It could have been worse Loeffelholz - it could have been about AVTAK )
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Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
The only smudges I see in this film is as you say, The Union Jack thing (which isn't too bad) - and the Tarzan thing, which is horrible.
The good thing is, they're rather brief. I disagree they affect the tone of the film - I think the double taking pigeon, the Bondola and the billboards with the ambulance driving up the hill in MR have more of an affect on the tone of the film. FYEO has some glaring "tone" affects too.
Pros:
It has everything you could expect from a top-shelf Bond movie!
Cons: It sometimes has TOO much. A slight bit of editing would have made this such a perfect film!
The only smudges I see in this film is as you say, The Union Jack thing (which isn't too bad) - and the Tarzan thing, which is horrible.
The good thing is, they're rather brief. I disagree they affect the tone of the film - I think the double taking pigeon, the Bondola and the billboards with the ambulance driving up the hill in MR have more of an affect on the tone of the film. FYEO has some glaring "tone" affects too.
That's my problem with the last half of the Moore Era for me in a nutshell---and although brief, Geezer Bond swinging through the jungle with the Tarzan yell dubbed over is the first thing I think of when this film is mentioned This sort of thing really breaks the fourth wall for me: I resent the producers elbowing me in the ribs ("Funny, eh?! Funny!")...it's like a concert pianist breaking into a cartoon 'key tickle' in the middle of 'Ode to Joy.'
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Geezer Bond swinging through the jungle with the Tarzan yell dubbed over is the first thing I think of when this film is mentioned
The first thing I think of is the bomb diffusing scene. -{
I'm the same as you. It's an incredible scene. But some people also think of that scene as one of the worst in the series because Bond is dressed as a clown.
I'm the same as you. It's an incredible scene. But some people also think of that scene as one of the worst in the series because Bond is dressed as a clown.
Which makes it all the more absurdly tense!
Thing is, what OP gets right it gets SO RIGHT that I can just go to the fridge for the few moments I don't care for.
But I never miss the "SIIITTTAH"! ) ) ) )
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
As it ever was...some love OP and hate SF...love AVTAK and despise QoS...adore MR and frown on TB. All down to taste.
Vive le difference :007)
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Another nice film from the 80s. It is like James Bond meets Indiana Jones.
Pros:
* PTS
* Auction sequence
* India sequences
* Train sequence (esp. driving Mercedes on the rail tracks -{ )
* The plane sequence at the end
Cons:
* Song not that good relatively speaking
* Bond's escape from Monsoon place (the infamous Tarzan yell)
* Bond disguised as an alligator, Bond in Gorilla suit, Bond in ....
-Great action.
-Great direction from Glen.
-We get to see Bond in India.
-A terrific score.
-The return of Maud Adams as the fascinating Octopussy.
-Kamal Khan is a great BV.
-General Orlov is a nice additional villain.
-IMO, one of Moore's best performances as 007.
-Great chemistry between Adams and Moore.
-Gobinda is a memorable henchman.
Cons:
-I find it hard to connect the Faberge egg (not sure if that "e" is capital or not) with Orlov's plan of conquest.
Overall, I love OP, and give it a 10/10.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Honestly OP might have my fave Bond score. It just gets me pumped.
Barry really did a great job with it.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
OP has some very entertaining sequences such as PTS, train chase including MB driven on rail tracks, plane chase, etc. And ofc the background score is nicely done as well
Honestly OP might have my fave Bond score. It just gets me pumped.
Barry really did a great job with it.
Yeah, it's one of my favourites too. It has great use of the Bond theme, the main theme is a fantastic love theme within the score, the action cues are great, and it has my favourite gunbarrel music of the entire series. The Blu-ray, however, fades in over the first hit of the music, ruining it! But one of the audio channels in another language still has the gunbarrel music in all its glory.
Kamal Khan has some great lines, RIP Louis Jordan, terrific actor.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
So onto OP in my quest of revisiting all the movies - watched this last night for the first time in many years and I am typing this up on the balcony over an early Bondian breakfast of green figs, yogurt and coffee, very black
Pros:
PTS
Title Song
Russian strategy meeting
Killing of Vijay
General Orlov (gloriously OTT) - Magda.
Cons:
Backgammon game
Tricycle chase (disappointingly comedic - tricycles are a popular mode of transport here and I was looking forward to something better)
Fights
Jungle hunt
Car on railway track
Obvious stunt doubles
Gorilla
Entire circus sequence
Bond as a clown
Cheap looking sets
Kamal Khan - Gobinda - Octopussy
Observations:
A new M and pretty good too. Moneypenny has an assistant -maybe they were thinking of replacing Lois?
Conclusion:
This is such a let down after FYEO. Roger seems to have aged a lot since the last one and is obviously too old - he moved awkwardly when he was younger now it's just embarrassing. Kamal Khan is another bland villain and Gobinda packs no menace whatsoever. - Reusing an actress who had already had a big part in a previous film was a poor choice and I could actually see no chemistry between Octopussy and Bond at all. I had forgotten how beautiful Magda is - one of the best Bond girls of the entire series. The film is reminiscent of GF in places and mimicking the golf scenes as the backgammon scenes is a poor choice. I actually like the title song although it apparently is not very popular but the rest of the score is just so-so, I think John Barry had lost interest in Bond by then. Turning Bond into a clown was probably apt by this point. Definitely the worst for me up to this point.
CHB will return reviewing AVTAK soon.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Yes, oh dear indeed! I don't understand what he saw and heard in this film. It's one of John Barry's strongest scores, and Barry certainly had not lost interest in Bond for this film. Just listen to Barry's other scores from the time and it's clear Barry put a lot more effort into this film than into, say, High Road to China.
