Dr. No

Having watched all James Bond movies through four decades, watching this again in the late 1990s turned out to be a disappointment. What was new and exciting on film (James Bond) in 1962 now is colorless, humorless and almost the point of being called "boring." It's hard to imagine a James Bond film called "boring," but take a look at this and see if you agree. There's just no spark here. It's a straight adventure with none of the gimmicks and fun that became trademarks for James Bond flicks. The cinematography was nothing and the story is a bit dated as well. Another negative is the lack of humor. Comedy is one of the big trademarks of the Bond movies, as everyone knows. You won't find it in this movie. Ursula Andress is the only person worth watching, and she doesn't show up on screen until just over half of the film has been completed! Also, as a note, Jack Lord of "Hawaii Five-0" fame played American CIA man "Felix Leiter," the only time he did so. If I want Bond as part of a straight spy story, I'll read Ian Fleming's books (which I did) but for the films, I want to see the great action, gadgets and a lot of humor.

When the British agent John Strangways and his secretary vanish in Jamaica, James Bond (Sean Connery) is assigned by M (Bernard Lee) to investigate what might have happened with the agents. 007 teams-up with the CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jack Lord) and the native Quarrel (John Kitzmuller) that works with Feliz, and he learns that Strangways was investigating the Crab Key Island that belongs to the mysterious Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) and is very well protected by armed guards. Soon they learn that Dr. No is toppling the rockets launched by the NASA Cape Canaveral and 007 goes to Crab Key with Quarrel to seek evidences against Dr. No. They meet the sexy Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) collecting seashells in the island. They stay together but soon they are found by the security guards and arrested in Dr. No's facility, and James Bond learns the evil plan of Dr. No and The SPECTRE. "Dr. No" is the first 007 movie and the beginning of the most successful (and probably also the most ancient) franchise of the cinema history. The charming story presents the hot Ursula Andress as the first Bond girl and she never disappoints. I had seen "Dr. No" on VHS for the last time on 28 January 2000, and I have just seen this movie again in a magnificent Blu-Ray of the James Bond's collection. My vote is eight. Title (Brazil): "007 Contra o Satânico Dr. No" ("007 Against the Satanic Dr. No")

No matter whether or not you like this film in the end...if you don't get some feeling of joy the first time Sean Connery says "Bond. James Bond." at the card table, I feel sorry for you. This Bond film has a lot less stuff going in it than most, but for what it's worth, and what it has inspired, it's a classic. People who can't tolerate and appreciate older cinema from the 60's might laugh at the action scenes, set and costume design of the movie, but if one considers the year in which this was made, it's all rather exquisite. The film is also full of things that would be considered politically incorrect, and the way Bond and Moneypenny flirt in the office would ensue mass sexual harassment lawsuits in this day and age. The film has an underused villain in Dr. No. Joseph Wiseman sets the standard on how Bond villains, and the majority of how other movie villains, act. One of the things that I love about Bond films is that you will see things that you will never see in other movies. I mean where else but a Bond film would a half Chinese, half German man with metal hands and a compulsive paranoia about radiation, with metal hands live on an island with a "dragon-mobile"? Dr. No is a definite good start to the Bond series. Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder may only be there for eye candy...but she's great eye candy. Sean Connery is Bond, and pure enjoyment while in this role. So if you are looking for a classic enjoyable movie, this is just what the doctor ordered.