Octopussy-LOVE IT!

James Suzuki

I am in love with this film. It isn't my favourite (That's FYEO and then SF) but I just love the feel of this movie.
I haven't seen in it in a few months but I'm listening to the Score of the Film composed by John Barry and I'm loving it.
The score has always been my favourite Moore score and here's some examples for you-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AIv4NcAQkc
Nice action music with Barry at his best. You don't get music like this anymore!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfme1YRSPm8
Introducing India with style!

Love the adventure and exotic feel to the film which are missing in some of the newer movies.
Roger Moore has always given Bond his best effort (he didn't turn into a Zombie half way through movies like Connery)
but in this film he seems to be in his elements. The other actors are superb as well.
What do you guys like the most about Octopussy?

Higgins

I also love Octopussy for the same reasons.
The exotic however gets lost as soon as the train leaves Karl Marx Stadt imo.

I easily can forgive the tarzan yell - do we have any confirmarion that MGM insisted in having it there?

James Suzuki

The tarzan Yell doesn't bother me at all.
You can actually place it into the story. Bond is being hunted but he has the upper hand, no-one knows where he is. He wanted to surprise them, startle them and he did so by yelling out. He's pretty much saying 'Come and get me Suckers!"
He's mocking them as well.
That's how I read it.
I also love the suspenseful, train scenes and the Nuclear Bomb.

raptors_887

Yeah I have Octopussy #4 on my ranking. I came into the movie thinking it was going to suck because all I heard about was how stupid and silly it was. I can ignore the silly parts though because it has great action, locations and villians.

General Orlov is so good. I wish he had a bigger part through out the movie.

And the fight on top of the train was so good they did it again in Skyfall.

James Suzuki

Is it just me or is For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy are like forgotten Bond movies?
They aren't really mentioned here as much as Goldfinger/ Casino Royale/ Goldeneye/ Die Another Day/ Moonraker etc.

Theundeadkennedy

I love Octopussy. It's the only Moore film in my top ten -{

Silhouette Man

I too love Octopussy - it's the best example in the series of a mix between the Cold War serious espionage film and the Bondian adventure film, and due to its obvious complexity, it succeeds quite admirably at both. -{

Napoleon Plural

It's a big, epic, push the boat out Bond movie, and I guess we have NSNA to thank for that, as it put them on their mettle a bit. The tone is more at ease than FYEO, with less contrastingly horrible moments like the sex nympho Bibi.

The Kamla Khan castle looks a bit grim for some reason, rather than just forboding, parts of that do drag and seem downbeat really. But it's not too bad, and the East Berlin stuff is terrific, there's a real feel for it.

Bondtoys, do you say it's less exotic at the end because you're German so it's a 'busman's holiday' for you?!

Charmed & Dangerous

I think it's a great film too. Sir Roger takes it seriously and the clown suit/Bond defying the bomb scene is genuinely tense. The music, as you point out JS, is one of Barry's finest scores. The only thing that lets it down a bit is the studio feel to some scenes, such as the hot air balloon landing in the courtyard... And the crack about "that should keep you in curries for a week" (ouch)

Incidentally, did anyone see the Maud Adams interview in Bond Girls Are Forever? She thought that Bond grabbing her in Octopussy's bedroom seemed a bit, um, aggressive by today's standards. I'm inclined to agree.

Muston

I watched Octopussy a couple of nights ago and I think it's one of Moore's best. Though he's pushing it age-wish I think this was the one Moore film where they got the serious tone and comic tone just right. It's not as good as FYEO and I probably like AVTAK that little bit more, but no arguments that it's a classic Moore film. I think it could have probably been in my top three had they braved it and cast James Brolin as Bond (his screen test on the dvd looked great.)

Blackleiter

These are my top two Roger Moore Bonds, in that order.

By the way, Suzuki, I marvelled at your valiant attempt to defend the "Tarzan yell". Only a true fan of the film would have the gumption to do that! I wasn't sold, but kudos to you for trying! -{

James Suzuki wrote:

Is it just me or is For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy are like forgotten Bond movies?
They aren't really mentioned here as much as Goldfinger/ Casino Royale/ Goldeneye/ Die Another Day/ Moonraker etc.

Firemass

I have mixed feeling about Octopussy: It starts off great with the best pre-title sequence in the whole series. Followed by a gorgeous theme song and title sequence. The Sotheby's auction scene and General Orlov's staff meeting are both classic Bond.

