For the Bond Addicts who have grew up on a diet of high octain and explosive Bond Movies that glittered like meteors across the screen throughout the 1970's and 1980's Dr No WILL come as something of a shock. It has little of the charm, style or wit that would come to make later entries in the series such classics. Iam speaking of course with a reverse point of view. Reviewing Dr No as a film in its own right it isn't all that a bad film, although not as good as some have said. It is impossible not to compare it to other Bond movies, and so that is were my opinion comes from.
For starters, the openng Gun Barrel sequence is surprisingly good. As is the monty Norman themes. Then the opening title sequence has none of the sexuality of Maurice Binder's later Gems. Once the "Three Blind Mice" song is played, you know this movie has dated.
Sean Connery however is the real saving grace of the film. He towers above everyone else in the cast, showing good signs for the future. His Bond in this movie is more colder and animalistic than in future outings. The script by Joseph Manciewicz and Richard Maibaum has dated terribly. This is because in future, Bond Movies would come to revelutionise the whole action movie genre, and set the standards. The standards in Dr No, are probably based on glamorising Ealing Crime or Crime B-Movies from the 1950's. This looks very odd in a Bond Film to say the least. Also, the tension between M and Bond isn't as potent here, Bernard Lee does well, but he comes over as more lovable in future films. Plus there is no Q!!! Wich equals no gadgets and therefore no fun! In all these things mix together and Dr No is perhaps the most boring Bond movie.
On the plus side, Joseph Wiseman makes a very creepy Dr No. He is the very essence of Comic Book Villainary. He looks like he has just wondered in from a James Whale movie, with his metal hands and blank expression. There is also Ursulla Andress to look at. Whilst not the most stunning Bond girl she certainly is very beautiful indeed, and handles the role of Honey Rider well. Her voice is dubbed!
Overall then, Terence Young handles the direction well, and the film flows along at a nice pace. But the feeling is that this is the bottom of an enormous tower of fun wich the Bond films would regenerate into in future. As a starting post though Dr No is quite good.
For starters, the openng Gun Barrel sequence is surprisingly good. As is the monty Norman themes. Then the opening title sequence has none of the sexuality of Maurice Binder's later Gems. Once the "Three Blind Mice" song is played, you know this movie has dated.
Sean Connery however is the real saving grace of the film. He towers above everyone else in the cast, showing good signs for the future. His Bond in this movie is more colder and animalistic than in future outings. The script by Joseph Manciewicz and Richard Maibaum has dated terribly. This is because in future, Bond Movies would come to revelutionise the whole action movie genre, and set the standards. The standards in Dr No, are probably based on glamorising Ealing Crime or Crime B-Movies from the 1950's. This looks very odd in a Bond Film to say the least. Also, the tension between M and Bond isn't as potent here, Bernard Lee does well, but he comes over as more lovable in future films. Plus there is no Q!!! Wich equals no gadgets and therefore no fun! In all these things mix together and Dr No is perhaps the most boring Bond movie.
On the plus side, Joseph Wiseman makes a very creepy Dr No. He is the very essence of Comic Book Villainary. He looks like he has just wondered in from a James Whale movie, with his metal hands and blank expression. There is also Ursulla Andress to look at. Whilst not the most stunning Bond girl she certainly is very beautiful indeed, and handles the role of Honey Rider well. Her voice is dubbed!
Overall then, Terence Young handles the direction well, and the film flows along at a nice pace. But the feeling is that this is the bottom of an enormous tower of fun wich the Bond films would regenerate into in future. As a starting post though Dr No is quite good.