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. -{
Thanks! If this movie had about 15 minutes worth of editing to remove some of the really silly stuff (tennis match sound effects during the cart fight, the Tarzan yell, etc) and if Roger had retired after this one I wonder how differently people would view Roger's tenure?
Thanks! If this movie had about 15 minutes worth of editing to remove some of the really silly stuff (tennis match sound effects during the cart fight, the Tarzan yell, etc) and if Roger had retired after this one I wonder how differently people would view Roger's tenure?
Thankfully the silly stuff was removed in the superior A View to a Kill.
If I had to defend some of the goofier moments in Octopussy I would just throw my hands up and say, "Gotta love the 80's" The tarzan yell was likely meant to just get a harmless laugh. At least they were having fun making the film as opposed to the modern, overly serious Bond films. I would like to see Daniel Craig swinging from vine to vine in Bond 24. Well....maybe not )
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Thankfully the silly stuff was removed in the superior A View to a Kill.
I'm a big Roger Moore fan and like most of the Bond movies, so I really have no issues with A View to a Kill, but I have never thought that AVTAK was superior to Octopussy. Octopussy has some over the top silly moments but overall I think it's got a better plot and better action sequences. And AVTAK is not immune to silly moments, tricked our horse track, firetruck chase, snowboarding/beach boys song etc. If a Octopussy vs. AVTAK post hasn't been done before it's probably worth one in the future!
I'll take the "modern, overly serious" over the silly 80s Bond films every time.
I do like the DC Bond movies, but I think earlier Bond films were more adventure than action movies and I miss that sort of escapism. I also think the 80's were pretty good for Bond! FYEO usually ranks high on many fans lists! And while Octopussy and AVTAK may be flawed I think they are underrated. I've never been a fan of LTK but thought TLD was a really good film when it came out and think it holds up pretty well today.
I've never been a fan of LTK but thought TLD was a really good film when it came out and think it holds up pretty well today.
I thought both of Dalton's Bond films were quite good, and I should have made it clear that I was really talking about the Roger Moore films which spanned the 70s and 80s, and not about all of the Bond films made in the 80s.
I ended up watching it again last night at like 2am. I must say it's probably most entertaining and exotic of all the 007 films. Plus it's so darn colorful, and the soundtrack is superb. For these reasons, it's safe to say that OP has surpassed FYEO in my ranking.
With each viewing I seem to like OP more and more, but questions and complaints do arise:
1. Octopussy says that "smuggling is no concern of the secret service" If that's true than what was 009 doing in East Berlin with the recovered egg? And what was Bond doing following Kamal to India? Obviously Bond had no idea about the bomb yet.
2. I can see why Orlov wanted to blow up the airbase, but what was in it for Kamal?
3. The nighttime raid on the Monsoon Palace suddenly turns to sunny mid-day as Bond pursues Kamal on horseback. Just after sunrise? Maybe...
4. Costume changes are a bit silly: No way Roger could fit Mishka's outfit nor change into a clown costume in under 2 minutes. He should have just stuck with the Octopussy crew jacket.
5. Bond kissing Octopussy kind of irks me with its aggressive tone. The rest of the film is so seductive but this scene is forced.
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Comments
Thanks! If this movie had about 15 minutes worth of editing to remove some of the really silly stuff (tennis match sound effects during the cart fight, the Tarzan yell, etc) and if Roger had retired after this one I wonder how differently people would view Roger's tenure?
Thankfully the silly stuff was removed in the superior A View to a Kill.
If I had to defend some of the goofier moments in Octopussy I would just throw my hands up and say, "Gotta love the 80's" The tarzan yell was likely meant to just get a harmless laugh. At least they were having fun making the film as opposed to the modern, overly serious Bond films. I would like to see Daniel Craig swinging from vine to vine in Bond 24. Well....maybe not
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I'll take the "modern, overly serious" over the silly 80s Bond films every time. :007)
I'm a big Roger Moore fan and like most of the Bond movies, so I really have no issues with A View to a Kill, but I have never thought that AVTAK was superior to Octopussy. Octopussy has some over the top silly moments but overall I think it's got a better plot and better action sequences. And AVTAK is not immune to silly moments, tricked our horse track, firetruck chase, snowboarding/beach boys song etc. If a Octopussy vs. AVTAK post hasn't been done before it's probably worth one in the future!
I do like the DC Bond movies, but I think earlier Bond films were more adventure than action movies and I miss that sort of escapism. I also think the 80's were pretty good for Bond! FYEO usually ranks high on many fans lists! And while Octopussy and AVTAK may be flawed I think they are underrated. I've never been a fan of LTK but thought TLD was a really good film when it came out and think it holds up pretty well today.
I thought both of Dalton's Bond films were quite good, and I should have made it clear that I was really talking about the Roger Moore films which spanned the 70s and 80s, and not about all of the Bond films made in the 80s.
With each viewing I seem to like OP more and more, but questions and complaints do arise:
1. Octopussy says that "smuggling is no concern of the secret service" If that's true than what was 009 doing in East Berlin with the recovered egg? And what was Bond doing following Kamal to India? Obviously Bond had no idea about the bomb yet.
2. I can see why Orlov wanted to blow up the airbase, but what was in it for Kamal?
3. The nighttime raid on the Monsoon Palace suddenly turns to sunny mid-day as Bond pursues Kamal on horseback. Just after sunrise? Maybe...
4. Costume changes are a bit silly: No way Roger could fit Mishka's outfit nor change into a clown costume in under 2 minutes. He should have just stuck with the Octopussy crew jacket.
5. Bond kissing Octopussy kind of irks me with its aggressive tone. The rest of the film is so seductive but this scene is forced.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK