blowout and I don't think they're going to get it in the present climate.