Dr. No (1963)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Dr. No was released back in 1962 and was the first official James Bond movie ever released. It has many high points and a couple low points as well. So today, I am going to critique the movie to see if it is worth your time. What was great: Sean Connery's excellent and charming performance as James Bond is without a doubt, one of the major highlights of the film. He introduced something to the world that it has never known before: The first true cinematic superhero. His performance was beyond amazing which was good because their were of many things he could've gotten wrong as this was the first James Bond movie, simply an excellent performance. Joseph Wiseman's performance as Dr. No was also excellent. He introduced many of the characteristics that every great James Bond villain should have: Charm, cunning, cruelty, menace, resourcefulness and class. Wiseman's performance delivers all of that, Wiseman also added a touch of much-needed ruthlessness to the character to show just how violent and hellbent this character is on killing this one man: MI6 agent 007. And even though this character had some problems (was excessively arrogant and was introduced too late in the film) Wiseman's performance as the titular villain helped to make this film the breakthrough it is today. This film also owes its success to another actor as well, her opening scene not only caused male hormones to surge but is also considered as iconic as James Bond's opening "Bond, James Bond" scene. I'm talking about Ursula Andress. Her opening scene as Honey Ryder was truly iconic. She walks out of the sea like Aphrodite, wearing only a white bikini as the sun shines down on her wet blonde hair. Honey Ryder was the first (and whom many consider) the quintessential Bond Girl. Ursula Andress's performance of Honey Ryder was not only great because of the iconic beach scene (which would be done in later Bond movies), but also because she made the character of Ryder extremely beautiful, innocent and self- dependent. She is often considered the best Bond Girl of all times. Dr. No also boasts some very beautiful set pieces and excellent cinematography done by Ted Moore and Ken Adam. This film also boasts excellent performances from Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell as the no-nonsense, pipe smoking head of the MI6 M and as the flirtatious, joking MI6 Secretary Miss Moneypenny. Not to mention lots of impressive action sequences such as a cliff side car chase, a gunfight against a "fire breathing dragon," a shootout against an armed speed boat and an explosive showdown at Dr. No's secret lair on the island of Crab Key, not to mention several suspenseful action sequences such as a scene in which Bond must avoid three seemingly blind expert assassins called "The Three Blind Mice," a scene in which Bond must avoid a deadly tarantula that is in his bed, a scene in which Bond, his ally Quarrel and Honey Ryder must hide from Dr. No's henchmen on Crab Key and a brutal interrogation scene. This movie also benefits from some great producing and directing skills form producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli and Director Terence Young who would also direct the next James Bond movie From Russia with Love. These were the main high points of the movie. What was good: The plot of this movie is that M16 agent 007 James Bond is sent over to Jamaica to investigate the apparent death of the former agent who was stationed there named Commander Strangways and complaints from Cape Canaveral that their rocket launches are getting disrupted through radio jamming. There, he meets friendly allies, the beautiful Honey Ryder and the villainous metal-handed Dr. No who is plotting to destroy the American Space Program. While the plot of Dr. No gets points off for being excessively simple. It is actually very action-packed and even a little realistic if you compare to other James Bond movies in the 70s. Their were also a variety of enjoyable side performances in Dr. No as well. They include Jack Lord as the loyal and resourceful, but tough American CIA agent Felix Leiter, Anthony Dawson as the shifty geologist scientist/very bad liar Professor Dent, Zena Marshall as the beautiful, mysterious and seemingly innocent secretary Miss Taro and John Kitzmiller as the gruff but superstitious Cayman Islander boatman Quarrel. Their performances are pretty good but they lose points because something happens to all of them eventually, on and off screen. And since Dr. No was the first James Bond movie, it lacked lots of things including a pre-credits scene or flashy intro scene, some proper gadgets or vehicles and an official theme song. This film does however introduce James Bond's classic gun (the Walther PPK) to the franchise and he does drive a Bentley throughout the movie and gets into a pretty big tangle with it as well. And like before I said that this film lacks an official theme song. Well, at least we get the enjoyable ditty "Underneath the Mango Tree which is sort of catchy and has a nice cultural feel to it.What was bad: One of the only bad things about this movie was that it had a horrible musical score by Monty Norman. It was really disjointed and choppy, thank God that they got rid of him in the next movie and replaced him with John Barry. This movie also had a pretty weak motor scene, it had a lot of weird flashy lights and that combined with Monty Norman's bad musical score isn't exactly a really nice experience. I have officially critiqued this movie and I have came up with my consensus: Dr. No was the first and, if excessively simple, one of the best James Bond movies of all times.

