Cinema
Retro's Dave Worrall attended the Royal World Premiere of No Time To Die at the Royal Albert Hall in London last night
highlighted by the attendance of the Prince of Wales, the Dutchess of Cornwall
and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Due to the world pandemic this was a
tough event to organise, but EON pulled it off big time, with cast members Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lea
Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Wishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Rory
Kinnear, Ana Armas, David Denik, Dali Benssalah, director Cary Joji Fukunaga,
writers Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, composer Hans
Zimmer, performers Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Conell, and producers Michael
G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, arriving
on the red carpet and with some of them greeting the audience in the
auditorium, who responded with rapturous applause, especially for Daniel Craig.
This
event kick-starts a series of premieres in 57 countries, including 10 in the UK
and Ireland to which health care workers will be invited as special guests in
celebration and gratitude of their extraordinary work during the pandemic. Last
night's performance raised over 1 million pounds for charities supporting
serving and former members of the three intelligence agencies (the Secret
Intelligence Service, the Security Service and GCHQ). The evening also assisted
charities supporting past and present members of the United Kingdom Special
Forces, and invited health care workers and members of the armed forces, joined
the cast and other guests inside to watch the film.
Despite
guests having to have had a lateral flow test beforehand, wear a face mask, and
being a little more cautious than usual, it was a spectacular and welcome experience
for everyone who attended, and a great release after being restricted by the
various lockdown situations of the last eighteen months - thanks to Bond. James
Bond.
Here
are Dave's thoughts on the film (No spoilers):
Planes,
boats and automobiles - Daniel Craig's final mission as James Bond is an
emotional rollercoaster of a ride that twists and turns in many directions,
culminating in a finale that left me both exhausted and, dare I admit, in
tears. For many reasons, this 25th chapter in the EON-produced film franchise
has taken six years to reach cinema screens which, interestingly, continues
directly after where Bond and Madeline Swann (Lea Seydoux) drove off in the
agent's fabled Aston Martin DB5 at the end of Spectre in 2015, and then continues five years later. No Time To Die ties up a lot of loose
ends relating to Craig's tenure as Bond, and features many subtle elements
relating to films, and novels of the past that will please both Bond fans and
the general public alike.
Like
Sean Connery's You Only Live Twice
(1967), Craig's fifth and final film is also a spectacular adventure boasting
some outstanding set pieces, stunts, stunning sets and lavish location
photography that are now synonymous (and expected by audience) of a Bond film.
However, none of this distracts from the main aspect of the film - Bond and
Madeline's relationship. Like Casino
Royale, this entry is a love story. One with a difference, but definitely a
love story - and Bond is left hurting once again, but not as you would expect.
It is also the most sinister Bond film I've ever seen, with several very tense and
eerie scenes.
Directed
by Cary Joji Fukunaga (who gave us the magnificent first series of the TV show
'True Detective' 2014, Beasts of No
Nation 2015, and 'Maniac' TV mini-series 2018), his creative vision shines
through in every scene, especially those with the main characters, who are
played by a cast that excel themselves. From Rami Malek to Lashana Lynch, Lea
Seydoux to Ana de Armas - and not forgetting old stalwarts Ralph Fiennes, Ben
Wishaw, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear and Jeffrey Wright - no one is wasted. They
are cherished and welcomed back as much as Craig.
As
promised, no plot spoilers, and unlike a lot of the cynical die-hard fans out
there in the Bond community, I am not an overtly critical person. I was just
happy to see his return in this big screen adventure that delivers the goods in
spectacular fashion - which it does in bucket loads. Was there anything that
disappointed me? Yes - the fact that we shall not see Daniel Craig in the role again,
as he delivers big time in No Time to Die.
Definitely his finest hour.
I've
booked my tickets to go and see it again tomorrow, when the film opens to the
public. Yes, it's that good.
Dave Worrall (29/9/2021)
Photos:
Dave Worrall and Joe Osuch.
No Time To Die opens in
the UK and Ireland from 30 September, and in the U.S. on 8 October.