The Watchers Film Show: No Time To Die

 

We're baaaaaaaaaaack!

We've been away for a while, but if there's one thing that's going to get the three of us back together it's going to be to chat about one of the most hotly anticipated movies of 2021: No Time To Die

So, we've recorded a special podcast where we break down our thoughts about the film and the wider Daniel Craig era, and discuss where it might (and should) go from there.

Take a listen below and let us know what you think!

 

Bond 25

This afternoon, from a sunkissed Jamaica and thanks to an incredibly awkward live broadcast, some more details about Bond 25 have been released.

One of the things that HASN'T been released, sadly, is the title. Rumours abound that it could be Eclipse, whilst another rumour has stated it's being filmed under the title Shatterhand (an alias used by Blofeld in one of the novels). It'll be some time before the official title is released. 

As previously announced, Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective, Beasts Of No Nation, Maniac) is directing, having replaced Danny Boyle at the helm. The script is by Scott Z. Burns and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, based on a story treatment by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.

One plot tidbit that producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson did drop is that, at the start of the film, Bond is not on active service and is enjoying himself in Jamaica (presumably with Dr. Madeleine Swann, who he swanned off with at the end of Spectre). Obviously that doesn't last long... Filming has taken place in Norway, and they'll also film in Jamaica, in Pinewood Studios and around London, and in Italy. 

It seemed that the main reason for this broadcast was to confirm the cast.

Daniel Craig is obviously back (for the fifth time), and joining him in returning to the Bond franchise will be Ralph Fiennes (M), Léa Seydoux (Dr. Madeleine Swann), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny), Ben Whishaw (Q), Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner), and Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter).


The new cast members for Bond 25 are:

Clockwise from left: Malek, Benssalah, de Armas, Magnussen, Dencik, Lynch

• Dali Benssalah (Nox, A Faithful Man, Interrail)
• Billy Magnussen (Into The Woods, Bridge Of Spies)
• Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049, War Dogs)
• David Dencik (The Snowman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)
• Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel, Brotherhood, Fast Girls)
• and Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody, Night At The Museum)

Malek's casting has been rumoured for a while and, in a pre-recorded video (as he's currently filming in New York), it's confirmed that he'll be playing the villain. Inspired casting, I have to admit. No character names have been announced. 

So, there we are. Bond 25 is underway, with an expected release date of April 2020.

We'll keep you updated on any news as it becomes available. 

Review: SPECTRE (UK Cert 12A)

Bond is back. Everything present and correct; the guns, the girls, the gadgets. This time, a cryptic message from Bond's path puts him on the hunt for a shadowy cabal. As Bond travels in search of the elusive SPECTRE, M faces a challenge to close the 00 unit down by political forces who see the secret service as a prehistoric relic.

Performance-wise, everyone is really strong. This is Daniel Craig's fourth outing as Bond and he's as assured and suave as ever. There's less of the cerebral psychodrama that made Skyfall so good, which puts Craig more into the traditional ass-kicking mode- which is no bad thing. Ralph Fiennes' M is a nice blend of stern boss and compassionate friend whilst Ben Whishaw's delightfully geeky Q provides some of the nicest moments in the film, particularly involving unveiling the truly sublime Aston Martin DB10.

Christoph Waltz was the perfect choice for the role of Oberhauser, equal parts charm and menace. His confrontations with Bond really crackle and he's an imposing presence throughout. You may not be entirely surprised by where they go with his character, but it works in the context of the story. Monica Bellucci is barely on screen for five minutes and her role is largely as a stepping stone (by sleeping with her, Bond gets the location of the initial SPECTRE meeting) but Lea Seydoux fares better as Dr Madeleine Swann. Madeleine isn't a damsel in distress, although by dramatic necessity ends up being one, and can certainly handle herself. There's some good interplay between Seydoux and Craig which sells that relationship.

The film's opening sequence- which includes a wonderful unbroken tracking shot through the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City- is impressive and sets the tenor for the rest of the film. The car chase in Rome is another particular highlight, whilst the film has taken a Guinness World Record for the largest on-screen explosion. You'll definitely know it when you see it. There's also a brilliantly choreographed and visceral fight scene between Dave Bautista and Craig aboard a train (channelling From Russia With Love). In fact, there's quite a lot of callbacks and inspirations taken from the Bond 'canon' which will please long-standing fans.

Strangely, it feels very much like a swansong for the Craig era. Several hanging threads have been tied up and brought together. Whether Craig will do another film, I don't know, but if this is his last one, it's a hell of a way to go.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Tez

Bond 24: Spectre

There was a big announcement at Pinewood Studios today as the title and principal cast of the 24th Bond film was announced.

The title is... Spectre

The synopsis of the film is as follows: 'A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.'

Hearking back to the classic Bond era, the Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion was a thorn in Bond's side throughout the films of the 1960s and early 1970s, led by Ernst Stavro Blofeld (played variously by Donald Pleasance, Telly Savalas and Charles Gray).

Directed by Sam Mendes (returning after his brilliant direction of Skyfall), produced by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, and written by John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, Daniel Craig returns to the role of Bond for the fourth time.

Also returning are Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q, Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner and Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, all reprising their roles from Skyfall.

But who's new?

Double Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz has joined the cast, playing a character called Oberhauser. There have been rumours circulating that he was to be cast as iconic Bond villain Blofeld and- with a title like Spectre- that could still be possible.

Other cast members include Andrew Scott (Pride, Moriarty in Sherlock) as Denbigh, Monica Bellucci (Irreversible, The Matrix Reloaded) as Lucia Sciarra, Dave Bautista (Guardians Of The Galaxy) as Mr Hinx and Lea Seydoux (Blue Is The Warmest Color) as Madeleine Swann. 

Filming will take place in London, Rome, Mexico City, Tangiers and the Austrian Alps. 

Hitting cinemas on November 6th 2015, we only have just under a year to wait. We at The Watchers are, it's fair to say, rather excited by this!

As you may or may not know, we undertook a Bondathon in 2012 to celebrate the release of Skyfall, to celebrate 50 years of a British cinematic icon, and to raise some money for Cancer Research Wales. Head over to the Bondathon blog to find out more!