NO TIME TO DIE [2021] [Blu-ray + 4K Ultra HD] [Exclusive Limited Edition SteelBook] [UK Release] The 25th James Bond Film! Bond Is Back With A Vengeance!
Daniel Craig returns one last time as James Bond, starring alongside Oscar® winner Rami Malek in ‘NO TIME TO DIE.’ James Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. James Bond’s peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading James Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 2021 Hochi Film Awards: Win: Hochi Film Award for Best Foreign Film. 2021 Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards: Nominated: HCA Award for Most Anticipated Film. 2021 Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA): Nominated: HMMA Award for Best Original Score in a Feature Film for Hans Zimmer. Nominated: HMMA Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for the song “No Time to Die.” 2021 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards: Win: Sierra Award for Best Song for "No Time To Die.” Nominated: Sierra Award for Best Action Film. 2021 People's Choice Awards, USA: Nominated: Favorite Movie. Nominated: Favorite Action Movie Star for Daniel Craig. 2021 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards: Win: PFCS Award for Top Ten Films. Win: PFCS Award for Best Song for Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for the song “No Time to Die.” 2021 Portland Critics Association Awards: Win: PCA Award for Best Stunts or Action Choreography. Nominated: PCA Award for Best Original Score for Hans Zimmer. Nominated: PCA Award for Best Visual Effects. 2021 St. Louis Film Critics Association, USA: Nominated: SLFCA Award for Best Action Film. 2022 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Visual Effects. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Song for Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for the song “No Time to Die.” 2022 Discussing Film Critics Awards: Nominated: Jury Award for Best Sound. 2022 Golden Globes: Nominated: Golden Globes Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for the song “No Time to Die.” 2022 Hollywood Critics Association: Nominated: HCA Award for Best Action Film. Nominated: HCA Award for Best Original Song for Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for the song “No Time to Die.” Nominated: HCA Award for Best Stunt Work. 2022 London Critics Circle Film Awards: Nominated: ALFS Award for Technical Achievement of the Year for Olivier Schneider (stunts). 2022 Satellite Awards: Nominated: Best Original Song for Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for the song “No Time to Die.”
Cast: Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Billy Magnussen, Christoph Waltz, David Dencik, Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, Lisa-Dorah Sonnet, Coline Defaud, Mathilde Bourbin, Hugh Dennis, Priyanga Burford, Joe Grossi, Nicola Olivieri, Pio Amato, Javone Prince, Davina Moon, Mattia Lacovone, Giansalvatore Duca, Amy Morgan, Lizzie Winkler, Andrei Nova, Ernest Gromov, Gediminas Adomaitis, Andy Cheung, Brigitte Millar, Hayden Phillips, Winston Ellis, Adnan Rashed, Rae Lim, Chi Chan, Denis Khoroshko, Lourdes Faberes, Philip Philmarm, Raymond Waring, Eliot Sumner, Rod Hunt, Michael Mercer, Gemmar Mcfarlane, Leighton Laing, Kimo Armstrong, Gordon Alexander (uncredited), Rodrig Andrisan (uncredited), David Olawale Ayinde (uncredited), Ahmed Bakare (uncredited), Steve Barnett (uncredited), Doug Berry (uncredited), Yasmin Bird (uncredited), Douglas Bunn (uncredited), Ross Donnelly (uncredited), Ali El Khodary (uncredited), Amor Evans (uncredited), John Farrer (uncredited), Iulia Filipovscaia (uncredited), Mark Gooden (uncredited), Tuncay Gunes (uncredited), Michael Herne (uncredited), Ty Hurley (uncredited), Lampros Kalfuntzos (uncredited), Mariia Legun (uncredited), Marian Lorencik (uncredited), Simon Manley (uncredited), Obie Matthew (uncredited), Paul O'Kelly (uncredited), Andrew Reed (uncredited), Zoltan Rencsar (uncredited), Toby Sauerback (uncredited), Tina Simmons (uncredited), Clem So (uncredited) and Michael G. Wilson (uncredited)
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Producers: Andrew Noakes, Barbara Broccoli (p.g.a.), Chris Brigham, Daniel Craig, David Pope, Enzo Sisti, Gregg Wilson, Jón Bjarni Gudmundsson, Michael G. Wilson (p.g.a.), Natalie Thompson and Per Henry Borch
Screenplay: Cary Joji Fukunaga (screenplay/ story), Neal Purvis (screenplay/ story), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (screenplay) and Robert Wade (screenplay/ story)
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Costume Design: Suttirat Anne Larlarb
Cinematography: Linus Sandgren, F.S.F., A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: Blu-ray 1080p + 4K Ultra HD 2160p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio: English: Dolby ATMOS
English: 7.1 Dolby TrueHD
Italian: 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
English: Descriptive Video Service
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English and Italian
Running Time: 163 minutes
Region: 4K Ultra HD Region B/2 + Blu-ray All Regions
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Universal Pictures / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Eon Productions
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ [2021] finds James Bond [Daniel Craig] secret agent wrestles with mortality and finds himself on the opposite side of Her Majesty’s Secret Service amid the familiar aspects fans adore: death-defying situations, ridiculously cool cars, globetrotting scenery and, of course, a random European supervillain threatening the globe.
