I have grown to really like Louis Jourdan's portrayal of Kamal Khan. Very eccentric and the backgammon game is a ton of fun. Octopussy does not lack fun nor entertainment, it can just push things a little too far sometimes.
The worst I can say about "OCTOPUSSY" is that it had some silly moments. Otherwise, I don't understand the complaints that it went too far. Exactly how?
I think it's one of the better written Bond scripts that really captured the Cold War.
Octopussy was loved by audiences at the time..and its a great time at the movies sheer joy and entertainment..excellent balance of humour, absurdity, gritty realism, and way out surrealism.
I'm a bit short on time to make a full "Pros and Cons" thread, but I found Octopussy to be a great Bond movie full of absurd but entertaining action bits and some story. It's one of the most creative entries in the franchise but also has some tense serious moments too.
To me, Octopussy is a stone cold classic — my third favourite Bond film of all time. On paper, its juxtapositions of the frivolous and the deadly serious shouldn't work, but they do.
For example, the tuk-tuk chase, where the bystanders turn their heads like tennis spectators in an in-joke at Vijay Armitraj's background, is one of the few really hilarious sight gags in a Bond film. Further, the warmth and naïveté Armitraj brings to his character makes his brutal murder all the more shocking — one of the most genuinely horrifying and moving death scenes in the series.
In the same way, Steven Berkoff playing General Orlov as a barking madman should come across as ridiculous, but the character is actually frightening, thanks to Roger Moore and Walter Gotell's wonderful acting — both convey the impression of being completely stunned at the extent of his fanaticism and lunacy.
Finally, the much-maligned clown costume is utilised to heighten the most intense countdown scene in the movies' history — thanks to Moore's bravura performance, I find this much more nerve-wracking than than the similar denouements in Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice.
There are also plenty of deft touches that really bring the characters alive: for instance, Kamal Khan and Gobinda's momentary terror when their car refuses to start after arming the bomb, and the latter's reaction of disbelief when instructed to climb outside the aeroplane.
In short, Octopussy is a riot of colour and fun, frequently very exciting, and loving in its homages to classic Indian cinema (particularly the fight atop the train).
Agree 100%
I will add that Octopussy has some of the best action scenes in the entire series (examples: the PTS, Bond's escape from the Russian soldiers). And one of the best sequences, beginning where Bond disguises himself as a circus worker right through the confrontation with General Orlov and ending with the defusing of the bomb at the circus. Casting Maud Adams as Octopussy was a very wise decision, not just in terms of her age, but also because of the very good chemistry she shares with Roger Moore's Bond.
Moore Not Less 4371 posts (2002 - 2007) Moore Than (2012 - 2016)
OP is actually quite unique. It manages to combine a tense Cold War story, with some wacky Moore era humour, and quite effectively. The India scenes are slightly boring and over the top (the chase through the streets is pure wacky Moore), but the rest of the movie is a pure joy.
The PTS is amazing. The auction scene, pure Fleming. The Octopussy Island is a fantastic idea, very 007. Ian Fleming would have been proud. And from the moment Bond goes to Berlin the film is a rollercoaster. Fantastic train scenes, then the circus and the bomb, really a high point in the series.
Go figure. I consider OP the only Bond where Moore adds a bit of comedy to the mix.
Well, it is a bit of a strange mix. The 'funny' parts are pretty irritating, but they are also few compared to a couple of others. The serious parts are well worth it.
Agreed, I thought he looked fine in OP -{ , sadly as pointed out by
Higgins, he had a face lift, which hadn't fully healed for AVTAK
as did Roger Moore ! )
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Comments
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I think it's one of the better written Bond scripts that really captured the Cold War.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
absolutely love everything about it, even the theme, "All Time High"!
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
Agree 100%
I will add that Octopussy has some of the best action scenes in the entire series (examples: the PTS, Bond's escape from the Russian soldiers). And one of the best sequences, beginning where Bond disguises himself as a circus worker right through the confrontation with General Orlov and ending with the defusing of the bomb at the circus. Casting Maud Adams as Octopussy was a very wise decision, not just in terms of her age, but also because of the very good chemistry she shares with Roger Moore's Bond.
The only minor gripe is that I wish Bond was in a clown suit for just a little longer.
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
The PTS is amazing. The auction scene, pure Fleming. The Octopussy Island is a fantastic idea, very 007. Ian Fleming would have been proud. And from the moment Bond goes to Berlin the film is a rollercoaster. Fantastic train scenes, then the circus and the bomb, really a high point in the series.
It's just that some of Moore's other films weren't as well-made, which has nothing to do with the concept of a "campy" Bond in itself..
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
1. Thunderball 2. FRWL 3. Casino Royale 4. TLD 5. OHMSS 6. SkyFall 7. GF 8. TSWLM 9. GE 10. FYEO
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I agree, second only to FYEO in my opinion. -{
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
sophistication in the flesh.
Go figure. I consider OP the only Bond where Moore adds a bit of comedy to the mix.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Higgins, he had a face lift, which hadn't fully healed for AVTAK
as did Roger Moore !