No Time To Die (2021)

Daniel Craig will return for a fifth outing as James Bond, 007 in 2019, per the New York Times

From the Archive: Craig. Daniel Craig.

Daniel Craig will return for a fifth outing as James Bond, 007 in 2019, per the New York Times

Daniel Craig will return for a fifth outing as James Bond, 007 in 2019, per the New York Times

Q (Ben Whishaw) shows his computer skills in No Time To Die (2021)

Into the sandbox

Q (Ben Whishaw) errs on the side of caution this time when handling a USB drive in No Time To Die (2021). The last time he flippantly connected one to a computer, a worm infected and spread into MI6’s computer network with disastrous effects in Skyfall (2012).

So this time around, Q ensures that he first attempts to access the unknown-origin USB via his “sandbox” computer – one that is completely isolated from his network and not connected to the outside world.

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No Time To Die (2021) - It's just a number

It’s just a number

Craig’s 007 is down on his luck after the kind of weird chase scene from No Time To Die (2021). He’s picked up by…007…(Nomi) in yet another car that should be getting more screen time in the movie, similar to Paloma. Wow, great revving of that ridiculous Aston Martin engine on the tarmac, I guess. Couldn’t have had a chase where Bond is the passenger and another 00 agent flexes their skill? Missed opportunity…and I distinctly remember these words enter my head about certain characters and parts of NTTD where screen times or parts of the movie were too short or not emphasized enough. I’d definitely say it’s one of my biggest gripes about the movie aside from (of course) the atrocious ending.

Anyways, back in this scene, Nomi does her best Mayday (O_o) impression ([]-[]) with some weird-ass (probably expensive) uncomfortable-looking sunglasses. Their conversation is interesting though: aside from his stern yet poignant “Where have you been?,” it was a little odd to hear Bond mention Swann’s (and his!) daughter and not speak up that she’s actually his child. Is he not proud of Mathilde? Is he embarrassed? Or does he just want to focus on the mission? Same goes for in the plane. M doesn’t mention that “Dr. Swann and her daughter” is actually Bond’s daughter as well, aside from telling Bond he “hopes they’re there.” If he doesn’t know, why wouldn’t Bond mention it? And if Bond has told no one, how would MI6 know to “give” the Aston Martin DB5 (which is a whole other ball of blah) at the end of the movie? It’s another scene in NTTD where a mention of Mathilde throws off the movie and detracts from its overall plot and flow. Stupid kid.

Luckily in this scene, however, Bond mentions the elephant in the room that exists whenever these two are together – namely, who is actually 007 now that Bond is back?

At the end of the car dialogue, Bond seems okay with passing the torch (“Thank you, 007.”), but getting in the plane, I think Q is about to welcome Nomi on as 007 but hesitates as Bond has passes by. Maybe Nomi can sense Bond wants 007 back or just feels it’s the right thing to do? During the movie, I enjoyed the back-and-forth and debate between them and M, but overall at the end, this small plot point wasn’t really as appealing or worthwhile. Instead, I’d have preferred Bond’s code name put on-hold (or retired?) and awarded to him on his return. Nomi would have been a better 002 or 0010 (yes, why not double-oh ten? The numbers have to go past 9, right? Could’ve put that question to bed…)

No Time To Die (2021) - It's just a number

James Bond's daughter, Mathilde (Lisa-Dorah Sonnet), from No Time To Die (2021)...ugh.

J’ai faim

This is easily some of the worst 44 seconds of any James Bond movie ever.

As anyone who knows my opinion of No Time To Die (2021), it obviously revolves around the awful Mathilde/daughter plot line from the movie. In this cringe-worthy, throwaway, awful scene, we see an attempt at portraying a domesticated secret agent James Bond, 007 interact with a toddler (his daughter…ugh!) during a morning routine where a false sense of security is palpable.

I hate everything about it:

  • Mathilde
  • Her stupid bunny doll, dou-dou
  • The stupid kid’s tv show shown on the TV (no one cares!)
  • The way Bond peels the apple
  • The fact that Bond uses a switchblade to peel the apple
  • Bond’s “cutesie” look at Mathilde
  • Why are none of the subtitles punctuated? (maybe it’s just this version?)
  • Madeleine’s “now, dear!” look
  • Did I mention Mathilde???

Just total cringe. Friends don’t let friends put kids in a James Bond movie. *puke*

James Bond's daughter, Mathilde (Lisa-Dorah Sonnet), from No Time To Die (2021)...ugh.

James Bond’s daughter, Mathilde (Lisa-Dorah Sonnet), from No Time To Die (2021)…ugh.

No Time To Die (2021) - The Simple Life

The Simple Life

In No Time To Die (2021), right before Bond (Daniel Craig) gets coaxed out of “retirement,” we see the simple solitary island life he leads, content with the world. After a successful snapper catch/diving session, he comes to port in his sweet sailboat (with Red Ensign flag on the stern) and his speargun, flippers and snorkel in tow. He’s not dressed to impress here, as his t-shirt has multiple holes and I’d advise not to wear those dorky croakies anywhere in public. He seems carefree.

Eagle-eyed James Bond fans would recognize the setting as the real-world Goldeneye estate where Ian Fleming first started writing the James Bond novels – an awesome hat-tip to Bond history. My only complaint is that we didn’t see more of Bond’s island life. It would have been great to go along with him on his diving session or see how he passes the time.

No Time To Die (2021) - The Simple Life