The new film picks up where the last 2015 film ‘Spectre’ left off, with James Bond and his main squeeze, Austrian psychologist Madeleine Swann [Léa Seydoux], zooming around in an Aston Martin D85. On an Italian getaway, 007 gets to visit the grave of a departed love, and a bomb explodes. James Bond survives but is pursued by an evil goon squad from the evil organization of SPECTRE, leading him to question his trust in Madeleine Swann and force an unfortunate separation.
Five years later, James Bond is retired and living the good life in Jamaica. James Bond’s found by an old CIA friend, Felix Leiter [Jeffrey Wright], who wants his help tracking down a kidnapped Russian scientist and a high-tech bioweapon used to target people through their DNA. James Bond's old pals at MI6 have moved on with a new 007 named Nomi [Lashana Lynch], who has an initially awkward reunion with Madeleine Swann and when James Bond is fully back in suit-bedecked action, James Bond is forced to play mind games (again) with incarcerated SPECTRE boss Blofeld [Christoph Waltz].
But James Bond discovers that the main baddie this time is a mysterious figure named Safin [Rami Malek], who has a connection to Swann, is a secret island lair and a vengeful agenda.
Clocking in at 2 hours and 43 minutes, ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ is the longest James Bond film to date, and you feel it in an emotionally satisfying finale that takes forever. At least the first half zips along with the best sequences in the film. Early on, we get to view an Italian vehicle chase in classic James Bond style, and a fantastic Havana scene teams James Bond with rookie CIA agent Paloma, played by a delightful Ana de Armas, who is a breath of fresh franchise air, side-kicking dudes while in a high-slit dress.
While the film goes to some pretty dark places, there's lightness to ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ that’s a welcome change to the James Bond landscape and it’s safe to assume we have co-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Killing Eve” and “Fleabag”) to thank for that. The dialogue is never Roger Moore-era. Yet there’s unexpected, energizing levity with a lab workplace bit about “weaponized smallpox” and trying to blow up James Bond.
Daniel Craig as James Bond final round as 007 is one of his best, giving the iconic role gravitas, humour and most importantly his soul we have come to expect. Amid seriously high stakes, Daniel Craig makes you root for James Bond like never before in his swan song that’ll leave die-hard fans shaken, if not stirred. But most important for die-hard fans of James Bond films are of course famous for guns and gadgets, cocktails and cocksure heroes, which is what we want from a James Bond film. ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ to some negative critics had its issues; the latest action adventure nicely places the exploding cherry on top of an evolutionary period in the British superspy’s cinematic life. Wrapping up the five-film mini-saga franchise that began with the 2006 ‘Casino Royale,’ here director Cary Joji Fukunaga, who is the first American to be at the helm of a James Bond film, ventures where none have dared to go before with the franchise James Bond 25 film history.
