No Time To Die (2021)

After retiring from Her Majesty's Secret Service, James Bond (Daniel Craig) retires to Jamaica. But when a Russian scientist (David Dencik) working for M16 on a deadly virus is kidnapped, Bond is recruited by the CIA into tracking down the scientist. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the 25th entry in the Bond franchise is a strong denouement to the Craig years (2006-2021). In spite of its excessive length (it pushes the three hour mark), it's the most emotionally complex of the Bond series with a forceful finale, certainly the most emotional since ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Frankly, although the end credits promise that "James Bond will return", I think this would be a fitting and proper conclusion to cinema's longest running franchise. Alas, it won't happen because Bond is a cash cow and as long as there's milk to be squeezed out, it'll go on. The film has everything one could ask for in a Bond film: action, thrills, humor, glamour, mad villains, beautiful women and the added bonus of deeper than usual characterizations only adds to the movie's strength. My only nitpick (outside of its length) is the substandard score by that hack Hans Zimmer but the title song by Billie Eilish is lovely and Zimmer was wise to incorporate it into his underscore. Among the returning and new cast: Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Christoph Waltz, Ben Whishaw, Lashana Lynch, Jeffrey Wright, Ana De Armas (so charming, the movie could have used more of her), Billy Magnussen and Rory Kinnear.