DR. NO [1962] review
June 4, 2008 · Print This Article
DR. NO has been one in a series of older, “analog action” movies I’ve been watching a lot of in 2008. I much, much prefer these kinds of analog action movies where the action stays more within the realm of feasibility, although believing Sean Connery can overthrow a whole mini-island of thugs with only his fists does begin to leave the realm of feasibility. Still, I prefer that than having him pullout some whiz-bang gizmo or fly or drive some large vehicle beyond the limit of physics to overthrow the bad guys in the end.
The story is set in a tropical setting, and anyone who knows tropical island life knows that things move slowly in such locals. Such is the pace of James Bonds investigates the mysterious Dr. No, but I am totally ok with that. Bond uses such analog spy techniques as placing a wet hair over a door crack to know if it was opened while he was out, which I’ve seen used recently in a Jackie Chan movie, or was it a Dirty Harry movie?
DR. NO contains the famous scene where Ursula Andress rises out of the Sea in a hot bikini. I would even call Ursula’s beauty “analog,” as her body is not exactly perfect or sculpted, but hot and sensual in a raw way that brings a dose of reality into the otherwise far-fetched notion of a super hot woman just randomly appearing on a forbidden island for Bond to hit on.
When things do get gun violent, it’s a bid absurd as the special effects totally couldn’t handle the ambition, if you can call it that, the director tried to show on screen. However, that is quickly over, conveniently eliminating a side-kick character leaving Bond and Ursula (character name Honey Ryder, come on!) all alone to hint at copulation, as this is still only 1962 and people still retain the ability to not fornicate instantly upon meeting.
It goes without saying I’d take this older, analog Bond film over any of the past twenty years.
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I know that the review is coming soon, but I tried to watch this a week ago and fell asleep before he got to the island. Not even that good looking Bond in a suit could keep me focused. What a long build up! Alright, laters!
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Jason Collin Reply:
July 28th, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Thanks for the comment on the empty post Genny.
I can sympathize with you, the movie did drag a bit. If you fell asleep before the island, you would definitely never of made it through the final act on the island!
In my forthcoming review, I’ll explain how I liked the analog-ness of this action movie. How just a pair of fists can basically bring down an entire secret operation!
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