Ahead of its theatrical release, Daniel Craig starrer No Time To Die just had its world premiere at London’s Royal Albert Hall with Royals like Prince William and Kate Middleton in attendance. After all, it’s the 25th 007 film which also marks Craig’s final outing as James Bond, dropping the veil on the actor’s 15-year tenure that began with Casino Royale and was furthered by Skyfall; it had to be momentous. Especially after being delayed thrice owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. In fact, if early reactions are anything to go by, the Cary Joji Fukunaga directorial is all set to deliver another spectacle after the lukewarm reactions to Quantum of Solace and Spectre.

SEE ALSO: ‘No Time to Die’ first reactions call it a fitting farewell to Daniel Craig’s Bond

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the World Premiere of #NoTimeToDie @clarencehouse @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/Vdc1ZHZacg

— James Bond (@007) September 28, 2021

Not just that, even critics are hailing Craig for his performance and Fukunaga’s vision in bringing the material to life. However, it is not without its own flaws and the done-to-death spy tropes that we have seen countless times.

Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian wrote, “No Time To Die is startling, exotically self-aware, funny and confident, and perhaps most of all it is big: big action, big laughs, big stunts and however digitally it may have been contrived, and however wildly far-fetched, No Time To Die looks like it is taking place in the real world, a huge wide open space that we’re all longing for.”

Uproxx’s Mike Ryan stated, “After waiting so long for No Time to Die — and truly, after all we’ve been through, just wanting to see a throwback fun action movie — it almost delivers, but then sends us on to the streets in, let’s say, not the best mood. I want to watch James Bond and feel good after. That feels like the point of these movie. Not feel … forlorn. There’s been enough of that lately. I guess not even our old pal James is here to make us happy these days.”

Rami Malek (Safin) talks #NoTimeToDie. pic.twitter.com/zUjsHwfTgj

— James Bond (@007) September 28, 2021

Pete Hammond who writes for Deadline is of the opinion that “Fukunaga stages some fine chases, explosions, stunts, and the big hour long finale on Safin’s isolated island fortress, but there is as much emphasis on the human beings here, their conflicts and complications and complexities as there is on the fast moving thrills.”

Digital Spy’s Ian Sandwell rightfully added, “Further viewings will likely decide No Time to Die’s fate in the ranking of Bond movies, especially as there are definitely moments likely to divide the fandom. As an experience though, it delivers all the spectacle you’d expect from a 007 movie, throws a few surprises in along the way and proves to be an entertaining, affecting and bold finale for Daniel Craig.”

Jason Solomons from TheWrap wrote, “Suffice to say, then, that “No Time To Die” is Daniel Craig’s best incarnation of an iconic role, an iteration that sees Bond travel to emotional spaces the character has never been to before, at least not since “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” or in certain passages of Ian Fleming’s books. You feel all the wear and tear on Craig’s body and face, all the strain on Bond of having to save the world one last time (again) yet also all the tantalizing freedom of someone approaching the end of a long run.”

We’ve been expecting you… Daniel Craig has arrived on the red carpet at the World Premiere of #NoTimeToDie at the @RoyalAlbertHall. pic.twitter.com/WhG226rKus

— James Bond (@007) September 28, 2021

The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey however is tired of the same spy tropes. “Fukunaga’s more radical vision of Bond is fleeting. It’s a good film that’s been forced to rattle around in the Bond universe like a loose cog. Perhaps Hollywood’s obsession with connectivity, sparked by the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has poisoned the Bond franchise for good. The film’s core premise, credited partially to Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, is generic spy nonsense…”

Alistair Harkness who writes for The Scotsman opined, “Right from the blistering pre-credits opener, the much-delayed 25th instalment gives you everything you want from a Bond film, just in a way you’ve never seen before. The action’s outlandish yet grounded, the gadgets are ridiculous but work beautifully within the framework of a story, the call-backs to the Bond mythology are fun yet resonate on a deeper level, and the emotional stakes are supercharged but hit hard.”

No Time To Die also features Ana de Armas, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz and the big baddie Rami Malek. The film was originally slated for April 2020, but due to COVID-19, it was delayed multiple times. It is now due September 30 in India and the UK, and October 8 in the US.

Daniel Craig on making #NoTimeToDie for the fans. pic.twitter.com/dbCRytXF74

— James Bond (@007) September 28, 2021

Meanwhile, speculations are still rife about Craig’s replacement. Sure, the film hints that Lashana Lynch’s 00 agent Nomi is likely to take Bond’s place, the man of the moment is not in favor of doing things just for the sake of it or token feminism! He has finally weighed in on the debate whether the character should be played by a woman and told Radio Times, “The answer to that is very simple. There should simply be better parts for women and actors of color. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?” And honestly, I agree.

Here’s why: ‘No Time To Die’ Star Daniel Craig Doesn’t Think A Woman Should Play James Bond And I Agree