Having completed my look at Clint Eastwood's acting Filmography, I have decided to move on to the legend that is Sir Sean Connery. Dr.No (1962)Plot In A Paragraph: James Bond (Sean Connery) a resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague. Our introduction to 007 is classic Bond. The first shot of him was at the gaming tables, only his fingers and the cards are visible, followed by a close up of his face as he lit a cigarette as the soundtrack played his signature tune. Agent 007, licensed to kill, but not be killed, thought all villains single-handedly, surviving bullets, water, fire and even electricity. He was a comic strip hero, a Superman or a Captain America. An immensely good-looking and immensely well groomed 1930s hero updated to the 1960s. He was cool, sharp and cunning. Thoroughly professional at all times, fast with his gun, nifty on his feet, nifty in bed, and always had time for sex, even if he was about to be murdered. He was the sort of hero who made love to a woman just before he handed over to the police. And with his tongue firmly in his cheek Connery played him perfectly. Jospeh Wiseman played the title character very coldly, but he doesn't leave much of an impression. Unlike Ursula Andres as Honey Rider. The original 'Bond Girl' and one often most imitated. In my youth, I spent many an hour, slowly pausing the radio active shower scene on video (long before DVD made this process much easier) hoping to catch it just right, to see if she was really nude or not. Oh the memories.Sadly the movie has not aged well, the fight scenes often look clumsy, over rehearsed and at worst poorly co-ordinated. On a $1.1 million budget, Dr. No grossed $16 million at the domestic box office, to end 1963 as the 9th highest grossing movie of the year.

Dr No was the first (Eon Production) film adaptation of Ian Fleming's James Bond in 1962. It showcased the great 007 investigating the disappearance of a fellow agent. Dr No is great in introducing the key elements that would characterize a classic Bond film. From the gun barrel sequence, bond girl, soundtrack, master villain to overcoming great odds. Sean Connery is iconic in his portrayal as 007 and cementing himself as the greatest James Bond. We see the Bond many love, someone who is rugged, resourceful, composed, calm, smooth, ruthless, has human limitations and charm to top it off. The mystery around Dr No adds to the suspense as 007 finally makes his way to the island. A Bond film is also as strong as its villain and plot. Dr No is captivating as a master villain that only Bond can take on to stop his evil plans. Connery's way of dealing with the villain, henchman and chemistry with the Bond girl created the perfect formula for a truly great film. This film is also famous for showing the first great entrance of the Bond girl, Ursula Andress, turn heads of many including Bond himself. The Bond girl is a key part of the franchise and in many ways she is Bond's equal. Films over time have noted that the Bond girl is 007's weakness. When Bond manages to defeat the great Dr No, rescue the mission and land up with the Bond girl it set the groundwork for many memorable films to follow. The only issue is sometimes the difficulty in understanding the plot as the majority of stories are based on Fleming's own experiences in the Navy and involve complex schemes. Once you understand it, the journey is enjoyable. Dr No was indeed a great start to an iconic film series that continues to entertain.

This is the film that launched the James Bond series. And my god it launched it well.First of all Sean Connery is easily best Bond in my opinion closely followed by Daniel Craig. This is highlighted in this film with his charm, wit and humor. Ursula Andress is a great Bond girl as well with good chemistry with Connery and also being very beautiful. As well as all these things the film is well for the majority of the film with solid direction.However, the main problem with the film is near the end when Bond is escaping it is really stupid the way he escapes and makes the villain look quite dumb considering he as shown as scientific genius.Overall, it is a great film and should be watched by everyone even though the ending is a bit disappointing it is a fun thrill ride everyone