You’d have to have spent the last couple of months in a submarine underneath the Arctic Circle not to be aware that (after an almost two-year delay due to the pandemic) a new James Bond film has recently been released.

And, unusually, we were able to see Daniel Craig’s last outing as 007, “No Time To Die”, here in the UK a whole seven days before it premiered in the States.

Three cheers for us! That’s ‘US’, not the U.S., just to be clear . . .

Although I used to enjoy ‘going to the pictures’ back in the days when things were ‘normal’ (and do intend returning), I’m not a massive James Bond fan. However, I appreciate each new Bond release is regarded as an ‘Event’ by fans.

Bond budgets are astronomical, as flying enormous film crews to exotic locations and paying stunt experts to choreograph convincingly dangerous-looking car chases doesn’t come cheap.

The producers spend big money hoping the films will pack cinemas around the world and generate a lot of cash, a chunk of which finds its way into the coffers of the UK tax man.

It’s also worth remembering that in the pre-Star Wars 1970s, if it wasn’t for James Bond films (often re-released together on double-bills) and the ‘Carry Ons’, many more cinemas would have become bingo halls or been demolished.

So, I was heartened to read that since it opened on October 1 it’s brought back audiences into cinemas to once again share the big screen experience.
I’ve not had chance to see it yet. But, as the window grows ever smaller between a film’s cinema release and its appearance on DVD and streaming services, I’ll have to make the effort in the next couple of weeks.

On the whole, reviews and audience reactions have been positive for “No Time To Die”, the main criticism being, at two and three-quarter hours long, there’s so much action and twists, surprises and nostalgic references to previous Bond films, there’s…

“No Time To Visit The Loo!”

See you in the cheap seats!