Dr. No (1963)

Things are relatively low key in Crab Key compared with the elaborate ordnance and eye-popping gadgetry of later films in the series. But, Dr No succeeds at being a straight detective story, pleasingly unselfconscious without hardware-laden formula. Of course it is tongue-in-cheek hokum, but it is fast moving with good momentum. As James Bond, of the secret department of the British Secret Service, Sean Connery plays the elegant playboy spy impeccably. Racing snake figure and panther-lithe movement, he captures the assertiveness of naval Commander turned secret agent with his Navy-like exactness and mien of a cool, suave, womanising agent. The director, Terence Young, prepared Connery very well for the part, coaching him on each aspect of an English gentleman's comportment, diction and accent. The other important role is Fleming's Vice-Admiral - the naval martinet who is loyal to Bond but keeps him at arms length and on his toes.Bernard Lee as 'M' draws attention to the danger of the mission and the man he sends into battle. The stylish bauhaus set design looks very impressive in the large set spaces. The travelogue locations and exotic locales dovetail well too. Other than Casino Royale (2006) and the follow up film From Russia With Love (1963), there isn't any other film in the canon that betters the formulaic elements and the vitality of the James Bond novels. It's a well conceived dose of sheer escapism.

As you can read, before now, I had never seen any Bond movies. I'm a movie fanatic, but I never got around to watch any of the Bond movies, so I decided that now would be as good a time as any. If you're interested in my Bond-adventure, be sure to catch my reviews of each of the movies. I'll be writing reviews as I see the movies. So let's get into this movie...Pros: I can see why this franchise is so popular. Sean Connery brings the character of James Bond wonderfully to life. The charm that Bond brings combined with his cleverness and smart moves, like breathing through a bamboo stick, leaves one unable to dislike him. The action, suspense, Carribean atmosphere and the amazing soundtrack within this movie, is pretty unique and captivating, especially for it's time. All these factors results in a simple but satisfying film.Cons: The special effects are not the greatest, and nore are the sound effects, even if you do consider the fact that it's from 1962. This especially goes for the car chase scene, to name an example. Also, some of the interactions feel very staged, and you can tell when somebody just remembered their lines in their head, and this especially goes for the character of Honey. In generel, Honey did not fit in that great, and they could definitely have fleshed her out better. The 3rd act was all in all probably the worst part of the movie (remember, I'm not saying that it was bad, just that it was the worst part), mostly due to things seaming, well... staged.Conclusion: All in all, this was a good simple action-thriller, and I especially really love Sean connery's peformance. I'm certanly excited to watch the next one, and I'll be sure to drop a review on it. I'll give it 7.5 out of 10.

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.