Plot: 007, a secret agent of the British intelligence service has to stop a certain Dr. No, a mysterious figure who is hidden in an island in the Caribbean's.
James Bond's first movie reeks of cheesiness, has that weird mid-60's atmosphere, is full of corny action scenes and its characters are so stereotypical that it gets hilarious. However it is somewhat entertaining and marked the beginning of many themes associated with the franchise. The excellent Jame's Bond theme, the beautiful girls and weird villains, the classic retro intro and so on. Sure it's not realistic, sure it's not flawless but its quite fun, at least for the first film.
For those new to the James Bond Franchise, unlike the more recent films, where James Bond turns into a Rambo in a tuxedo kind of guy, in this film, like with most early Bond movies, the pacing is slow almost too slow at times. You won't see James Bond killing 10 goons with his Ak-47, instead you'll observe him as he works his way up too the main ploy, slowly gathering information. But try not to be discouraged by the lack of adrenaline pumping stunts, because Dr. No, (like many oldies), relies more in building tension rather than cracking up some fireworks to amuse you.
Sean Connery steals the show in the role of 007, although I never really like the James Bond character. Some characters that get a smaller amount of screen time though, like the boss of 007 M. or his secretary Moneypenny are even better due to their wonderful chemistry, (and better acting). The rest of the crew do their job fine, although not as good as the main ones and this might seem as blasphemy but I hated most of the Bond chicks 0 charisma & 0 acting ability just some cute legs that talk
However, Dr. No like almost all JB movies, is more like a cult film, a movie that a certain group of people will love while others will totally hate. First of all the plot is average and its value lies more in the way it is presented to you and believe me all JB is about is style. Also, you've got to be more than naïve not to see the shameless advertisement of expensive stuff and the depressing use of male\female stereotypes. Finally Dr. No while good for its time has aged badly, while other films of the franchise like Goldfinger, remain as fun as they were back then. As I've said, if you want realism, look elsewhere. However, although I usually hate the macho BS that the JB franchise is full of, I kinda like Dr. No, maybe because I don't take it to seriously I advise you to do the same.
FINAL VERDICT: Style over substance, but entertaining nonetheless (6.5/10)
[+] Stylish spy-flick [+] Paved the way for even better Bond movies
[-] Average plot [-] Slow pacing. Not for Action buffs [-]Stereotypical, cheesy and unrealistic as hell
Also Check: From Russia With Love (1963) – Goldfinger (1964) – Ocean's Eleven (2001) – The Saint (1962-1969)
James Bond's first movie reeks of cheesiness, has that weird mid-60's atmosphere, is full of corny action scenes and its characters are so stereotypical that it gets hilarious. However it is somewhat entertaining and marked the beginning of many themes associated with the franchise. The excellent Jame's Bond theme, the beautiful girls and weird villains, the classic retro intro and so on. Sure it's not realistic, sure it's not flawless but its quite fun, at least for the first film.
For those new to the James Bond Franchise, unlike the more recent films, where James Bond turns into a Rambo in a tuxedo kind of guy, in this film, like with most early Bond movies, the pacing is slow almost too slow at times. You won't see James Bond killing 10 goons with his Ak-47, instead you'll observe him as he works his way up too the main ploy, slowly gathering information. But try not to be discouraged by the lack of adrenaline pumping stunts, because Dr. No, (like many oldies), relies more in building tension rather than cracking up some fireworks to amuse you.
Sean Connery steals the show in the role of 007, although I never really like the James Bond character. Some characters that get a smaller amount of screen time though, like the boss of 007 M. or his secretary Moneypenny are even better due to their wonderful chemistry, (and better acting). The rest of the crew do their job fine, although not as good as the main ones and this might seem as blasphemy but I hated most of the Bond chicks 0 charisma & 0 acting ability just some cute legs that talk
However, Dr. No like almost all JB movies, is more like a cult film, a movie that a certain group of people will love while others will totally hate. First of all the plot is average and its value lies more in the way it is presented to you and believe me all JB is about is style. Also, you've got to be more than naïve not to see the shameless advertisement of expensive stuff and the depressing use of male\female stereotypes. Finally Dr. No while good for its time has aged badly, while other films of the franchise like Goldfinger, remain as fun as they were back then. As I've said, if you want realism, look elsewhere. However, although I usually hate the macho BS that the JB franchise is full of, I kinda like Dr. No, maybe because I don't take it to seriously I advise you to do the same.
FINAL VERDICT: Style over substance, but entertaining nonetheless (6.5/10)
[+] Stylish spy-flick [+] Paved the way for even better Bond movies
[-] Average plot [-] Slow pacing. Not for Action buffs [-]Stereotypical, cheesy and unrealistic as hell
Also Check: From Russia With Love (1963) – Goldfinger (1964) – Ocean's Eleven (2001) – The Saint (1962-1969)