Octopussy

mythrenegade

As I continue my way through the Moore Bond flicks, I have reached Octopussy.

PTS - Decent, but not earth shattering. The plane is cool, and the two parachutes on the guards was a neat trick, but on the whole, there is something intangible that it doesn't have. Not sure what it is, but it doesn't leave you excited for the movie ahead. Maybe it's just the fact that this is like my sixth bond film in 7 days or so...

Humor seems about right. The crowd watching Veejay fight off baddies with his tennis racquet was one of the very few true laugh out loud moments I have ever had watching a bond film. I really like the dry delivery that Moore gives to humor lines, and the "company car" was a nice touch as well.

On the other hand, sometimes the humor is over the top, for example "you'd better put this back yourself" seems rather forced, as do some of the other attempts. I usually enjoy the interaction between Q and 007, but in this film it just doesn't work. It all seems rather juvenile, something that doesn't fit with the age of Moore. Moore is old, but IMHO not too old in this movie. I think this should have been his last film, age-wise. Moore has a regalness about him that is at is peak in this film.

The locations in this film are wonderful, and I love the complex plot. The suspense regarding the nuclear bomb is perfect, I find myself tensing up even after I've seen this film countless times. The attack on the monsoon palace is a nice change with the use of stealth by Octopussy's crew to get in. Kamal's henchman is actually competent, and effective for the most part, although his death was a little anticlimactic.

It was also wonderful to see Maud Adams again. Even as the older Octopussy, I find her extremely attractive. Her character is also much more interesting in this film than in TMWTGG.

The downsides include the tarzan yell, a low point on the level with the slide whistle in TMWTGG. The general is a buffoon, to be sure, but that is easily overlooked.

In summary, I think this is a vastly underrated Bond film. After this viewing I moved it up to #7 on my list, because every time I watch it I like it more than the last time. This is a very, very good effort.

Joel

blueman

I've always thought of it as an okay Derek Flint movie, but a bad Bond film. It's Glen, so eh.

Dan Same

mythrenegade wrote:

In summary, I think this is a vastly underrated Bond film.

I agree. I don't think OP is a great film, but I think it is a lot better than many people think it is. I think that Moore was very good (in what should have been his last film), it's extremely fast paced, Maud Adams is great, the plot is creative and I think the film is just a lot of fun. Yes, there is the tarzan yell, but I think that gets a lot more (negative) attention than it deserves. OP was IMO the second best film of the 80's and shows that (along with FYEO) John Glenn was capable of directing a high quality Bond film. (He then destroyed what good will he had with me with his next three films.)

Steed

Definitely one of my favourite Bond films, actually. The last time I saw it confirmed it, especially watching it after 'Moonraker' and 'The Man With The Golden Gun', definitely the worst the series ever got IMHO.

There's just so much I love about 'Octopussy'. The main criticism is the plot is a bit tangled but it does make sense. It just could be clearer. Other than that, I see little reason why this film gets bashed at all. This film has a minimum of stupid humour, save the Tarzan yell bit, which is embarassing. I think the pre credits scene is the best in the series alongside Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, The Spy Who Loved Me and Casino Royale. Has a great mix of excitement and humour. And yes, the chase through Indian streets is genuinely funny.

And this easily as some of the best action ever filmed for the series- that lengthy train chase is superb and very, very tense, plus I think Roger Moore gives one of his best performances- love the scene in Sotheby's, the casino bit and his breathless attempt to get into the circus to diffuse the bomb. Love his 'That's for 009' bit too.

I think as a film, it's probably second only to TSWLM of Roger's films, being more consistent imo than FYEO. To me, the humour level is just right, and Roger doesn't look too old here either. Always a cert on my top 10 list.

RJJB

Octopussy features the one opponent against whom Roger Moore is powerless--the dreaded German woman in the phone booth. After defeating Kanaga, Tee Hee, Scaramanga, Stromberg, Drax, Chang, and Kriegler, it's an everyday Hausfrau who keeps RM from using the phone. Many people acknowledge the tension in the laser table scene in Goldfinger. But to me, the edge of your seat thrills in the clash between the British agent and German caller leave me weak. Yeah it's a great movie.

