33 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Alright, I have done this before because it's always interesting to see what others think of the films here. Octopussy is no exception and is always discussed, but I thought I'd put one of these threads together about it.

Other ones I have done that are similar in this style are such as:

Moonraker-Not as bad as you think
The Spy Who Loved Me-As good as you think, probably even better
The Man With The Golden Gun-Flawed Gem or Chaotic mess?
Diamonds Are Forever-Sparkling or sinking over the years?
I believe I did a few more, perhaps one for You Only Live Twice I believe.

In my opinion, Octopussy is one of the very best Bond films. It ususally floats around my #5 or #6 spot on my favorites. I think it fits perfectly into a groove with everything culminating into a fantastic film.

The film itself basically comes after the heavily toned down For Your Eyes Only, but the comedy is slightly upped for this film, but not on the height of Moonraker, nor as reserved as For Your Eyes Only. I think it occupies a nice middle ground between pushing all the limits and 'heading down to earth'.

Roger Moore looks fine to me in this film, yes his age shows from where he was in Moonraker or For Your Eyes Only, but for me, it's not a problem. His character feels quite fresh and ready in this film, where there is lots to do. That combined with John Glen's crisp direction, it makes for a good pair. The film itself is quite tense and more suspenseful that others. It has the neverending finale stretching from a circus to the trainthen toIndia to the palace fight and then finally to the plane. It works well in this film and always has the viewers attention.

The characters are all top notch in this film as well. Prince Kamal Khan with Louis Jordan's performance is easily one of the most antagonizing and sophisticated of the villains batch.

Excellent lines:
"Mr Bond is indeed a very rare breed, soon to be made extinct."
"You have a nasty habit of surviving."
"Spend the money quickly Mr Bond."

Gobinda also makes for a worthy henchman, one that gets a generous amount of screentime that allows his character to show menace, the Tuk-Tuk taxi chase is a good example.

Octopussy and Magda are two of the very best Bond girls. Both never really get to the exact side of Bond at first, but both their characters do well throughout the entire film.

The location of India for this film is a perfect choice. It glows with elegance and I'm glad alot of the film take place here, it wouldn't be right to have just a small segment of India in a Bond film, it deserves and rightly gets a lot of presense in Octopussy. Chases, fights, the Monsoon palace, Octopussy's wealthy island, all good to be included here.

The score by John Barry is one of his more reserved ones, but he has a strong main theme, which can be heard during the Palace Fight track, excellent. 'All Time High' by Rita Coolidge, in my opinion is often overlooked from many theme song fans. I've always thought it to be good, it's a nuce ballad, and is meshes absolutely perfect with Maurice Binder's tremendous main title sequence. A winning combination.

The auction scene just as a note now, has always been a fun scene that I for one look forward to. As is the jungle chase, which at first seems a bit out of place in a Bond film, but it turns out to be a great scene. even if you do cringe at the Tarzan yell.

So, that should get this started now.

What do you all think of Octopussy?

I've always thought it to be a great film, tense, exciting, action filled, and all the right elements. A magnificent movie.

[Kingdom Come]

I like Octopussy mainly for Alan Hulme and the locations. I don't think it has all the 'right ingredients' as such but is so georgous to look at, that thats good enough for me. It depends what you are looking for in a Bond movie. Louis Jordan is excellent and has great screen presence; like wise Kristina Wayborn; Binder's best stab at titles and Barry composing close to his most atmospheric score with such lush compositions, though a very disappointing theme song, maybe the weakest and certainly the weakest song in Roger's 7 films. I do think that the films main flaw is Glen's inability to cut when enough is enough. A running time of 125 mins instead of 130 would have made a good differance. For example the threads of narrative surrounding the circus and the build up to the fight on the train could have been and should have had tighter editing. 2 and a half mins taken from the circus and 2 and a half from the buildup to the train fight.

[Qwerty]

A running time of 125 mins instead of 130 would have made a good differance. For example the threads of narrative surrounding the circus and the build up to the fight on the train could have been and should have had tighter editing. 2 and a half mins taken from the circus and 2 and a half from the buildup to the train fight.

Yes, I'll agree that many of the later Bond films, with the exception of Tomorrow Never Dies seem to always go over 2 hours. I think it started pretty much with The Man With The Golden Gun at 124 minutes, The Spy Who Loved Me at 125, Moonraker at 126 etc.. Octopussy and A View to a Kill are both at the now somewhat average 131 minutes, which isn't too bad, but there's nothing wrong with going 2 hours, Tomorrow Never Dies did that and it came off fine.

