It’s been more than a year since “No Time to Die” was supposed to open in theaters, and while the pandemic is far from over, the movie’s long-overdue release feels like a good omen for a  

send-off soaring as loud as the enigmatic gunshot of James Bond.  

“No Time to Die” is a through and through tribute to Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond and to the fans of the 21st-century version of the franchise, who have stuck around since the first installment back in 2006. Daniel Craig has left an imprint on the character from the get-go. Like any good 007, he showed he could rock a tuxedo and toss back a martini with ease. 

The film picks up exactly where it left off at the end of the previous installment, “Spectre,” with Bond (Daniel Craig) retired from active MI6 duty and starting a new life with Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux). This period of blissfulness and tranquility is short-lived when they are attacked by a group of hired goons. Believing that Madeline betrayed him, Bond can’t find the emotional maturity to confront her, so he walks away predicting they’ll never see each other again. Five years later, Bond is found bumming around Jamaica when an intricate criminal conspiracy that involves a deadly plague of DNA-targeting machines pulls him right back into the thick of things. Once again joined by his friends, Bond is convinced to take on this final mission.   

That said, nothing about the plot felt timely or urgent despite many people dying. Characters exist to fill the void with excessive scientific jargon to drive the story forward. At a 2 hour and 45-minute runtime, there isn’t time for a break as this film moves at breakneck speed. The entire script is incoherent around the villain Safin (Rami Malek) as his motivation doesn’t make any sense and his dialogue drags on. There is a seriously deficient point in the film where Safin maliciously kidnaps a little girl and then anticlimactically just lets her walk off. Although Rami Malek puts in the effort, he lacks a convincingly strong and threatening appearance of a man who’s about to achieve world domination. 

The rest of the story is filled with the usual assembly of Bond movie clichés from cool gadgets to pretty ladies to constant one-liners. The action sequences were exciting and suspenseful, and there were some emotional moments and tense scenes too. Oddly enough everything is wrapped up nicely, and the film doesn’t overcomplicate itself.  

“No Time to Die” definitely takes full advantage of its IMAX-style presentation. Large-scale action alone is a reason to see this one on the biggest screen possible, but with the movie being exclusively filmed for IMAX, it can and will take your breath away. This is a thrilling blockbuster with an emotional edge that will leave audiences breathless. Craig gives it all he’s got left in the tank and absolutely smashes it among the enormous explosions, high-speed chases and ferocious fights. It’s truly a tender finish to a decade-long journey that won’t disappoint fans that have been waiting patiently.