Why I Saw It: It’s the first James Bond film, do I need more of a reason than that? Having enjoyed the recent batch of Daniel Craig installments of the Bond franchise and the 50th anniversary having arrived, it seemed only fitting to delve deeper into the beginning of this series.
What Was It About? “A resourceful government agent seeks answers in a case involving a missing colleague and the disruption of the American space program.“
Rating: 7.4 out of 10
Memorable Performances: This being my first exposure to a young Sean Connery, so it’ll likely stick in my memory when thinking about what he did before he grew the beard. Though Ursula Andress had an iconic moment in the film, her acting wasn’t anything to write home about… so I won’t. In this case, “writing home” means remembering it later.
Potential Nominations for Film Quest ’13:
- none
Favorite Parts: The scene where a guy breaks into James Bond’s room and 007 is one step ahead of him is great. I liked the part where James Bond has to trade in his favorite gun for a different one, as it really sets in place some history and shows the type of red tape the notorious spy has to go through.
The Regrettable Aspects: The film being 50 years old, it’s not surprising that it feels a bit dated. It’s broken out into three parts and thinking back on it, the movie feels a bit disjointed.
Would I watch it again? I might, but only if the film shows up on a list somewhere and I need to weigh the merits of something, like perhaps Best Villain or Best Megalomania-cal Scheme.
To Whom Would I Recommend It? Anyone who has any interest in the James Bond character should see this film at least once.
Other Recommendations:
– SKYFALL – It’s a James Bond film that I really enjoyed, and many people consider it to be one of the best Bond films of all time.
– AUSTIN POWERS – If you’re going to be watching James Bond films, you should absolutely watch the original Austin Powers film. Its sequels pale in comparison to the brilliance of the original, and I’d consider it one of the best farces of all time. And sorry, I don’t remember the film’s tagline, but it’s the one with Elizabeth Hurley.
– INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE – Perhaps my favorite Sean Connery performance of all time, it’s a film that all of his fans should see and it’s a nice film to juxtapose with Dr No in terms of how the actor evolved over time.
If you’ve got recommendations for alternatives to DR. NO, or for other similar films, let me know!
Next up… Iron Man 3!
Guys Film Quest 
I found Dr. No to be fun, but it’s definitely got a few flaws. Nothing major, just enough to keep it from top marks. Too right about Ursula Andress; didn’t help that her character was a dead weight as well.