The first James Bond movie. The swingin’ 60s characterization of the suave chick-magnet secret agent man starts HERE. This is the one where Bond jets from London to sunny Jamaica to face off against evil Asian scientist Dr. No, who has metal hands and some goofball atomic laser that he uses to disrupt American space shuttle launches. The plot is some nonsense to which no one really pays much attention. The tropical setting, the cool spy stuff, Bond sleeping with almost every woman in the movie, Ursula Andress in a bikini for most of her screen time, and Sean Connery’s alpha male charisma are what this film is really all about.
This was a huge international hit and it made stars out of Connery and Andress. Even today, Ursula Andress’s Honey Ryder remains one of the most famous and iconic “Bond girls”, though it’s funny how her character has NO consequence whatsoever to the story. Her role here amounts to decoration. She’s just some bikini-clad babe out innocently looking for sea shells when Bond runs into her and before she can display even a trace of personality, she’s up to her ass in danger. Never fear, though—Bond is always there to save that ass so he can tap that ass later on.
This film’s a little too long, but it’s entertaining enough, as well as a vital piece of 60s pop culture.