OP has actually climbed 6 places on your ranking but your review does not reflect that. May be others are still to be ranked on your new system .... Like that you have a lot of films from the 60s and 70s in your top 13
The OP score is one of my fave Barry scores, if not my fave.
But if CHB doesn't like it, then fair enough.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
I am typing this up on the balcony over an early Bondian breakfast of green figs, yogurt and coffee, very black
and yet no mention of anything Fleming in your review. Property of a Lady ring a bell? Auction scene? Why don't you like the blackgammon scene? It's basically taken from the Moonraker novel. How bout Roger doing a fine job of summarizing the Octopussy short story?
Yet another fine Roger Moore film being totally underappreciated...
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
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
The good thing is, they're rather brief. I disagree they affect the tone of the film - I think the double taking pigeon, the Bondola and the billboards with the ambulance driving up the hill in MR have more of an affect on the tone of the film. FYEO has some glaring "tone" affects too.
"Better make that two."
It has everything you could expect from a top-shelf Bond movie!
Cons: It sometimes has TOO much. A slight bit of editing would have made this such a perfect film!
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
That's my problem with the last half of the Moore Era for me in a nutshell---and although brief, Geezer Bond swinging through the jungle with the Tarzan yell dubbed over is the first thing I think of when this film is mentioned
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
But yeah, sometimes the little things can stick with you & ruin an entire film.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I'm the same as you. It's an incredible scene. But some people also think of that scene as one of the worst in the series because Bond is dressed as a clown.
Thing is, what OP gets right it gets SO RIGHT that I can just go to the fridge for the few moments I don't care for.
But I never miss the "SIIITTTAH"!
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
While there's some absurdity, it bloody works! "That's why Bond is the best we have, although I'd never tell him."
"Better make that two."
Vive le difference :007)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
"Better make that two."
He was pretty intense, and you wouldn't want to tangle with him -{
"Yes, Excellence."
"Better make that two."
Pros:
* PTS
* Auction sequence
* India sequences
* Train sequence (esp. driving Mercedes on the rail tracks -{ )
* The plane sequence at the end
Cons:
* Song not that good relatively speaking
* Bond's escape from Monsoon place (the infamous Tarzan yell)
* Bond disguised as an alligator, Bond in Gorilla suit, Bond in ....
Overall, this is a solid and enjoyable film.
-Great action.
-Great direction from Glen.
-We get to see Bond in India.
-A terrific score.
-The return of Maud Adams as the fascinating Octopussy.
-Kamal Khan is a great BV.
-General Orlov is a nice additional villain.
-IMO, one of Moore's best performances as 007.
-Great chemistry between Adams and Moore.
-Gobinda is a memorable henchman.
Cons:
-I find it hard to connect the Faberge egg (not sure if that "e" is capital or not) with Orlov's plan of conquest.
Overall, I love OP, and give it a 10/10.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
The plot is one of the tougher ones to get one's head around, similar to TLD...
"Better make that two."
Barry really did a great job with it.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
"Better make that two."
It took me a few watches to fully understand all that, but it all makes more sense than Skyfall or Spectre.
Yeah, it's one of my favourites too. It has great use of the Bond theme, the main theme is a fantastic love theme within the score, the action cues are great, and it has my favourite gunbarrel music of the entire series. The Blu-ray, however, fades in over the first hit of the music, ruining it!
This YouTube video is close, though it was slightly sped up so the music is in the wrong key: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCIqK6YgkiE
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Pros:
PTS
Title Song
Russian strategy meeting
Killing of Vijay
General Orlov (gloriously OTT) - Magda.
Cons:
Backgammon game
Tricycle chase (disappointingly comedic - tricycles are a popular mode of transport here and I was looking forward to something better)
Fights
Jungle hunt
Car on railway track
Obvious stunt doubles
Gorilla
Entire circus sequence
Bond as a clown
Cheap looking sets
Kamal Khan - Gobinda - Octopussy
Observations:
A new M and pretty good too. Moneypenny has an assistant -maybe they were thinking of replacing Lois?
Conclusion:
This is such a let down after FYEO. Roger seems to have aged a lot since the last one and is obviously too old - he moved awkwardly when he was younger now it's just embarrassing. Kamal Khan is another bland villain and Gobinda packs no menace whatsoever. - Reusing an actress who had already had a big part in a previous film was a poor choice and I could actually see no chemistry between Octopussy and Bond at all. I had forgotten how beautiful Magda is - one of the best Bond girls of the entire series. The film is reminiscent of GF in places and mimicking the golf scenes as the backgammon scenes is a poor choice. I actually like the title song although it apparently is not very popular but the rest of the score is just so-so, I think John Barry had lost interest in Bond by then. Turning Bond into a clown was probably apt by this point. Definitely the worst for me up to this point.
CHB will return reviewing AVTAK soon.
"Better make that two."
Yes, oh dear indeed! I don't understand what he saw and heard in this film. It's one of John Barry's strongest scores, and Barry certainly had not lost interest in Bond for this film. Just listen to Barry's other scores from the time and it's clear Barry put a lot more effort into this film than into, say, High Road to China.
OP has actually climbed 6 places on your ranking but your review does not reflect that. May be others are still to be ranked on your new system .... Like that you have a lot of films from the 60s and 70s in your top 13
But if CHB doesn't like it, then fair enough.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
It's one thing to not like it but another to say that Barry lost interest in Bond.
and yet no mention of anything Fleming in your review. Property of a Lady ring a bell? Auction scene? Why don't you like the blackgammon scene? It's basically taken from the Moonraker novel. How bout Roger doing a fine job of summarizing the Octopussy short story?
Yet another fine Roger Moore film being totally underappreciated...
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK