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Dr. No (Special Edition)

Dr. No (Special Edition)

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dr. No...Blueprint for ALL 007 Movies!
Review: Do you love a GREAT action flick? Nobody does it BETTER than James Bond! Experience the beginning of the most successful film series in history with Amazon.com's Special Edition DVD of 'Dr. No'. This newly-remastered version ROCKS!

A triumph of producer Albert Broccoli's perseverence, and the inspired casting of virtual unknown Sean Connery as 007 (an exclusive-to-DVD documentary details how co-producer Harry Saltzman wanted Roger Moore for the role, and Broccoli considered Cary Grant!), the first Bond outing is a lean, mean affair, more faithful to Ian Fleming's original concept of Bond, with far less 'padding' and slapstick than later films in the series (particularly the Roger Moore outings) would display.

The casting of many of the roles is memorable; Ursula Andress is the incredibly sexy Honey Ryder; Joseph Wiseman, best known as a brilliant character actor in gangster films, makes a ruthless Dr. No; Jack Lord ('Hawaii 5-0') is coldly efficient CIA agent Felix Leiter. And of course, Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell makes their debuts as 'M' and 'Miss Moneypenny'. (Desmond Llewelyn would first appear as 'Q' in the next Bond film, 'From Russia With Love').

Among the other 'extras' in the DVD edition is a tribute to director Terence Young, whose vision of 007 is STILL in effect, nearly 40 years later; and a voice-over audio track, with commentary by many of the original production staff responsible for the creation of this seminal Bond outing!

While there were rough edges to smooth out (John Barry's lush music is sorely missed; only composer Monty Norman's famous 'James Bond Theme' would remain, by 'From Russia With Love'), many spectacular elements were already in place, such as Ken Adam's incredible set designs, and Maurice Binder's provocative nude silhouette opening credits! 'Dr. No' was FAR ahead of its time, and influenced the entire action and spy film genres!

Adventure, romance, 'petal-to-the-metal' action...'Dr. No' has it ALL! And if you're a film buff (like me), the special features in the DVD edition makes this a 'MUST' for your collection!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "My name is Bond. James Bond." -James Bond 007
Review: This is it ladies and gentlemen!! The very first film in 1962 that started the most popular series in the world! It's got villians with globally-fantatsic schemes, sexy girls, gadgets galore and the most famous spy of all- James Bond. Sean connery get this movie off to a great start with a high-stakes card game with the alluring Sylvia Trench. Then we are introduced to M, Miss Moneypenny and Q. The villian is Dr. No, who plans on destroying USA rockets from is base on Crab Key. The girl is Honey Ryder. She has set the standard for all girls to follow with her unforgettable walk in that bikini from the water! The James Bond theme is played by the John Barry Orchestra and the director is Terence Young. A top-notch spy thriller that CAN NOT be missed by anyone!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: HE'S RIGHT
Review: THAT GUY WHO SAID THAT TIMOTHY DALTON AND ROGER MOORE WERE BETTER WAS...RIGHT! BUT I DO THINK SEAN CONNERY WAS VERY GOOD, JUST NOT IN THIS FILM. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE OR GOLDFINGER ARE MUCH BETTER.I'LL HAVE TO SAY THAT ROGER MOORE AND TIMOTHY DALTON ARE BETTER. GEORGE LAZENBY WAS PRETTY GOOD TOO. PIERCE BROSNAN WAS ONLY GOOD IN GOLDENEYE

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One Of The Best
Review: In October of 1962 James Bond 007 made cinamatic history and launched one of the most sucessful film series of 20th century. Dr.No was the first in a series of films that excite the world and inspire filmmakers (including, hopefully someday, me) for decades to come. This is, in my opinion, the third best of any Bond film. Only From Russia With Love (THE perfect Bond) and Goldfinger (the most refined Bond) out shine this true cinamatic masterpiece. In Dr.No, James Bond (Sean Connery) travels to Jamaica to investigate the mysterious deaths of British agents and uncovers a sinister plot by a half-German half-Chinese man by the name of Dr.No (Joseph Wiseman). Bond, along with Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) and Quarrel (John Kitzmiller) go to Dr.No's private island and go throw the swamps trying to foil his evil plans. This is more of detective movie than any other Bond film, and many ways is even more enteraining than the rest. Dr.No has a strong supporting cast, a meatier story that actually revoles around the characters instead of the action like in later Bond films to come. This is a must see for anyone just becomeing interested in the James Bond films. However, since most of today's viewers are more into action than anything else, I suggest you see Goldfinger first.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: NO Way Out
Review: Dr. No was the first James Bond spy thriller, penned by Ian Flemming, adapted for the big screen. Since the franchise is still going strong after some four decades, to say simply, they got off on the right foot, is an understatement. Director Terence Young and leading man Sean Connery set a cool precedent for every other film in the series with Dr. No.

Bond (Connery) is assigned to a mission in Jamaica. An agent who was investigating strange activity with nuclear weapons at Cape Canveral has disappeared and he is to take up where he left off. His contact, CIA operative Felix Leiter (Jack Lord-pre Hawaii 5-0) is there to help. While dodging assisins and lovely femme fatales Bond's investigation takes him to Crab Key Island to find evil scientist Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman), the primary suspect. There he is meets Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress), a deadly beauty who emerges from the sea in a tiny bikini with a knife holster slung about her hips, in one of the most memorable Bond-girl moments of all time. It's up to Bond to find a way to save the world...before it's too late.

