Day 1: Dr. No

Before I decided to watch all of these films, I didn't realize how long it had been since I seen a Connery Bond film. I'm not a Connery fan to begin with as far as Bond is concerned, but everyone seems to remember how sexy and suave he was when the first film came out. I guess most of the people I discuss Bond with happen to be of the older generation.

Regardless, Connery was the first Bond and he pioneered the character through six films (seven if you count Never Say Never Again. I don't, but that's for another time). He wasn't a bad looking guy and he's not hard on the eyes in his 70s either, so I can at least understand why a lot of people, women mostly, found him so sexually appealing. He brought that appeal and plenty more into his first outing as Bond in Dr. No.

He is in practically every scene, giving him the ability to control the camera from minute one. Or minute 12, which is when he is introduced. For the record, Bond probably has the best introduction of any major franchise character.

"I'm Trench. Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mr...?"
"Bond. James Bond," as he lights a cigarette.
Cue theme music.

Despite all of this, the appeal of Connery and the initial film in what will eventually become a multi-million dollar franchise, Dr. No fails to get up to speed. It may be because the series hadn't found its legs yet. It could be because Bond never actually got a strong backstory (something we'd learn about 24 years later in Casino Royale). Whatever the case, Bond's foe isn't very developed. Dr. No, himself, doesn't appear for the first time in the film until a good hour into the movie, though he has a ominous voiceover part thirty minutes in. His fight with Bond is anti-climactic and his death is, well...something to shrug at.

Honey Ryder, as wonderfully-looking as she is, has no other purpose in the film but to be a catalyst for Bond once he reaches the island the good doctor has taken refuge. Sure, her scene emerging out of the Jamaican surf is one of the most classic shots of all cinema, but she doesn't appear until an hour into the film after Bond has jumped through all these hoops back on the mainland.

Overall, the film was classic Bond. Obviously, it was the first film and it will always have a place in my heart. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the opening teaser before the opening credits and I've never seen Connery jump so clumsily for a gunbarrel scene. The credits themselves will become more and more sexually subtle as Maurice Binder will find the perfect formula for them as the films themselves will do as well.

So whether this is one of your favorite Bond films or not, I guarantee that you'll have "Under the Mango Tree" stuck in your head for the rest of the evening. C-