The 25th installment in Eon Productions’ series of “James Bond” films, “No Time to Die” marks an end to actor Daniel Craig’s (“Knives Out”) time portraying the eponymous character. The fifth entry in the franchise to star Craig, the film concludes an overarching story which commenced with his first film as the character, “Casino Royale.” Despite some minor shortcomings, “No Time to Die” makes for an overall thrilling, emotional end to Craig’s stellar run as the iconic secret agent.

Following the events of the film “Spectre,” “No Time to Die” sees James Bond come out of retirement to stop terrorist Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody”) who aims to assert his will over society with a weapon capable of commiting mass genocide.

Like most “Bond” films, the movie retains the tradition of featuring a film-specific theme song and opening credits. Performed by Billie Eilish (“Happier Than Ever”), the song, fittingly titled “No Time to Die,” features haunting, melancholy vocals and lyrics which set a clear tone for the film. Without question, it is one of the best songs to be used as a “James Bond” theme.

Though it maintains a great deal of the brooding, serious qualities of Craig’s previous “Bond” films, the movie finds time to pay homage to the camp of the series’ earlier installments. The most apparent reference is the occasional use of cheesy one-liners which, though fun tributes, create tonal inconsistencies when delivered during the film’s more tense or important moments.

A more positive element of “No Time to Die” are its action sequences. Extravagant, eye-catching and unique, the fight choreography and chase scenes shown throughout the film lovingly capture the spirit of “Bond,” while also proving the series has the capability to try new things.

Despite his generic personality and motive, Safin poses enough of a threat to serve as a worthy final opponent for Craig’s Bond. An amiable performance by Malek heightens the character’s memorability, while the high stakes set by his plan contributes significantly to the overall excitement of the film.

Spanning two hours and 43 minutes, one would assume that the film would drag with such a long runtime, especially given its overall simple story. However, the film shows a shocking amount of emotional depth on top of its action, prompting significant audience investment. Complimented by solid performances and an abundance of eye candy, the film maintains a fast pace which makes it worthwhile to watch. 

“No Time to Die” comes with the perk of being accessible to viewers, regardless if they have seen its predecessors. Though characters such as Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz “Alita: Battle Angel”) and the SPECTRE organization return from prior films, the way in which they are written into the plot provides enough context to allow viewers to gain a general understanding of who they are and what their plot relevance is. Aside from these inclusions, the film feels mostly like a standalone, and requires little knowledge of the Craig series’ overarching story to be able to watch.

In a similar vein as Hugh Jackman (“Reminiscence”) as the “X-Men” series’ Wolverine, Craig defied odds as James Bond. Ignoring the initial criticism surrounding his casting, he reinvented the character and went on to support a franchise for nearly 20 years, all while garnering much praise for his performance. Though his departure from the role is bittersweet, fans may find solace in the fact that his last film, “No Time to Die,” provides an exciting, memorable end to his stellar run.

Image from James Bond 007 via YouTube