No
Time To Die 4K
(2021/James Bond/007/MGM/UA/Universal 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: A- Picture: B Sound: A- Extras: B-
Film: B-
In
influence, real dollars, adjusted dollars, endurance and so much
more, The James Bond film series is the most successful in cinema
history and will likely continue to be so for a very long time to
come. Just when everyone thinks they've done it all, they come up
with something unexpected and Cary Joji Fukinaga's No Time To Kill
(2021, the 25th film in the series) does just that, going
for broke as Daniel Craig comes back for one last blast and it is
both one of the longest and most special films in the series.
Now
out of the double-o section and with the love (Lea Seydoux) of his
life, he has never been happier, yet there are secrets and the return
of the repressed in store for both of them as SPECTRE turns out to
still be active and vengeful despite Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) still
being stuck in a secret maximum security prison. Their latest
vacation spot turns sour when he is nearly killed in a blast and his
Aston Martin DB5 has to be returned to its secret purpose.
Additionally,
a deadly new figure (the great Rami Malek) apparently has a deadly
new secret weapon so bad, Bond's old CIA best friend Felix (Jeffrey
Wright) has to ask him for help because the situation is so sensitive
and he has to look out for moles and traitors in the organization,
plus a key scientist has been kidnapped!
Licensed
of not, Bond has to settle a few scores and the action sequences are
some of the best of the last few years (and the last Bond film, to be
blunt) while people still want him dead. Needless to say the script
holds together for the most part, but you have to have seen the last
few films to get the full impact of this usually on-the-money film.
That is usually not common for this series, but they go for broke and
with Craig here for the last time, the producers (after years of
trying) finally get to some key, amazing material in the original You
Only Live Twice novel, which is the last original, full length
Ian Fleming Bond tale before his passing. In this respect, they
really deliver.
Adding
to the intensity and fun, we haver the great rest of the current cast
back including Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, Ben Whishaw and Rory
Kinnear, plus solid new turns by Billy Magnussen, Lashana Lynch and
Ana de Armas stealing her scenes. The energy is here, the bozazz is
here, the chemistry is here and the intelligence goes hand in hand
with the classiness and brutal action throughout. With echoes of
other Bond films (especially On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
without overdoing it, No Time To Die is a long-but-satisfying
entry that rightly won a cascade of critical praise while setting box
office records internationally in the face of the worst pandemic in a
century. The big screen lives and this is one of the top films of
the year. Don't Miss it!!!
Now
for playback performance. One of the best-looking films of the last
few years, the 2160p HECV/H.265, 2.35 X 1, Dolby Vision/HDR (10;
Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition image is incredible
throughout, all shot on photochemical film in Kodak Vision 3 color
negative (35mm, 65mm, VistaVision) that is demo quality throughout
and even offers shots above my letter grade. Detail, depth, color
and the overall look are just flawless throughout and continues the
series' lead as best-looking franchise of all time.
The
1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image on the regular Blu-ray
is fine for what it is, but it just cannot compete with how good the
4K looks, despite looking as good as it likely ever will in this now
older format. Either way, Director of Photography Linus Sandgren (La
La Land, American Hustle, First Man) just gets
better and better with each film, really topping himself here and the
results are first class all the way.
A
few Craig Bond films (Skyfall and SPECTRE) were issued
in theaters in 12-track sound, but this is the first time a Bond film
offers 12-tracks of sound on home video and we get it on both disc
versions. The lossless Dolby Atmos 11.1 (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mixdown
for older systems) is now one of the most articulate and
well-designed of any film we've heard in the format over the last few
tears of its debut (along with the equally amazing DTS:X format) that
does not try to hit you over the head with sound like too many films
today, yet music audiophiles will also be impressed by the
exceptional fidelity throughout. The Hans Zimmer music score and
Billie Eilish title song also benefit, setting new high standards for
cinema sound, including some demo moments above my letter grade.
Extras
are definitely
a plus and include (per the press release): ANATOMY OF A SCENE:
MATERA: In true Bond fashion, there is an incredible pre-credit
sequence featured in No
Time To Die.
A breathless chase shot in Matera that starts on foot, then
motorcycle, then car. Not just any car either: the iconic Aston
Martin DB5! Through interviews with Daniel Craig and director Cary
Joji Fukunaga, plus on-set interviews with key members of the crew,
we discover how the filmmakers shot this breathtaking sequence.
KEEPING
IT REAL: THE ACTION OF NO TIME TO DIE: In a world full of
CGI-heavy action films, the Bond franchise proudly stands out from
the crowd for always shooting practical stunts, without the use of
special effects. In this piece, we see how No Time To Die
continues with this tradition with its amazing action sequences.
A
GLOBAL JOURNEY: Exotic locations are synonymous with all Bond movies
and No Time To Die is no different. As well as returning to
Bond's spiritual home, Jamaica, for Daniel Craig's final outing, we
also go on a global journey taking in Italy, Norway and Scotland.
We'll hear from Daniel Craig, Cary Fukunaga, other key cast and
filmmakers, on what it was like filming at these spectacular
locations.
DESIGNING
BOND: Production designer Mark Tildesley and costume designer
Suttirat Anne Larlarb, along with cast and other filmmakers, discuss
the inspiration, challenges and trials of concepting and making such
remarkable sets and costumes for the iconic Bond franchise.
and
the 4K exclusive BEING JAMES BOND: In this special 45-minute
retrospective, Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15-year
adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival
footage from Casino Royale to the 25th film No Time To
Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007
producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, in the lead up to
his final performance as James Bond.
Know
that a larger 4K gift set also exists and includes a die cast Aston
Martin DB5, if you really want to go all out, while supplies last.
For more on the four previous Craig Bond films and in 4K, try this
link to my coverage of that great set:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/15577/007:+The+Daniel+Craig+Collection+4K+(2006
-
Nicholas Sheffo