Knocking off a few minutes in preparation for the train sequence maybe would not have hurt that much, but I don't see it as a real big problem to the film if it has the 131 minute storyline.

[Roebuck]

Tiger hunt scene badly hurts the pace of the film for me, but otherwise It's a great romp. The combination of Indian locations and the 'end of the cold war' background give Octopussy something of the feel of the early Bonds. Unassailable pre-titles sequence to boot.

[Lazenby880]

If no-one minds, I would like to adapt a message I posted on the AJB board as I feel this most effectively crystalises my opinion regarding Octopussy, my second favourite Moore Bond.

The pre-titles sequence is imaginative, fresh and exciting. The stunts are excellent, and already the viewer is thrown deep into the tension with Bond fleeing a seeking missile. Although I cannot help but notice it now due to watching the DVD documentary, I had never noticed the clever 'trick' of the plane in the building. A marked improvement on For Your Eyes Only's PTS.

The Moneypenny scene is funny, but unfortunately highlights the age of Lois Maxwell but also Roger, and I can't help but cringe whenever I see Moneypenny's young and rather attractive aide Penelope Smallbone sighing over Roger.

The greatest achievement of Octopussy is the continuation of suspense and tension from its predecessor. The bidding scene is an example of this. The expert's distraught face at Bond's seemingly unorthodox method of finding out how much Khan wants the egg is priceless, as is Moore's great turn at tormenting Khan. The tension is built slowly, indeed one cannot imagine another film series building quietly sustained suspense throughout a scene such as this without a loud bang or shiny thing. This probably goes for the Bond movies nowadays, too.

The contrast between the exotic, lush locales of India and the cold harshness of Eastern Europe is superb, and all the locations are used to their best advantage. Shades of a gripping cold-war saga are introduced with Orlov's outrageous plans to stampede into the West. In India, the casino scene is amongst the series' best. Moore is on top form here, sticking the figurative dagger into Khan's ego, and I especially like when Bond doesn't even look at the dice when saying, "Double six, fancy that". The confidence of the look says it all. Again, the scene is tense despite signs of a lack of originality, chiefly when Gobinda crushes the dice a la Oddjob in the Goldfinger golf scene. Still, Gobinda is far more threatening and dangerous-looking than that henchman.

The street chase uses the Indian location brilliantly and is exhilirating and humorous, without going too far. The tennis in-joke and amusing fights coincide well with the seriousness of the situation, and the divergence of the well-used humour and Gobinda's grim look and expression makes for a genuinely entertaining chase.

The personal connection between Octopussy and Bond is original and interesting, with Maud Adams much better here than she was in The Man With The Golden Gun. Their scenes together show the rapport and chemistry between Moore and Adams, and allows the viewer to believe this is a relationship of authentic and sincere feelings and emotions. Octopussy's character also forces Bond into conflict with his work, calling him a "paid assassin". The suggestive way in which she says, "Am I to be your target for tonight?", accentuates Ms Adams ease with her character, and again Octopussy puts Bond into something of a personal quandary.

The dinner scene is subtly funny and serious at the same time, and again Moore is great. I remember when I first saw the movie feeling pretty sick when Khan rips off the eyeball and starts chewing it, and the disgust is similar on Moore's face through his well timed expressions. The suspense is re-introduced when Bond listens in on Orlov's and Khan's conversation, and I still shudder slightly when Gobinda returns o look where Bond is hiding and almost being caught. The jungle chase is tense also, and though the tarzan yell is misjudged it doesn't annoy me as much as it used to. Mostly, the yell is irritating because it simply is non-sensical. Why would a wholly outnumbered and unarmed secret agent draw particular attention to himself in such an obvious manner?

Moore is also excellent at conveying the shock and anger at Orlov's plan, both acted brilliantly. In fact, all the performances are amazing. The latter scenes are nail-biting, particularly the train chase and the race to diffuse the bomb. It was also good to see Bond exact cold-blooded revenge, "And that's for 009." The clown suit is particularly humorous given the visual oxymoron, a section of the picture that could have gone down in flames overladen with silliness did not, since Moore played it totally straight and seriously.

