The Official Dr No Discussion thread

[quoth_the_raven]

Here is the first of a new, limited in number (for obvious reasons ;#)) series of threads, in which we shall be discussing the Bond movines individually.

So lets start from the beginning- what are your views on Connery's first outing in Dr No? Like or dislike? Would you go for the girls in this movie, what did you think of the location, gadget, villain...hell anything you want to say about Dr No, this is the place to say it...

So starting saying it ;)

[sAtAn666]

Good film, but the cheesiness and the AWFUL car chase spoils it slightly. 6/10.

[quoth_the_raven]

Originally posted by sAtAn666
cheesiness .

What did you have in mind there? It wasn't that cheesy, especially compared to the Roger Moore movies...

[bob]

I think the cheesiness is due to the age of the film, as some of the special effects and styles are a bit weak, but I think it's, overall, a pretty gritty story. There's not much flash or whatever, but Connery is at his charming, lean, and cruel best. The Bond women very, from the absolutely perfect Honey Ryder to the boring Sylvia Trench.

Joseph Wiseman was alright as the villain, but he's really given a pretty weak part, compared to his part in the book (where, amongst other things, he tortures Bond with his hook-hands), and his death (he can't grip?) was lame.

Still, any bond movie with Connery, an outstanding Bond girl, and enough with and charm for four regular films gets a solid 8/10.

But where were the gadgets?

[quoth_the_raven]

Originally posted by bob


But where were the gadgets?

I'm not 100% sure on this, but it could have been budget related. Either that or it could have been due to a desire to introduce and build the character, withouth the distraction of him flying around on a jetpack ;)

[Ted Pikul]

Dr No has some classic moments :

The theme tune
"My name is Bond ... James Bond"
Honey Ryder rising majestically from the surf

but it falls short as a whole.

Dr No is one of the lesser Bond adversaries & the ending is cheap & boring.

Still it set the tone for the later better installments & thus serves as a fitting introduction to 007 & is a definite must watch.

[quoth_the_raven]

Originally posted by Ted Pikul


Dr No is one of the lesser Bond adversaries


I disagree. I always thought the whole character was done well...you don't see him for most of the movie, hes probably the best example of a shadowy manipulator. When he does show up, hes kind of the charming, but evil host. I always thought that made him a pretty cool villain and I thought Wiseman did a damn good job of it.

Although, the good Doctors death was kind of pathetic ;)


The movie does have one of my favourite Bond moments of all though...Bond shooting Professor Dent. That always brings a grin to my face.

[Ted Pikul]

Well obviously Dr No is ahead of chumps like Drax & Elliott Carver but he's light years behind Blofeld, Goldfinger & Stromberg.

In Premiership terms he's the Southampton of villains.

Just above mid table.

[quoth_the_raven]

Originally posted by Ted Pikul
Well obviously Dr No is ahead of chumps like Drax & Elliott Carver but he's light years behind Blofeld, Goldfinger & Stromberg.

In Premiership terms he's the Southampton of villains.

Just above mid table.

What was wrong with Elliot Carver? I thought he was a great foe for Bond and so do a few people I know off the site. But then, we liked the theme of extreme media manipulation, so I guess we would be saying that.

I'm a wolves fan--the Gustav Graves of football ;)

[quoth_the_raven]

As a side point, am I the only person who thought the Dragon Tank was cool as fuck? I'd love to own one...would make shopping trips a breeze...

[Ted Pikul]

"What was wrong with Elliot Carver?"

Well for starters he was played by Jonathan Pryce an actor I despise for his lugubrious & generally piss poor acting.

Then there was that pitiful attempt at Kung Fu when Pryce taunts Michelle Yeoh.

A moment so butt clenchingly awful it's up there with the double taking pigeons from Moonraker.

If Gustav Graves is the Wolves of Bond villains then Carver is the Milton Keynes Dons.

[Puck Bond]

Well since I wrote down my feelings on every Bond film in Fall 2002 during my annual Bond Marathon I think here is a good place to put them starting with of course...

Dr. No(1962)-8/10...ahhhh yessssh the first James Bond movie that introduced Sean Connery to the world as the suave, sophisticated spy with the license to kill. The scene where we first meet Bond at the baccarat table is classic! Bernard Lee plays M head of MI6 and Lois Maxwell is Miss Moneypenny the sexy secretary(her encounters with Bond are great throughout the series) Bond goes to Jamaica to thwart a mad scientist Dr. No played by Joseph Wiseman who is using radioactivity to interfere with U.S. rocket launches. The gorgeous Ursula Andress is Honey Ryder, when we first meet her coming out of the water on the beach is classic. The tarantula in Bond's bed also another great scene. Quiet mystery, thriller more than action film and a lot less flashy than future Bond films. Famous James Bond theme plays over opening credits.