European Holiday 2025 - Monte-Carlo, Monaco

While staying in Nice we decided to take the short train ride to Monte-Carlo, Monaco.   The purpose wasn't to hunt for James Bond books, but rather to knock another country off our bucket list of places to visit.   Little did I know we'd find a movie location from a Bond film !

Our first stop was the Monte-Carlo Casino, a short walk from the train station.  As we entered the casino we were immediately struck by the glorious marble lobby with an F1 car parked at its centre.  The Monaco F1 Grand Prix took place on May 25, just a week earlier.  Many people, including myself, snapped photos of the amazing machine.  It was then I noticed a pattern in the marble floor which I recognised immediately...

The lobby was used for the dance sequence in "Never Say Never Again".  We were standing in the same room where Sean Connery, Kim Basinger and Klaus Maria Brandeur had once stood !

A little while later while walking toward the Royal Palace we noticed this magazine outside a shop. The magazine cover in the centre features an image of Daniel Craig as Bond in "No Time To Die".

I may have even found Moneypenny's Landrover from "Skyfall" 😀.

We visited several other locations in Monaco and did a fair bit of walking.  We even had lunch while sitting on the blue plastic seats in a temporary racetrack grandstand already partly disassembled.

If you're fortunate enough to be in Nice sometime in the future I highly recommend taking the 40 minute journey by train to Monaco, and spending the day there; just to witness how the other half live.  

Here's a few more photos from the day:

The rear of the Monte-Carlo Casino

Stairs inside the same casino.  I'd like to think these were the stairs Fatima Blush (Barbara Carrera) dances down in "Never Say Never Again" after being given permission to kill Bond, however I've done a Google search and sadly they're not.

A section of the Grand Prix track

A guard on duty at the Royal Palace

A port full of private vessels

"No Time To Die" One-Sheet Posters

I recently received these two "No Time To Die" Australian one-sheets.  The posters appear to have never been displayed.

The first was designed for the postponed April 2020 release date, which was already the second (or third ?) abandoned release date due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

The second one-sheet was used for what was the final release date in November 2021.

With the benefit of time since my last viewing I think that "No Time To Die" was both a bold and worthy conclusion to the Daniel Craig era.  Part progressive, part retrospective, and the book-end to an almost complete universe outside of the previous James Bond timeline.  "No Time To Die" has proven to be a very controversial addition to the Bond canon among Bond fans, and film fans in general, yet it has also re-invigorated a franchise that this year celebrates it's 60th anniversary.  And the most interesting question everyone asks is "Where to next ?".  James Bond will return.

"No Time To Die" With The Family

This afternoon I went to the cinema with my wife, Mum, Dad and brother to see the latest James Bond film and the last starring Daniel Craig.  It's not often we all go to the cinema together but the release of a Bond film is a big event in my family.  We had to show our vaccination passports and it was the first time we'd been to an actual cinema since June.  Afterwards I got everyone to rate the film and add a short comment:

Mum - 4/5 - Very entertaining.

Dad - 4/5 - You can't beat a Bond film.

Wife - 3/5 - Film was a little long but good to be back at the cinema.

Brother - 3.5/5 - Good Bond film, loved the "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" references throughout, good action scenes, interesting ending. But Bond will be back.

My own rating - 4/5 - A very different Bond film and a fitting swansong for Daniel Craig.

Now I will just add a few further notes below which may contain ** VERY MILD SPOILERS **:

Negatives: I found the film a tad long and was disappointed that the villain was introduced late in the film and in my opinion underused.  I was also annoyed at the ease of the death of some SPECTRE agents.

Positives: The continuation and conclusion of the Daniel Craig / Bond arc was great.  I enjoyed the pre-credit sequence.  The main titles harked back to many previous Bond films, most notably for me the "dancing dots" from "Dr. No".  The acting by everyone was great and I think my favourite sequence was the Cuba shoot-out.

Interesting Facts: As far as I recall this is only the second time there's been a flash-back sequence in a Bond film (the first with Bond looking out a window in "OHMSS"), but the first flash-back of a character other than Bond.  The scenes featuring portraits of previous incarnations of "M" linked Daniel Craig's Bond to many previous Bond actors which was fascinating; for instance Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig share the same universe.  And finally, I'm also curious (and excited) now Daniel Craig has left the role how they will continue the series but as it says at the end of the closing titles "JAMES BOND WILL RETURN".

"No Time To Die" (Finally) Released In Oz

Today marks the official release date of "No Time To Die" in Australian cinemas.  The film's release here was delayed, compared to the rest of the world, due to recent Covid outbreaks and lockdowns.  Now as we've reached some major vaccination milestones our cities, and lives, are starting up again.

There were preview screenings earlier in the week but the official screenings began at some venues overnight at 12:01am for the die hard fans.  This is easily the biggest film released in our cinemas since Covid hit us around March 2020.  

The hardest part of our delayed release has been avoiding spoilers and reviews that litter social media and the web.  Fortunately I've only been following Australian James Bond sites and posts about the film as most have followed the #NoTimeForSpoilers standard.

I'm hoping to see the film with my wife, Dad and perhaps even brother over the weekend.  My Mum on the other hand, who has seen all the other Daniel Craig - James Bond films at the cinema, has decided she's not interested in seeing this one just yet.

Fingers crossed Aussies brave public places again and visit the cinemas to make this film a box office success.  The film promises to be a great swansong for the Daniel Craig - James Bond era.

"No Time To Die" Premieres In The UK

Yesterday in the UK the latest James Bond film, "No Time To Die", had its premiere screening in London.  The film has had many postponed release dates due to Covid, and in Australia we still have to wait until November 11 to see Daniel Craig's swansong as Bond.

I've accidentally read some first impressions of the film on Facebook from people who attended the premiere.  Apparently it's excellent.  But now, like many other Aussies, I'm going to try and avoid all social media spoilers, reviews and perhaps even interviews to ensure I enter the cinema open-minded and ready for a new 007 adventure. 

November is looking very exciting in Australia; finally we'll be out of lockdown, be able a visit a local cinema again... and view a new Bond film.

Drive-In Bond Cardboard Standup

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I visited a drive-in cinema with some friends.  

While waiting for the film to start we visited the diner for some snacks and noticed this "No Time To Die" cardboard standup.  Sure the release date was wrong, but to be perfectly honest does anyone know the release date of this James Bond film anymore ?!

"No Time To Die" Would Have Premiered In Oz Today

"No Time To Die" was supposed to premiere in Australia today.  Obviously because of the corona virus the film's release has been delayed until November.  And I'm sure everyone reading this agrees it was a very wise decision by EON and MGM.  But it's still a shame.  A necessary shame.  Bring on November !