All in all, this is a classic cold-war thriller and I don't recognise the gripes about over-the-top humour, on the whole I felt it was toned down. The film also includes one of Moore's best turns at Bond and really is at the top of his game balancing the wit with real danger, seriousness and a vengeful side, with a talented supporting cast, although I won't mention Wayborn . A fantastic entry in the series, 9/10.

Edited by Lazenby, 29 February 2004 - 01:39 AM.

[Turn]

I'm not sure I can add much to what Qwerty and Lazenby have already said. But as OP is my favorite Moore Bond film and one of my favorites all-around, I'll back it up with my seal of approval.

It truly does have all the right elements, being a hybrid of an earlier somewhat serious Bond film with a later Moore-like light Bond film and it works at least three quarters of the time. The wacky "sit", Tarzan yell and double-taking camels drag it down a bit, but not enough to make it howling bad.

And the only other thing that makes this film a bit awkward is how many times Bond pulls Houdini-like escapes like in the moat around Octopussy's palace and in the train when Gobinda knocks off the gorilla head, not to mention how fast he applies clown makeup.

Otherwise. OP truly fits Moore's style better than the way overpraised FYEO, which was much more of a kneejerk reaction to the excess of MR. Good lines and humor; some stark violence; some decent suspense; a woman who shares the best chemistry with Moore; some of the best stunts in the series; and Moore moved better in this in the action scenes than in any other of his films IMO.

[Qwerty]

Quite well said Roebuck, Lazenby and Turn.

It's just one of those Bond films I always love to watch.

[Genrewriter]

Same here. A great flick.

[zencat]

Great post, Qwerty. I agree. Octopussy is one of the best Moore Bonds -- one of the best Bonds period. I love it.

[Q-Zar]

One of my favourite Bond movies, and I love "All Time High" !

[[dark]]

Octopussy is one of the best Moore Bonds -- one of the best Bonds period. I love it.

Ditto.

It does have all the right elements. And a great title.

It's a shame that there are several very cringe-worthy moments... the Tarzan yell... the zombie-laugh... the aforementioned Smallbone sigh...

The movie's major plothole - that the Faberg

[Kingdom Come]

I don't believe it has all the 'right ingredients' - it is more developed & lesurely paced than For Your Eyes Only and has less action; it has little in the way of the fantasy elements that previous films have had; with the 2 exceptions already mentioned by other users, it is a more sombre film and has little in the way of exaggerated metaphors; it has less of the surprise elements that previous films had like: Diamonds Are Forever - the WOW factor; it is less disorientating than previous films; no under water sequences; no snow sequences; and is missing the larger than life production design that was and is, one of the main marks of a Bond film.

I still love the film though - again mainly because of Alan Hulme.

[Loomis]

OCTOPUSSY is not only a misfire, but possibly the worst Bond outing ever. It's an absolutely appalling film.

[Qwerty]

The one thing that I loved about Octopussy is that it DIDN'T have any snow sequences. I love the ski and snow chases, but they're in so many Bond films, including just seeing them in The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only and then A View To A Kill, I'm glad there weren't any in this one.

[Loomis]

The one thing that I loved about Octopussy is that it DIDN'T have any snow sequences.

Yeah, thank heaven for small mercies, eh?

One thing I do like about OCTOPUSSY, though: Maud Adams.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Fun movie. Good locales, score...Roger was great("Double sixes...I prefer cash", you know what they say about the fittest") despite being too old...I liked Octopussy but I didn't see it in a theater.

[Qwerty]

The one thing that I loved about Octopussy is that it DIDN'T have any snow sequences.

Yeah, thank heaven for small mercies, eh?

Yes, it was a small, but good thing I loved about it.

[Kingdom Come]

When I say it didnt have any snow sequences does not mean that I wanted to see them - I am just pointing out that this film did NOT have the 'right ingredients' infact it had very few. Unless some of you are looking at a different film?

[Triton]

I would agree with the positive aspects of the film that were listed by Qwerty. But I believe that Eon snatches defeat from the jaws of victory by the film's
cringe-worthy humor and silliness.

There are numerous examples:

The PPK shooting a laser between a woman's legs and her smile during Maurice Binder's title sequence.

The previously mentioned Penelope Smallbone sequence at MI6 headquarters.