However, when Bond arrives in India things start to fall apart. We have to endure a lot of bizarre tennis jokes, a cliched marketplace fight, and an embarrassing jungle chase. "Muahahaha!" says Bond as he runs into the jungle instead of stealing the jeep! Despite these comic ventures Octopussy manages to stay afloat and finish on a strong note. Infiltrating Octopussy's island, Checkpoint Charlie, mercedes driving on the railroad tracks, the epic fight on top of the train, interrogating Orlov, panic race to disarm the Bomb, raiding the Monsoon Palace with Q, and the exhilarating finale as Bond clings to Kamal's plane. Overall, I would say Octopussy is a deeply flawed masterpiece.

Just a quick note about Tarzan: The Yell is only half of it. The other part is Bond swinging from vine to vine. Are we to believe that Bond himself is yelling like tarzan or is it supposed to just be a sound effect. (Much like the that poor Tiger rug that gets thrown over the balcony to distract the bad guys. Another super cheesy sound effect roar) Based on the DVD special features, John Glen still seems to think the Tarzan bit is hilarious. I wonder if he knows it's considered the worst Bond moment ever.

What surprises me most about Octopussy is the way Non-Moore Fans such as Blackleiter consistently rank it very highly. I've noticed this trend on various fan lists and rankings. Yet by my sensibilities Octopussy is the most comedic, outlandish, and silly of all the RM era films. Go figure.

Oh, but I do absolutely love the theatrical poster for Octopussy.

Blackleiter

For the most part, all of the Moore Bond films are generally too outlandish and silly for my taste, but some are more so than others. In my opinion, FYEO and OP have fewer of those moments, or at least they have enough positive attributes to outweigh those lesser moments. It just goes to show that one man's treat is another man's poison. For example, I didn't find the PTS of OP to be that special, and All Time High is my least favorite Bond theme. Yet you love them both. Go figure!

Firemass wrote:

I have mixed feeling about Octopussy: It starts off great with the best pre-title sequence in the whole series. Followed by a gorgeous theme song and title sequence. The Sotheby's auction scene and General Orlov's staff meeting are both classic Bond.

However, when Bond arrives in India things start to fall apart. We have to endure a lot of bizarre tennis jokes, a cliched marketplace fight, and an embarrassing jungle chase. "Muahahaha!" says Bond as he runs into the jungle instead of stealing the jeep! Despite these comic ventures Octopussy manages to stay afloat and finish on a strong note. Infiltrating Octopussy's island, Checkpoint Charlie, mercedes driving on the railroad tracks, the epic fight on top of the train, interrogating Orlov, panic race to disarm the Bomb, raiding the Monsoon Palace with Q, and the exhilarating finale as Bond clings to Kamal's plane. Overall, I would say Octopussy is a deeply flawed masterpiece.

Just a quick note about Tarzan: The Yell is only half of it. The other part is Bond swinging from vine to vine. Are we to believe that Bond himself is yelling like tarzan or is it supposed to just be a sound effect. (Much like the that poor Tiger rug that gets thrown over the balcony to distract the bad guys. Another super cheesy sound effect roar) Based on the DVD special features, John Glen still seems to think the Tarzan bit is hilarious. I wonder if he knows it's considered the worst Bond moment ever.

What surprises me most about Octopussy is the way Non-Moore Fans such as Blackleiter consistently rank it very highly. I've noticed this trend on various fan lists and rankings. Yet by my sensibilities Octopussy is the most comedic, outlandish, and silly of all the RM era films. Go figure.

Oh, but I do absolutely love the theatrical poster for Octopussy.

zaphod

James Suzuki wrote:

The tarzan Yell doesn't bother me at all.
You can actually place it into the story. Bond is being hunted but he has the upper hand, no-one knows where he is. He wanted to surprise them, startle them and he did so by yelling out. He's pretty much saying 'Come and get me Suckers!"
He's mocking them as well.
That's how I read it.
I also love the suspenseful, train scenes and the Nuclear Bomb.

Must get some of what you're smoking :007)

Dalkowski110

Blackleiter wrote:

For the most part, all of the Moore Bond films are generally too outlandish and silly for my taste, but some are more so than others. In my opinion, FYEO and OP have fewer of those moments, or at least they have enough positive attributes to outweigh those lesser moments. It just goes to show that one man's treat is another man's poison. For example, I didn't find the PTS of OP to be that special, and All Time High is my least favorite Bond theme. Yet you love them both. Go figure!

Although I thought FYEO was a little too inconsistent in tone (as in, moreso than OP) and it's never really been one of my favorites, I share your thoughts wholeheartedly regarding OP.

Silhouette Man

zaphod wrote:

James Suzuki wrote:

The tarzan Yell doesn't bother me at all.
You can actually place it into the story. Bond is being hunted but he has the upper hand, no-one knows where he is. He wanted to surprise them, startle them and he did so by yelling out. He's pretty much saying 'Come and get me Suckers!"
He's mocking them as well.
That's how I read it.
I also love the suspenseful, train scenes and the Nuclear Bomb.

