Dr. No (1962)

The prototype—both Bond and this film are rough around the edges. No gimmicks or gadgets, just sweat and skullduggery. It also almost immediately crystallised my understanding of the Bond series as often overtly racist, sexist, and ableist trash; lurid and anxious empire fantasies about the continued relevance of the United Kingdom in global politics. I haven't brought that kinda stuff into my other reviews for this franchise, with some notable exceptions, because I feel like it's just a given.