For me ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ and Daniel Craig final James Bond film gets five-star rating from me, because Daniel Craig is a towering charismatic presence from opening frame to the final closing shot, and he bows out in terrific soulful style. Also ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ is of course a festival of absurdity and complication, and a head-spinning world of giant plot mechanisms, but in conclusion, the film as a whole is very enjoyable, as well as gleefully spectacular action packed film. As an experience though, it delivers the entire spectacle you'd expect from a 007 film, and throws a few surprises in along the way and proves to be an entertaining, affecting and bold finale for the wonderful Daniel Craig.
NO TIME TO DIE MUSIC TRACK LIST
NO TIME TO DIE (Music by Finneas O'Connell) (Lyrics by Billie Eilish) [Performed by Billie Eilish]
DANS LA VILLE ENDORMIE (Music by William Sheller) (Lyrics by Claude Lemesle, William Sheller and Tom Arena) [Performed by Dalida]
INCIDENTAL 21 (From ‘The Wrong Trousers’ 1993) (Written by Julian Nott) [Performed by Julian Nott]
QUITE ETERNA (Written by Nunzio Vincenzo Paolicelli)
BAM BAM (Written by Winston Delano Riley Ophlin Mytrella Russell) [Performed by Ophlin Russell aka Sister Nancy]
MONEY UP (Written by Orville Burrell aka Shaggy, Nohard Grant, Anthony Kelly and Lamar Reynolds) [Performed by Shaggy feat. Noah Powa]
CUMBIA DE BUENAVENTURA (Written by Emilio Jury Moya) [Performed by La Sonora Matancera]
HOT SAUCE (Written by Christopher Benstead) [Performed by Christopher Benstead]
SALSA VERDE (Written by Christopher Benstead) [Performed by Christopher Benstead]
LA MULATA RUMBERA (Written by Alejandro Rodriguez and Sunshine) [Performed by Cuban Jazz Legends feat. Peruchin Nieto, Tata Güines and Changuito]
INCACHO (Royal Anthem) (Written by Moises Vivanco) [Performed by Yma Sumac]
J’T’ Emmène au Vent (Music by Alexandre Margraff, Arnaud Samuel, Gaëtan Roussel and Robin Feix) (Written by Alexandre Margraff, Arnaud Samuel, Gaëtan Roussel and Robin Feix) [Performed by Louise Attaque]
La Boheme: Che Gelida Mania (Written by Giacomo Puccini) [Performed by Enrico Caruso]
RASTAFARI WAY (Written by Damion Darrel Warren, Sam Gilly, Greg Winston Rose, Manfred Scheer, Herb Pirker, Parvez Syed and Lorenz Spritzendorfer) [Performed by Teacha Dee]
CHAMPION (Written by Leroy Sibbles and Buju Banton aka Mark Myrie) [Performed by Buju Banton aka Mark Myrie]
LOVE IN THE ARENA (Written by Anthony Campbell and Clement Dodd) [Performed by Jah Buzz]
COLPE DE ARPA (Written by Andres Emilio Cartaya)
RITMO DE MI CUBA (Written by Silvio Contreras) [Performed by Pío Leyva]
DONDE ESTABAS TU? (Written by Ernestro Duarte Brito]
WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD (Music by John Barry) (Lyrics by Hal David) [Performed by Louis Armstrong]
JAMES BOND THEME (Music by Monty Norman)
* * * * *
Blu-ray Image Quality – Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Eon Productions presents us this 25th James Bond Film ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ with totally outstanding and stunning 1080p image and enhanced with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. I have got to say that the Blu-ray looks totally amazing and this is by far one of the best transfers I have viewed for a James Bond film. There is no shortage of fine detail or clarity abounds throughout the film. Every texture whether rock, stone or clothing is brilliant rendered with the utmost in clarity, detail and realism. I even love the way snow looks or metallic surfaces resonate and reflect in this one. The cinematic feel is both bountiful and beautiful. It is said that the encoded image was accumulated from a combination of traditional 35mm, 65mm and IMAX cameras, which were later mastered to this incredible looking 4K remastered digital intermediate. Depth of field is everywhere you look at here from the gorgeous Italian landscapes to the freezing white snow-covered ones. The exceptional clarity, detail and shadow delineation separates the foregrounds from the backgrounds opening up your viewing experience here with the utmost of vastness. The black levels are spot on with everything in check and looking natural. The blacks are deep and thick, but we never lose anything in the tiniest of shadows here. This is a very vibrant and bright presentation thanks in part to the Dolby Vision HDR. Contrast is the king here producing rich dynamics and lively environments. The skin tones all look natural and healthy throughout. The 4K enhanced presentation is free and clear of any source or encode noise. Things look picture perfect throughout the film.