No Time To Die (PG13)

163 minutes/In cinemas

4 stars

The latest Bond film - with leading man Daniel Craig in his fifth and final outing as the super spy - is an epic action adventure that takes audiences up to the skies and down to the seas.

Filmed in scenic locations such as Italy, Jamaica and Norway, the story sees Bond lured out of retirement when his old friend Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) from the Central Intelligence Agency asks for his help in capturing a kidnapped scientist. The task leads him into a dangerous bioweapon conspiracy and forces him to confront enemies both old and new, as well as allies and a former flame.

The last few films in the franchise examined Bond's emotional journey, from trauma after betrayal in Casino Royale (2006) to his ability to trust and love. Craig once again delivers a sensitive and passionate performance of a man defined less by swagger than his humanity. All things considered, a worthy send-off.

Squid Game (M18)

Netflix

Forget Bridgerton (2020). South Korean survival thriller series Squid Game is on its way to becoming Netflix's biggest title. The K-drama led by Lee Jung-jae is now the No. 1 show worldwide on the service, making waves not only in Asia, but across the seas in North America as well.

In the series, a mysterious organisation invites 456 debt-ridden people to participate in a series of children's games, in which the prize is an astronomical 45.6 billion won (S$52.4 million). The catch? These games put their lives on the line - one wrong move and they are dead.

At times violent and gory, the series is heart-stoppingly unpredictable and takes an unflinching look at the lengths humans will go to when they are desperate.

The Farewell (PG)

99 minutes

Netflix

A recent addition to Netflix, this 2019 heartwarming family dramedy won Chinese-American comedienne Awkwafina Best Actress In A Musical Or Comedy at the Golden Globes last year.

Based in part on director Lulu Wang's life experiences, the film follows the journey of Billi, an aspiring American writer who has a close relationship with her grandmother, Nai Nai, living in China.

When the family find out that Nai Nai is suffering from terminal cancer and has only a few months left to live, they organise a hasty wedding for Billi's cousin in China as an excuse to gather and meet their matriarch one last time. Billi struggles with the deceit and confronts the clash between her American upbringing and her Chinese heritage.

Awkwafina brings a quiet intensity to the role and draws a moving portrait of what it means to grow up between two worlds.