Bondathon: Dr. No

So, I've decided to do a Bondathon. Hooray. Every week I'll be watching one of each James Bond film in order and I'll give a review thereafter. I'll also take a look at the non-canon films such as Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again. So, let's get started.

Dr. No was the first of the series. I guess that's all you can say, honestly. This is the movie that started a whole new generation of spy films. The movie that spawned endless wannabes, spin-offs, and spoofs. It all comes down to this. So, what is this movie like, anyway, seeing that there's so much to owe to it?

It's actually pretty great.

This movie is not like most others in the Bond franchise. It feels rather more like a classic detective of spy film rather than an outlandish super adventure, much as the future entries will become. The plot is as follows: an MI6 operative is killed in Jamaica, and Bond, played obviously by Sean Connery, is sent to investigate. What he uncovers is a secret operation destined to topple American rockets for money extortion and world domination, headed by the nefarious Dr. Julius No. Upon the way he encounters Felix Leiter, played by Jack Lord, Quarrel, played by John Kitzmiller, and this movie's Bond girl, a seashell dealer named Honey Rider, played by Ursula Andress.

Basically, this movie is very well done as a classic detective drama. It doesn't rely on the usage of outlandish effects and gadgetry, yet it still fits in well with the Bond theme. There are a few minor editing mishaps here and there, but those can all be looked over, because the plot is bound to keep you happy.

I'll give this one 4 out of 5 stars. Next week comes From Russia With Love. How will Connery do his next time around? We'll have to see.

The mock poster used in this article was created by me. Please credit me if you would like to use it for anything.