Dan Same

RJJB wrote:

Octopussy features the one opponent against whom Roger Moore is powerless--the dreaded German woman in the phone booth. After defeating Kanaga, Tee Hee, Scaramanga, Stromberg, Drax, Chang, and Kriegler, it's an everyday Hausfrau who keeps RM from using the phone. Many people acknowledge the tension in the laser table scene in Goldfinger. But to me, the edge of your seat thrills in the clash between the British agent and German caller leave me weak. Yeah it's a great movie.

I hope you're not being sarcastic. :v (I do personally think it's terrific however I'm all too aware of your views on Sir Roger. )

markdown

i just love this film i must have seen it more then any other bond film. i agree wholeheartedly with the positive points raised in the above posts. imo this film works on every level great central performance, great locations, a very realistic and believable villain played by the excellent louis jordan and some stunning bond girls. yes it could have done without the tarzan yell but no film is perfect.

heartbroken_mr_drax

markdown wrote:

i just love this film i must have seen it more then any other bond film. i agree wholeheartedly with the positive points raised in the above posts. imo this film works on every level great central performance, great locations, a very realistic and believable villain played by the excellent louis jordan and some stunning bond girls. yes it could have done without the tarzan yell but no film is perfect.

Yes i think the same, its a great movie to show to others that need an intro to James Bond.

Great performance from Roger Moore, and I agree he doesnt look that bad, looks better than he did in FYEO but maybe thats cos he was concious about it.

I especially like the Circus Bomb Scene he pulled it off so well, and "Thats for 009" fantastic.

MikeyRichards

I love Octopussy, there's just something fun about the whole film, while managing not to go to the completely ridiculous levels of humour that Moore could. The 'Bond in a clown costume' scenes get always blasted and pointed to as one of the heights of Moore's silliness. I disagree. It's never played to the degree of humour that I would have expected from Moore, and I think it's one of the most tense scenes in the whole franchise. It gets me in suspense every single time. Roger plays his desperation to get to the bomb perfectly. "THERE'S A BOMB IN THERE!"

It's not perfect, no. But it remains one of my favourite of the Roger Moore films.

zebond

For the longest time (maybe a good few years) OP was my all time favorite Bond film. Since then I've had to demote it to around third. It remains still, however, my favorite of the Moore films. I found the clown scene incredibly well done. Despite what others may say I think that scene was by no means over the top or silly. Bond dressed up like a clown in order to disguise himself, nothing out of the ordinary. As for the tiger and the tarzan yell, I don't think it's out of the question for Bond to do either. With the tiger perhaps he just thought he'd do it like they did in the circus. . .? And the tarzan yell, while it could have given up his hiding spot - Bond has always been known for being sarcastic.
Well however, for me Octopussy will always be Moore's all time high, and definately a pinnacle in the series.

Steed

Glad to see so many fans of this film. For me, it's the great forgotten classic of the whole series.

markdown

another great thing about OP is that it beat NSNA at the box office. nothing against sir sean but i do think he was a tad disloyal starring in a rival bond film. anyway the best film won and deservedly so.

markdown

apologies for the double post. that's happened a few times lately, must be doing something wrong. anyone who knows what the problem is ( apart from me being totally computer illiterate ;%) your help would be much appreciated.

Blood_Stone

It's been awhile since I've seen Octopussy, but I didn't understand why the two villains were in cahoots. On one hand you have an Afghan prince or rich dude or whatever he was...and he's a smuggler of rare jewels. On the other is a Russian general bent on starting WW3. WTF? Why would a wealthy smuggler want to be partners with such a total wacko?

BIG TAM

I like OCTOPUSSY too. It has some silliness but not as jarring as A VIEW TO A KILL. Love the plot. One of the better, more coherent ones. So good in fact, Frederick Forsyth used it for his thriller THE FOURTH PROTOCOL. Moore acts well, even though he was starting to age badly. You can almost here him creak & wheeze when he clambers out of the jeep in the pre-credits sequence. But this is a film where for me the pluses far outweight the minuses - opening sequence, 009 killing, Sotherby's auction, General Gogol & Kamal Khan, Mishka & Grishka, Vijay's death, race against time to diffuse the bomb - all quite excellent.