On Friday the 5th of November, 2021 I went and saw the latest James Bond movie No TIme To Die on assignment for Scenestr.
For a lot of us Bond kind of marks time, this is maybe the only film franchise in the world that gets handed down from generation to generation. They have proven timeless and yet current releases speak to our times.
The first Bond film I saw was Goldfinger with Sean Connery so it imprinted on me that he was Bond as much as TImothy Dalton was featuring on the cover of a fresh VHS packet.
As a kid Moore’s entries like Moonraker and Octopussy were treasured and fit right along The Living Daylights and You Only Live Twice.
When I saw Goldeneye on Boxing Day 1995 with Dad and siblings something new clicked into place. Pierce Brosnan was my Bond for my time although my Dad seemed to enjoy it just as much. That is the magic of Bond.
I was twenty-six when Daniel Craig reinvigorated the franchise and did something new with it. Now I was days away from turning 41 and taking one of my oldest friends to a Bond screening on assignment as a freelance writer and Craig was retiring the role.
Bond marks time.
So there I was a middle aged man with a friend I have known for 30 years seeing the last Daniel Craig Bond film. Let’s just say themes conveyed in this new film seemed to fit the occasion.
You can read my review here https://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/no-time-to-die-film-review-20211108
My friend didn’t pose for pictures on the red carpet, he didn’t partake in the free food upon entry (after all he had just gone downstairs to wolf down a burger from Grill’D).
He came because I asked him to, he knew I wanted to share this experience with him just once.
He came after work from across town, his wife patiently taking care of their toddler for a few hours.
Afterwards we drove down to a local shopping centre and stood outside for a little bit. We had done this many times in the wee hours during our 20s to talk. Tonight we did not delay too long. We had homes and responsibilities to get too.
But that night he came and with James Bond we marked time. I’m very lucky to have such a friend.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
-Lloyd Marken
Back to the Drawing Board Productions 
Your review seemed perfect to me, though I have no intention of watching the film.
I am unashamedly NOT a Bond fan, almost a sacrilege on social media, I know.
I read the early books when I was very young, and I was taken to see Dr No and Goldfinger by my parents when they were released in London. Mum bought me the Corgi toy of the Aston Martin car with the ejector seat from Goldfinger. I was 12, and a little too old for it. I later gave it away to my younger cousin.
Then I was persuaded to see George Lazenby in his outing as Bond, and he acted like a plank of wood
I eventually watched Roger Moore in a Bond film. (He was driving a 2CV, and I thought he was in it for laughs, forget the title now). I sat down one evening to watch a TV showing of Brosnan in one of the films where he was Bond, (Golden Eye perhaps?) but turned over before it was halfway through. (I thought Brosnan was great in The Matador though.)
So I have never seen Daniel Craig as Bond, (or Dalton) though I like the actor in other films. (Layer Cake for example) To be honest, I think Bond films are something to grow out of, but that’s just me. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Well you certainly gave it a shot I think Pete. They’re pure fantasy and perhaps a little silly but I do enjoy them, particularly the good ones. 😉 That Ashton Martin toy was certainly a staple of a generation. If you had held onto it you might have gotten a bit of coin for it. Brosnan is great in Matador and Tailor of Panama for that matter and while we’re on it I assume you’re a fan of his turn in The Thomas Crown Affair even if you rate the original more? Dalton was previously underrated but is now being re-appraised. I think they all offer something. Thanks for reading given you don’t enjoy Bond. Best wishes Pete.
Good review, Lloyd. I guess my favorite Bonds all have Sean Connery.
Hey Don, I agree. I actually did a write up way back in the day rating all the Bond films and in it I chose Goldfinger as the best Bond movie with Connery as the best Bond. However my Top 6 had one from each of them. The Spy Who Loved Me is Moore’s best and couldn’t have been nearly as good as the others and Dalton is getting re-assessed these days. Which means people like to take shots at my Bond Pierce Brosnan but he was awesome. Not the strongest entries overall but he was always great. And the impact that Goldeneye had is massive. He saved the franchise.
I agree with you about Goldfinger.
I can’t say the same with the Daniel Craig bond movies.
What’s your take on Dalton and Brosnan? 😀
Actually, Lloyd, I don’t remember the movies they were in.
Haha. The Living Daylights, Licence To Kill and Golden eye I highly recommend.
Well Dalton did The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. Both are pretty equal. Brosnan’s best is Goldeneye.
Speaking of movies, i finally got around to watching Point Blank and have to say what an absolute stone cold classic.