IMHO Dr. No is THE perfect Bond movie.
It's small, it's colourful, it's true to Fleming, and it has Barry's theme.
FRWL was a bit tame, GF a bit OTT, and from there it just kept growing....
The attention to detail in DN is amazing and bond is the centre of the movie that's why I've ranked it high this tine, but there's others I enjoy more for the action etc
Just watched the first half last night on BD (I started it late & didn't want to finish it sleepy), and the film just gets better with each viewing. The so-so incidental score no longer grates on me, and the plot is just perfect (A touch over the top, but just a touch- no 'save the world' nonsense in the first three). And Wiseman is easily my favourite villain.
-Possibly the greatest use of the "Bond, James Bond" line. A fantastic kickoff for the series.
-The scene where Bond kills Dent is classic.
-Joseph Wiseman plays Dr. No well.
-We get to see Bond "roughing it", so to speak, like when he hides with Quarrel and Honey in the water (not sure if that was a river or pond).
-Great chemistry between Bond and Leiter.
-The dialogue is quite well-written.
Cons:
-Not too big on Honey Rider. Yeah, she was the first main Bond girl (Sylvia Trench was technically the first Bond girl in the series), but Ursula doesn't really do much with her character (imo). Let's be frank: she's been topped by at least several others.
-Feels more like something out of a detective novel than a spy movie.
-We see Dr. No late in the movie, which limits his impact.
I quite like Dr. No, and for now give it an 8/10, might give it a 9 with another viewing.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
We see Dr. No late in the movie, which limits his impact.
I don't find that a Con, in fact I think it increases his impact since he's been built up and discussed before his entrance which causes anticipation. If the actor, writer and director don't pay off when the character finally appears then this technique falls flat- here, though, IMHO it works just fine.
Just watched the first half last night on BD (I started it late & didn't want to finish it sleepy), and the film just gets better with each viewing. The so-so incidental score no longer grates on me, and the plot is just perfect (A touch over the top, but just a touch- no 'save the world' nonsense in the first three). And Wiseman is easily my favourite villain.
Wiseman is your favourite villain? No mean feat in a series of films renowned for such a great list of bad guys. What makes him stand out for you?
Another big plus in the film for me is Anthony Dawson as Professor Dent. He's a strangely eerie character and his death at the hands of Bond is one of the best in the series.
Wiseman is your favourite villain? No mean feat in a series of films renowned for such a great list of bad guys. What makes him stand out for you?
Wiseman had no pattern to follow- he created the character cold.
His sophisticated demeanour somehow successfully blended with his thuggish behaviour modification methods. Now I love Goldfinger, Scaramanga, Sanchez & Carver, but Dr. No just so singular to me...
Guys, is there a thread comparing the debut performances of each of the Bonds?
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
I quite like Calvin Dyson's review of Dr.No:
he says DN is the film that got it all going and is good btw, but all the others that follows have everything DN has PLUS some more elements
"You see Mr.Bond, you can't kill my dreams...but my dreams can kill you.Time to face destiny" - "Time to face gravity"
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
Wiseman is your favourite villain? No mean feat in a series of films renowned for such a great list of bad guys. What makes him stand out for you?
Wiseman had no pattern to follow- he created the character cold.
His sophisticated demeanour somehow successfully blended with his thuggish behaviour modification methods. Now I love Goldfinger, Scaramanga, Sanchez & Carver, but Dr. No just so singular to me...
Agree here. Wiseman had an additional weight of disbelief to suspend, being an Anglo portraying a former Chinese Tong He remains the prototypical Bond supervillain to my mind. Your other choices there are also some of my favorites.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I quite like Calvin Dyson's review of Dr.No:
he says DN is the film that got it all going and is good btw, but all the others that follows have everything DN has PLUS some more elements
I think he put it at #20, just above DAD, on his 2012 ranking. I doubt he'll put it higher when he updates it.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
I quite like Calvin Dyson's review of Dr.No:
he says DN is the film that got it all going and is good btw, but all the others that follows have everything DN has PLUS some more elements
I think he put it at #20, just above DAD, on his 2012 ranking. I doubt he'll put it higher when he updates it.
Bit harsh. Definitely deserves a higher rating than that in my view.
"I might as well tell you, since you won't live to use the information. I'm working for.." *tries to fire empty gun*
"That's a Smith & Wesson. And you had your six." *shoots Dent*
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Can you guys imagine if someone other than Connery had played 007 in this movie?
What other candidates was EON considering for the role at the time before this film came out?
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Comments
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Maybe this is exactly how he imagined the James Bond Theme.
I'm assuming the parts of the tune he doesn't play were John Barry's contributions. Or Norman just wasn't able to play those parts.
Sadly:
Really?
The way he plays it, it sounds a bit like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwrm8UK1VIk
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
It's small, it's colourful, it's true to Fleming, and it has Barry's theme.
FRWL was a bit tame, GF a bit OTT, and from there it just kept growing....
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
-Possibly the greatest use of the "Bond, James Bond" line. A fantastic kickoff for the series.
-The scene where Bond kills Dent is classic.
-Joseph Wiseman plays Dr. No well.
-We get to see Bond "roughing it", so to speak, like when he hides with Quarrel and Honey in the water (not sure if that was a river or pond).
-Great chemistry between Bond and Leiter.
-The dialogue is quite well-written.
Cons:
-Not too big on Honey Rider. Yeah, she was the first main Bond girl (Sylvia Trench was technically the first Bond girl in the series), but Ursula doesn't really do much with her character (imo). Let's be frank: she's been topped by at least several others.
-Feels more like something out of a detective novel than a spy movie.
-We see Dr. No late in the movie, which limits his impact.
I quite like Dr. No, and for now give it an 8/10, might give it a 9 with another viewing.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
I don't find that a Con, in fact I think it increases his impact since he's been built up and discussed before his entrance which causes anticipation. If the actor, writer and director don't pay off when the character finally appears then this technique falls flat- here, though, IMHO it works just fine.
until the big reveal.
Most of it.
Cons:
Monty Norman's score, especially for ripping off the theme from News at Ten for the tarantula-beating.
Wiseman is your favourite villain? No mean feat in a series of films renowned for such a great list of bad guys. What makes him stand out for you?
Another big plus in the film for me is Anthony Dawson as Professor Dent. He's a strangely eerie character and his death at the hands of Bond is one of the best in the series.
His sophisticated demeanour somehow successfully blended with his thuggish behaviour modification methods. Now I love Goldfinger, Scaramanga, Sanchez & Carver, but Dr. No just so singular to me...
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
he says DN is the film that got it all going and is good btw, but all the others that follows have everything DN has PLUS some more elements
Agree here. Wiseman had an additional weight of disbelief to suspend, being an Anglo portraying a former Chinese Tong
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I think he put it at #20, just above DAD, on his 2012 ranking. I doubt he'll put it higher when he updates it.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
Bit harsh. Definitely deserves a higher rating than that in my view.
he dabs him mouth with his napkin. All very delicate but
almost machine like.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
"That's a Smith & Wesson. And you had your six." *shoots Dent*
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Guess they wanted one scene to show how cold Bond could be.
perhaps he had been watching the Matrix (Morpheus)??
What other candidates was EON considering for the role at the time before this film came out?
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Roger Moore was a candidate (but probably only slightly more a candidate than Idris Elba is now), and I could picture him in most of it.