MovieChat Forums > No Time to Die (2021) Discussion > The disappointment of NTTD (spoilers)

The disappointment of NTTD (spoilers)

posted 3 years ago by MovieReporter (20)
10 replies | jump to latest

As a big Bond fan, I was (unsurprisingly) jarred to say the least by the ending of No Time to Die.

Yes, James Bond dies at the end . A brave ending without a doubt. The right ending? I'm not convinced and the ending left me - and in the days since - flabbergasted. I don't think I've ever felt this way about the resolution to a movie before. Bond has become a piece of me and the finale left me saddened.

Of course, Broccoli and the team will have it pitched basically as an alternative approach to the Bond formula we love. For me, at least, it goes deeper than that. After a six-year wait and the trauma of the pandemic, I wanted to see Daniel Craig's Bond go out on top. Did I expect things to end happily with Madeline? No. There was always going to be a sucker-punch. Another betrayal? Another loss? When Bond realises that he won't be able to see Madeline or Mathilde again I felt that was it - that was going to be the epic finale, right like something out of a Greek tragedy. Gut-wrenching for Bond of course. But, he's Bond. He'll take it, he'll grieve but he'll go on. He'll go on and die another day (sorry, but here it actually sounds apt!). I feel that is the Bond that was built up over the last four films and, for me, is what Daniel Craig's Bond is all about. Instead, we have a massive curve-ball thrown in where Bond throws in the towel and is killed. It just doesn't work for me. Until then, I had enjoyed the film but left feeling disappointed beyond words.

The heavy-handed references to On Her Majesty's Secret Service added further to the disappointment. Some may love it but it left me feeling alienated. I didn't like leaving the cinema listening to "We Have All The Time In The World". OHMSS ends with Bond's world torn to pieces. He mourns. There is a pause. Then, there's the Bond theme. Some may read it (or rather hear it) as inappropriate but I see it as saying "Bond will be back". And, indeed, he was. Here, the plugging of "We Have All The Time In The World" just felt like fan service which (given the style of Craig's previous entries) just came out of nowhere!

Certainly, the ending of NTTD is a brave decision. But there's problems for sure. How easy will be it to buy the character now that we've seen him killed off?. Well, of course, that's going to depend on the next Bond. If he's an absolute knockout, even Craig could be outclassed and his departure made redundant, even laughable in retrospect. If he’s not, well he’s somewhat been shoot in the foot before he’s even been cast! Is the choice of the ending really a stroke of creative ingenuity or a careless flash of arrogance, fuelled by Craig's purported demands and the producers' backing in their desperation to keep their star and their over-confidence in the franchise's legacy. After "Spectre" (which I do not dislike), I was keen for Craig to come back for one last hurrah. Now, I regret it. Bond and Madeline driving off, with 007 back in his Aston Martin, to the triumphant Bond theme, now feels like it really should have been the real ending to the Daniel Craig era.

All in all, I found NTTD to be inferior to much of Craig's tenure. It shoots out enough dashes of classic Bond to thrill for sure. Its conclusion is a bold but nonetheless heavily disappointing one which may well be a misstep for the series.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts below.

[–] cyguration (3951) 3 years ago

Haven't seen it (and not too thrilled at the prospect of ever seeing it). I'm sure this should disqualify me from even voicing my opinion here about subject matter with which I may not have mustered the requisite experience, but as a fan of Bond I can't help but chime in regardless.

After learning about the spoilers I, too, felt a jarring discomfort in the pit of my stomach.

"But it's just a movie, it's not real!" the naysayers exclaim.

Well, it's true, it's all fiction and it is just a movie, but it's also part of a historical fictional legacy attached to a world renown character that people look to as a quintessential hero no matter the circumstances. Bond was, at one point, rated as the no. 3 (out of 100) cinematic heroes of all time. That speaks to his influence and eminence in the world of pop-culture.

So yeah, undermining the character at the whim of the Powers That Be will inevitably taint the future of the franchise unless they do hire in an unquestionably Bond-esque actor to take on the role for the new series of films that abates the damage done by No Time To Die.

However, given the current trend in Hollywood, I tend to doubt we'll get a proper, straight, white, masculine replacement for Craig. Right now the belief is that a female will replace Bond (despite Broccoli's protests) as hinted at in No Time To Die. And even though Broccoli wants to keep Bond male, the other producers might feel otherwise. If they get their way and churn out a female Bond, then it will be the complete end of the franchise in terms of any kind of escapist entertainment. It will be a bona fide vehicle for propaganda, and it will just make the ending of No Time To Die sting that much more.

As much as I hope that you're right about a really awesome actor taking over the role and committing 110% to it, I also have to acknowledge we live in Clown World, and the complete opposite is just as likely to be true, as well.

[–] MovieReporter (20) 3 years ago

Interesting to hear your thoughts, cyguration.

