Dr. No (1962)
Overall Ranking-8th
Something about the first movie in a successful series always keeps it in people’s minds. Perhaps it is remembering all of the hard work and dedication that started the series. For someone like me who was born in 1985, the year of A View to a Kill, I cannot relate to how it must have felt to see Jame Bond on the big screen for the first time. This movie which cost only $1-million to make started a series that would capture the hearts and minds of young and old for generations to come. Sean Connery for many was the best actor who has portrayed James Bond. I do not disagree, but I would suggest that Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) does give him a run for his money, and is the Bond who most closely resembles the Bond of the novels.
I rank this movie 8th only due to the fact that, while it was an excellent start to a film series, an individual from my generation would likely be wanting more action. Granted, dialogue and intriguing spy plots are what make this such a great series, but I feel there were (at least 7) better Bond films.
The villain was intriguing, but ultimately fell short of anything I would consider a serious threat. Villains such as Auric Goldfinger, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (played at his finest by Donald Pleasence ) and even the more recent Alec Trevelyn captured my attention more than Dr. No.
None will deny that perhaps one of the most famous scenes in a Bond picture (so much so that it was re-made numerous times years later) is when Ursula Andress rises from the water in her white bikini. I’m sure men everywhere gave a collective “wow” when first seeing this. By the standards of someone in my generation it may not have seemed like much, but when put in its proper time frame, this scene was likely scandalous and sexy.
While this remains one of my top 10 favorites, I feel there are some more deserving of higher rankings based on my preferences. The plot was fair. The villain was decent. Overall it was an excellent start to what would become one of the most successful film franchises in history. And, of course, the first time to utter those classic words that men everywhere would say for years to come, “My name is Bond, James Bond.”