Dr. No (1963)

Released in 1962, this first James Bond movie remains one of the best, and serves as an entertaining reminder that the Bond series began (in keeping with Ian Fleming's novels) with a surprising lack of gadgetry and big-budget fireworks. Sean Connery was just 32 years old when he won the role of Agent 007. In his first adventure James Bond is called to Jamaica where a colleague and secretary have been mysteriously killed. With an American CIA agent (Jack Lord, pre-Hawaii Five-O), they discover that the nefarious Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) is scheming to blackmail the U.S. government with a device capable of deflecting and destroying U.S. rockets launched from Cape Canaveral. Of course, Bond takes time off from his exploits to enjoy the company of a few gorgeous women, including the bikini-clad Ursula Andress. She gloriously kicks off the long-standing tradition of Bond women who know how to please their favorite secret agent. A sexist anachronism? Maybe, but this is Bond at his purest, kicking off a series of movies that shows no sign of slowing down. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

"Dr.No"-Blu-Ray Edition

I thought the transfer was great,the image,the sound,all perfect.Too bad this is not an extended,expanded,longer cut, of this classic 007 film, just the regular theatrical version.I saw it at the cinema ages ago,yet in the scene where the 3 "Blind Mice"shoot the woman at Strangway's house,there is a very quick "JUMP CUT",the version I saw showed ALL THREE shoot at her,but this is missing in this home video release,why?!The bonus features are good,but you wish they had included deleted scenes & test scenes.This is the James Bond 007 film that started the long lasting film series,and was Sean Connery's debut as Bond.Recommended. January 9, 2009

Shaken, not stirred

Excellent restoration! The movie looks great! Good Bonus features. The first of the film series. Sean Connery as 007. Ursula Andress in one of the most famous bikini scenes in movie history. January 4, 2009

dvd feedback

I love the james bond collection. I could not wait until they became available on dvd. December 22, 2008

A Bond classic brought back to life (Blu-ray edition)

There have been innumerable efforts to imitate what this first, genre-defining, Bond film achieved, only an handful of which do near as well. Dr. No deserves credit for establishing everything that constitutes a Bond film, without any of the emphasis on gadgets and dumb fantasy seen in many of the later entries in the franchise. Sean Connery's portrayal here also comes closer to Ian Fleming's character than anything that followed. This blu-ray edition is a fully restored, based upon a super hi-res digital scan of the actual film negative that went through camera. (That is explained in detail on one of several interesting shorts included on the disc.) It achieves a stunning level of visual quality, exceeding what one might have seen in a theater in 1962 and up to par with the most recent Bond films. The intense colors of the montage of dancing silhouettes behind the opening credits are especially striking. This loving restoration presents the film in a new light. The disc itself is loaded with extras and free of any advertising. A must-see for any fan of Bond with a hi-def video system. December 20, 2008

A very cool cat.

I was seventeen the first time I saw this movie and I liked it not for the way James Bond handled things but really for the way the film was shot. A lot of the scenes were filmed at night which is unusual for just about every movie I have seen. This is important to the series I think. It establishes that cool calm and collected image wrapped up inside a man capable of so much. Its not that this was the first film in the series and deserves credit for birthing it, its that Connery's characterization of Bond in this film is so unique to the series. The movie could stand alone. Even if they never made another Bond film, this was enough. For 1962, wow!! Consider what was going on in the world folks!! I commend the writers and directors for having the guts to make this film. December 9, 2008

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