“After learning about the spoilers I, too, felt a jarring discomfort in the pit of my stomach”.

That describes exactly how I felt after seeing the film! A deep-rooted disappointment.

“Well, it's true, it's all fiction and it is just a movie, but it's also part of a historical fictional legacy attached to a world renown character that people look to as a quintessential hero no matter the circumstances”.

Totally agree. I had to talk myself round by reaffirming to myself that at the end of the day it is just a movie. But I think you’ve hit the nail on the head here - a character that people look to for resilience and endurance. And the audience aren’t fools. They know Bond’s not Superman or immortal. Of course, he’s going to die one day - be it on a mission, as an old man or other means. Do we need to see him die unceremoniously on screen though? No. We have been going to see Bond for virtually 60 years now because he always comes through with charm, wit and grit in the most inescapable of situations. And it’s all done in style.
Now, that legacy feels like it’s been trampled on.

You can’t help but wonder what Cubby Broccoli would have made of it. Connery had defined the character and netted 5 smash-hits but, when he was unhappy and wanted out, he was shown the door. Lazenby came in, fooled around, didn’t want to stay and was let go. Cubby and Harry Saltzman said that the star himself isn’t bigger than Bond and it was that understanding of the appeal of the character that has driven the franchise to this day, helping it to outlive beyond the definitive incarnation of Sean Connery. If the story of Craig demanding 007’s fate IS true, then Barbara Broccoli seems to have done the opposite.

Plus, you have Danny Boyle’s departure as director (a series first) and Craig’s co-producer credit…Things certainly appear to have been shaken and stirred!

[–] cyguration (3951) 3 years ago

We have been going to see Bond for virtually 60 years now because he always comes through with charm, wit and grit in the most inescapable of situations. And it’s all done in style.
Now, that legacy feels like it’s been trampled on.

Absolutely. People constantly say that Never Say Never isn't a real Bond film because it wasn't produced by Eon, and therefore not canon, but I will take Never Say Never any and everyday of the week over a Bond film that goes out of its way to undermine and then kill the character.

Plus, you have Danny Boyle’s departure as director (a series first) and Craig’s co-producer credit…Things certainly appear to have been shaken and stirred!

That's how I knew things were becoming undone at the seams.

Danny Boyle is a favorite director of mine, and I was immensely excited about him directing Craig's final Bond film. But then when he departed and they started talking about the feminist lens and Craig going on and on about hating working on the Bond films on just about every talk show he appeared on -- in addition to having a producer's credit in the latest film -- it absolutely does lend lots of credibility to the claims that it was Craig who wanted to off Bond.

[–] MovieReporter (20) 3 years ago

cyguration, I should have cottoned on to the implications of Boyle leaving. To the best of my knowledge, that’s the first on a Bond film. Now, in retrospect, it’s obvious that this was what the dispute over “creative differences” was over.

I thought it was a shame, in the first instance, that Sam Mendes didn’t return to make a trilogy. I guess his absence, together with Craig’s increased behind-the-scenes clout, goes some way to explain how this one jars so much with the others. Most obvious for me was the insertion of the OHMSS soundtrack. For me, it was so out of place and such a departure. Odd choice to say the least.

[–] moviefanatic505 (6138) 3 years ago

So what are your thoughts on Skyfall and Casino Royale?

[–] MovieReporter (20) 3 years ago

Both fantastic and, looking back, such good memories of seeing them when they came out. Special times in the Bond series.

I’ll always enjoy and appreciate them for sure but, now that this story is over, I can’t help but feel something has been taken from them. Particularly Skyfall. I mean the concept of that is of a weathered, seemingly past-his-prime Bond stepping out from the shadows and getting back on top. This is really only the beginning of his adventures. It was a high-point for the franchise which screamed “Bond may be 50 years old but it’s back, better than ever and here to stay”. Now, thanks to NTTD, it turns out that Craig’s 007 is really heading to his doom after the events of Skyfall, and the series faces an uncertain time ahead.

[–] WhereIsRent (1080) 3 years ago

This is exactly my thoughts after the movie as well. Also your ending is much more fitting without killing him off.

The ending of the film could have really brought things more full circle. Perhaps he visits Vesper’s grave and burns the ‘Forgive Me’ note he’s been carrying with him all this time? (Instead of bizarrely having that happen at the start of the movie)

Then he drives off alone in his Aston Martin DB5, there’s a quietness to the scene but then the Bond theme kicks in and we cut to credits.

Killing Bond off was far too miserable an ending even before the pandemic.

[–] Interlepos (1808) 3 years ago

>> I wanted to see Daniel Craig's Bond go out on top

Agreed.

[–] FFNogoodnik (775) 3 years ago

I wanted to see Daniel Craig's Bond go out on top.

He did, he was on top of the structure when it happened. :)

[–] MovieReporter (20) 3 years ago

FFNogoodnik, yes he was. He shouldn't have been killed off though :-)