Must get some of what you're smoking :007)

I might be Toilet Duck, you just never know. )

always shaken

Did you know, the train track scene in octopussey is the same stretch
of track used in golden eye, and not many people know that

Manxman

Octopussy is my third favourite Bond film behind OHMSS and For Your Eyes Only for a number of reasons. First, the exotic locales work extremely well. Secondly, it has a clever and unusual plot (even if it just a variant on the "madman too crazy for even the IRA/KGB/North Korean military" cliché loved by Hollywood scriptwriters). Thirdly, some of the jokes (although not the Tarzan yell/"SIT!!!"/"Hiss off") are very funny, particularly the in-jokes regarding Vijay Armitraj, and genuinely amusing humour is rare in a Bond film. Finally, the acting is superb throughout — Moore is stunning when confronting Orlov and attempting to defuse the bomb; Maud Adams, Louis Jourdan and Kabir Bedi bring real gravitas to their roles; and Steven Berkoff, an eccentric choice to begin with, goes so far over-the-top that his depiction of Orlov as a fanatical, gurning madman should be risible but is actually genuinely chilling.

davidelliott101

Octopussy and AVTAK are (in my mind) the "Moore is past his prime and overstayed his welcome" films. Nevertheless, they are (in my opinion) light years better than LALD and TMWTGG. I have been itching to watch both OP and AVTAK again. It's been too long.

OP has it's absurd moments, but it is a really solid movie.

hehadlotsofguts

Yes i agree OP is one of the good Moore movies.

James Suzuki

zaphod wrote:

James Suzuki wrote:

The tarzan Yell doesn't bother me at all.
You can actually place it into the story. Bond is being hunted but he has the upper hand, no-one knows where he is. He wanted to surprise them, startle them and he did so by yelling out. He's pretty much saying 'Come and get me Suckers!"
He's mocking them as well.
That's how I read it.
I also love the suspenseful, train scenes and the Nuclear Bomb.

Must get some of what you're smoking :007)

James Suzuki

always shaken wrote:

Did you know, the train track scene in octopussey is the same stretch
of track used in golden eye, and not many people know that

I had read that before...also the start of FYEO is the same place as Goldfinger s Golf Club

Charmed & Dangerous

James Suzuki wrote:

always shaken wrote:

Did you know, the train track scene in octopussey is the same stretch
of track used in golden eye, and not many people know that

I had read that before...also the start of FYEO is the same place as Goldfinger s Golf Club

Stoke Poges - it's also used at the start of TND where Bond is brushing up on a little Danish with the lovely Prof Bergstrom ;%

Rod Slater

This is simply my favorite Bond movie! I love that the plot has some complexity to it and that it's not some super villain. I think most of all I just love Roger Moore in this movie. I think this is arguably his best effort as Bond. He is suave and unflappable and humorous. (love the auction and backgammon scenes!) All the qualities you love about Roger, if you're a Roger fan. But he's also very serious and I think the scenes with Orlov on the train, and with Grischska (And this is for 009!), and the clown scene are as hard edged and dramatic as any in the series!

KKwheelchair

"You know what's great about you English Octopussy man I must have seen that movie twice" )

Thunderpussy

) It was nice to Find Homer was a Fan.

KKwheelchair

yes it was I sit there all day quoting that show and that is one I quite enjoying quoting since I am also a Bond fan

Silhouette Man

always shaken wrote:

Did you know, the train track scene in octopussey is the same stretch
of track used in golden eye, and not many people know that

I think I vaguely remember that, but I had forgotten that I knew that already, if you get my meaning. )

KKwheelchair

that is an interesting fact and can see how it is true

Firemass

Rod Slater wrote:

This is simply my favorite Bond movie! I love that the plot has some complexity to it and that it's not some super villain. I think most of all I just love Roger Moore in this movie. I think this is arguably his best effort as Bond. He is suave and unflappable and humorous. (love the auction and backgammon scenes!) All the qualities you love about Roger, if you're a Roger fan. But he's also very serious and I think the scenes with Orlov on the train, and with Grischska (And this is for 009!), and the clown scene are as hard edged and dramatic as any in the series!

welcome to AJB. Great to read these little love letters that are pouring in.

I just finished reading Property of a Lady and Octopussy so now of course I have to rewatch the film. More Fleming-esqe than I realized. -{

Firemass

KKwheelchair wrote:

yes it was I sit there all day quoting that show and that is one I quite enjoying quoting since I am also a Bond fan

I had to look that one up!

http://www.jamesbondwiki.com/page/The+Simpsons-Bond+References