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Eon Productions brings us this 25th James Bond Film ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ with 7.1 Dolby TrueHD which is the one I am concentrating on and is also one of the best of the year I have encountered. When it is quiet, it’s soft and you can hear every single thing and best of all nothing gets lost in the shuffle of it all. Everything feels so spacious here with more than adequate breathing room… even the Hans Zimmer composed film score. Helicopters, explosions, debris falling, ambiance/discrete effects and more rain down on you in this spatial surround track. This one is truly action packed and make no mistake the ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ 7.1 Dolby TrueHD track packs a serious wallop with the fight scenes, gun shots, car chases and so much more! There’s an overwhelming sense of heftiness in the bass department carrying things throughout here. Things get quite aggressive and intense! With the dynamics field, the rears do their absolute best to keep up with every roar, gunshot whizzing by, helicopters, vehicles, explosions, environmental moments and so much more. This one engulfs you in all the zaniness. One of my favourite moments is when James Bond’s car is getting hit by an onslaught of bullets and things are spinning around with the action unfolding onscreen is impeccable! Every voice is loud, well prioritized and clear above any of the action or intense moments. You won’t have any trouble hearing this one, not one at all.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Anatomy Of A Scene: Matera [2021] [1080p] [1.78:1] [11:32] In true James Bond fashion, there is an incredible pre-credit sequence featured in ‘NO TIME TO DIE.’ It’s a chase shot in Matera that starts on foot, then motorcycle, then car. Not just any car either – the iconic Aston Martin DB5! Through interviews with actor Daniel Craig and director Cary Joji Fukunaga, plus on-set interviews with key members of the crew, we discover how the filmmakers shot this breath-taking sequence.
Special Feature: Keeping It Real: The Action of ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ [2021] [1080p] [1.78:1] [6:15] In a world full of CGI-heavy action films, the James Bond franchise proudly stands out from the crowd for always shooting practical stunts, without the use of special effects. In this piece we see how ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ continues with this tradition with its amazing action sequences.
Special Feature: A Global Journey [2021] [1080p] [1.78:1] [7:50] Exotic locations are synonymous with all James Bond films and ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ is no different. As well as returning to James Bond’s spiritual home, Jamaica, for Daniel Craig’s final outing, we also go on a global journey taking in Italy, Norway and Scotland. We hear from Daniel Craig, Cary Fukunaga, other key cast and filmmakers, on what it was like filming at these spectacular locations.
Special Feature: Designing Bond [2021] [1080p] [1.78:1] [11:04] Production designer Mark Tildesley and costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb, along with cast and other filmmakers, discuss the inspiration, challenges and trials of conception and making such remarkable sets and costumes for the iconic James Bond franchise.
Special Feature: Being James Bond: The Daniel Craig Story [2021] [1080p] [1.78:1] [46:39] In this special just over 46 minute retrospective, Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15-year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from ‘Casino Royale’ [2006] to the 25th James Bond film ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ and here Daniel Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, in the lead up to Daniel Craig’s final performance as James Bond.
Finally, ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ exemplifies the modern James Bond epic. It has got everything, from adrenaline charged action to intimate character drama and all of the grittiness and teeth audiences have come to expect from especially all of the Daniel Craig James Bond films. Nevertheless, the overall 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray package makes the must have James Bond film pride of place in your collection and is sure to be this year's top Blu-ray demo disc. You’ve done your bit for Queen and Country Daniel Craig, and I thank you for your loyal service. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