Terance Young, who directed three out of the first four films in the series, takes a simple approach. The gadgetry is at a minimum and there is more of an intricate web of mystery in this adventure than in most other Bond movies. Don't worry though, it's still all there, but the film sticks closer to the Flemming novels. M (Bernard Lee) and Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) true staples of the Bond mythos are here as well. With all due respect to Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, and Brosnan, Connery still owns the role hands down. And he proves it right out of the gate...

The extras on the special edition DVD are pretty good. They are set up the same way as on most other discs in the series. The audio commentary from Young, the Cast and Crew, is culled together from various sources, taken for what it is, the track is solid. Far better though are the two main documentaries:
Inside Dr. No takes a look at how the series took shape, the casting of Connery, and so forth. While Terence Young: Bond Vivant profiles the late director and how he infuenced the series, acting as Bond's alter ego. You can also see a vintage making of feaurette with archival footage. A stills gallery, theatrical trailers, original TV Ads, and radio spots to top off the DVD bonus material. Last but not least though is MGM's nearly trademarked (or so it seems anyway) a "collectible" trivia booklet.

Bond gets a yes vote and is off to a fine start in Dr. No. Maybe not as bold as some of the latter features but in this case, this is a good thing. **** and a half stars

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Underneath The Mango Tree
Review: The start of the epic life that is James Bond. Sean Connery enters as the suave MI6 agent with a licence to kill number 007.
With the traditional enemies of the West and their devious ways set in his sights.

Of course one cannot avoid the fact that James will have a large female fan base and the first and most famous of all "Bond Girls" the bikini clad, knife welding Ursula Andress. Special effects of the times were spectacular but today a little unbelievable.

The DVD is absolutly full of information and worth it's price. A slightly light weight movie that has it's place in history as the first.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: THE ORIGINAL BOND GETS AN AVERAGE TRANSFER
Review: "Dr. No" is the movie that introduced Ian Flemming's James Bond to the American cinema. Neither would ever be the same again. Walt Disney discovery, Sean Connery cut such a dramatic swath from the moment he stepped before the camera that even today it's impossible to truly separate the man from this immortal film character.
PLOT: Bond goes up against Dr. No, an Oriental mastermind (ironically played by Joseph Wise) who is set on toppling American missiles launched from Nassau. This movie doesn't hold up well in comparison to all of the special effects/gadget driven Bond films since - I rather like that.
Unfortunately, MGM/DVD's release of this legendary movie is just so/so. Colors are strong at times, but often quite gaudy and oversaturated. Fleshtones are too orange. Night scenes have a muddy, softly focused characteristic. Edge enhancement, fine detail shimmering, aliasing and chips and scratches in the original camera negative are all present throughout the film. Pixelization is, at times, a distraction. There's a digitally harsh feel to some scenes. The audio is mono and strident. The bass is very shallow sounding while the treble is just too, too grating on the ears.
MGM does get top marks for its extras: two documentaries that fully cover the Bond phenomenon and some nice added touches, including a theatrical trailer and audio commentary. One wishes that more had been done with the actual print.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "My name is Bond. James Bond."
Review: Enter Sean Connery as British Secret Service agent 007. The most exciting, action-filled, profitable and popular character in movie history! The are reasons that this series has kept going for 40 years. Every movie has a fanantical villian with a larger-than-life plot. A henchmen of true evil should also be included. Every movie should also have a Bond girl and allies. Gadgets should also be included. Dr. No is a perfect variety that put the beginning in the best series of all time. The villian, Dr. No wants to fool governments in thinking their rockets are flawwed. The girl,Honey Ryder has one of the best entries in the series on the beach of Crab Key. The introduction of M, Miss MoneyPenny and Major Boothroyd (Q) are bought into the series, in roles that they would reprise throughout the whole series. Dr. No is one of the best films in the series and rightly deserves a 6/5!!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: terence young's bond
Review: it is terence young, more than sean connery, more than ian fleming and more than broccoli who created the movie bond.
it is all here.
while this first movie is a little rough and has a somewhat bland villan, we enjoy the roughness of it, which was part of youngs inimitable style.
the first shot of bond smoking at the poker table is a classic and who knew what it was going to unleash.
the second memeorable scene involves a long legged girl in a white dress shirt and a golf club. bond's entry into this scene is again, classic and stylish.
too, bond is ruthless here, shooting an unarmed victim. he would not be this cold blooded again until license to kill.
andress looks like a perfectly formed candy bar and any red blooded male would love to unwrap her.
another mention is the sets, which are fantastic and again, very stylish.
one cant help but using that word; style, again and again because thats what sets the young bonds apart from all the rest of them.
young's bound abounds in style!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dr. No
Review: I recommend this movie for any 007 fan. I saw this film for my first time on AMC (American Movie Classics) a couple of months ago. The movie lacks all the technical, stunts, and of course the gadgets...but in reality, that is how real spy work is performed. Connery will always remain as Bond, James Bond. A great first outing by him. Don't let this one pass you by. Its a knock out performance.


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