Although No Time To Die, Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007 is debuting a year and a half later due to the pandemic, the critics have called it worth the wait. The reviews have lavished all praises on Daniel Craig’s performance in his fifth appearance as the British Secret Agent, James Bond, for a journey that began 15 years back with Casino Royale. No Time To Die was originally slated for an April 2020 release, but had to see a delay thrice before it premiered in London on Tuesday along with its cast and the British royals in attendance. Film critic, Scott Mantz in a tweet, said that it was Daniel Craig’s most grounded and intimate take on Bond, which had a powerful, emotional, and unexpected payoff. He called it definitely worth the wait. Giving the movie five stars, Britain’s The Times newspaper’s Kevin Maher called it better than good, magnificent. He added that the actor has been a divisive figure during his film tenure as Bond, from his initial casting to his off-screen rants about the iniquities of the gig, but according to him, all his sins are forgiven with this flick. Maher further said that Daniel Craig has a towering charismatic presence right from the start till the end, and he bows out in a terrific, soulful style. Made at an estimated $200 million, No Time To Die has Bond come out of retirement to help track the protagonist Safin played by the talented Rami Malek, who comes armed with a lethal technology. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw, who also gave five stars, showered choicest praises on the movie, saying that it was an epic barnstormer that delivered pathos, action, drama, heartbreak, and outrageously old-fashioned action. David Rooney from the Hollywood Reporter writes that even though the two-and-three quarter running time is occasionally a slog, but the movie ultimately delivers. As per The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey, the director has made a smashing piece of action cinema, and it was a shame that it had to be a Bond film. She added that given the hype, it felt strangely anti-climatic. She gave the movie three stars. Digital Spy’s Ian Sandwell is of an opinion that Malek is not the only newcomer making his mark in the flick as Lashana Lynch impresses a great deal as Nomi. Calling her being adept at stunts, Sandwell says that Lynch is instantly likable with her one-liners.
