James Bond’s ‘No Time to Die’ to open in local cinemas on Friday
Published:Thursday | October 7, 2021 | 12:08 AMSade Garder/Staff Reporter
James Bond film No Time to Die will open at local indoor and drive-in cinemas on Friday.
Melanie Graham, marketing manager and director at Palace Amusement, has high hopes for the 25th instalment in the James Bond franchise.
“I am hoping that it will break the record for Bond films so that we will do extremely good business with it,” Graham told The Gleaner.
The film, which sees British actor Daniel Craig’s in his final role as 007, has broken the UK record for the highest opening weekend of any entry in the franchise’s 59-year old history, making £25 million in three days. Overall, No Time to Die has earned more than £88 million in 54 countries worldwide since its launch in late September.
Graham said no special première is planned for Friday, but that the usual COVID safety protocols will be upheld.
“We still have the 50 per cent capacity that we’re allowed to have, and we still have all the other protocols, like social distancing, mandatory masks coming in and when you are not consuming anything, and hand sanitising stations are there,” she said. “There are capacity limits in each auditorium, so what we are doing is showing the movie in more than one auditorium, so people that come to the picture won’t hear that it is sold out. We’re also trying the best we can to stagger the times because it is a long movie, so we have to, unfortunately, start early so that we can be out of there before the curfew hour.”
No Time to Die is the longest Bond film at two hours and 45 minutes. There will be a weekly 3:45 p.m. movie start for indoor cinemas Carib 5 in Cross Roads, Portmore’s Sunshine Palace, and Montego Bay’s Palace Multiplex. There will be two showings on Saturday: 10:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. For the New Kingston drive-in cinema, showtime is at 6:30 p.m.
“We are encouraging people to purchase tickets online or before at the box offices,” Graham said. “The indoor cinema box offices open at midday, while the drive-in box office opens at 6 p.m.”
The current weekday curfew starts at 8 p.m., while the Saturday curfew starts at 6 p.m. The 6:30 p.m. Saturday viewing is facilitated through a partnership with the E-commerce National Delivery Programme Solution (ENDS).
“If they buy their tickets online, then they have something to show that they’re legitimately on the road because of the ENDS programme and when they’re leaving, they’ll have the ticket which we stamp.”
JAMAICA AND JAMES BOND
The James Bond franchise has inextricable links to the island as its creator, Ian Flemming, wrote his 14 James Bond books from his GoldenEye villa in Jamaica. The adapted movies have also had scenes filmed in Jamaica, including No Time to Die, partly shot in Portland.
“James Bond has been very popular in Jamaica,” Graham said. “We’ve had excellent turnout over the years for the movies, and I am sure that this one will do good business too, especially since it’s Daniel Craig’s last hurrah.”
She hopes that these elements will boost the support for the film despite the early showtimes.
“Starting at quarter to four is really an odd time, so it’s difficult for people to arrange to go to a movie at that time,” she said. “We understand, but we are hoping because it is Bond, that people will be able to find a way and maybe come straight from work and on the weekend. I can’t even say weekend, because Sunday is a no-movement day; but on Saturday we have two shows, so you can come and have a late breakfast or brunch and stay with us and enjoy the movie, or come in the early afternoon.”