The head-turning reaction of the crowd like at a tennis match while Vijay keeps knife-wielding assassins at bay with his tennis racket.

The bazaar sequence where the henchman is killed on a bed of nails and the "Get off my bed!" comment by the man previously on the bed of nails.

The poster with the tongue sticking out when Bond and Vijay escape into the MI6 station in India.

The sequence in which Bond tries out the Seiko TV watch by zooming in on a woman's cleavage.

In addition to the Tarzan yell. We also got the "hiss off" comment when a cobra slithers over Bond and also the "Sit!" when Bond is confronted by a tiger.

The improbable reason for the high-speed Autobahn chase in Germany. Are we to believe that Bond is such a gentleman that he would rather steal a woman's car than to push her off the telephone?

The double-take of the crowd on the train platform as the General Orlov's Mercedes drives down the tracks.

The assault on the Monsoon Palace by female gymnasts in black bikinis and black Arab headdresses with Bond and Q arriving in a hot air balloon with the Union Jack.

These elements of silliness, or poor taste, almost torpedo the film for me. They certainly demote the film when I compare it to others in the series.

[Qwerty]

The assault on the Monsoon Palace by female gymnasts in black bikinis and black Arab headdresses with Bond and Q arriving in a hot air balloon with the Union Jack.

I'll admit there are some cringes for certain things in this film for me, but other ones I consider to be some pure fun, and not harmful to the film. I thought the finale with the girls flipping through the air and the arrival of Bond in the hot air balloon, odd as it may be, was a fun and exciting sequence.

Just my own opinion though.

[Triton]

I just feel that the filmmakers got a little carried away at times with the humor. Perhaps the film would have been better if they had trimmed away some of their excesses and left them on the cutting room floor. In my opinion, there were scenes that made it into the final cut that should have been deleted.

But even with its numerous flaws, Octopussy is an entertaining film.

[SnakeEyes]

If you took all the utterly f'ing stupid bits out (monkey suit, tarzan yell, etc) it would be a class film.

It just isn't though. I do enjoy it, but it's not as good as it could/should have been. Shame really.

I do like Maud and her woman circus bunch though. (I still search for the air pistol model they use...) but all the 'keep you in curry' bollox...well it can shuv it back up where it came from. I like the train scenes though, generally hard edged.

[RJJB]

Let's not forget the completely ridiculous scene of Bond grabbing on to Khan's plane as it takes off. If that wasn't enough, sending the henchman out to get him went way too far. This movie is pure crap.

[Triton]

Let's not forget the completely ridiculous scene of Bond grabbing on to Khan's plane as it takes off. If that wasn't enough, sending the henchman out to get him went way too far. This movie is pure crap.

I actually enjoyed that part of the film. Especially since Jake Lombard and BJ Worth did the plane fight for real with parachutes under their clothes.

Perhaps today, they would have created a CGI Bond and Gobinda for a similar sequence.

But the scene on the plane does seem like yet another anti-climax after following the train sequence and then the assault of the Monsoon Palace.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Triton, didn't you dislike the crocodile sub? I thought that was the one of the worst moments in Roger's tenure; he looked really silly. The Tarzan yell was really awful too. ABC always promoted it's airing as "The Best Bond ever", interestingly enough.

I still love the exotic feel of India. The pretitle was a blast.I really miss seeing Bond in a white dinner jacket in a tropical setting.I enjoyed Octopussy and think it's better than Never Say Never Again.It's a very entertaing if flawed film. Maybe coming off For your Eyes Only, my first Bond in a theater which I adored, Octopussy wasn't up to par but I still love it...

I can watch Roger's films over and over...they never bore me. I hate to beat a dead horse but Brosnan films really fall apart with repeat viewings.

[elmog]

I really like Octopussy. One of my favorites. Great villian, great locations, cool twin assasins (sp?). One of my fav. lines to; "Do you have the cash?"

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

I think Octopussy is the BEST of its kind! I think it topped Goldfinger! That was the grand daddy of them all.. all the right parts. Octopussy brought it to the next level! I actually put it #1 on my list.

if you want a perfect action driven 007 film with a great story, great funny moments & amazing fantasy characters,stunts & gadgets.

Octopussy is the best

* These last few movies put Roger as the best 007! Sean's dies off after the first 3.. Timothy they didn't give a chance & Pierce I am just not a fan even though I think his last was his best one (well the first half/the set up)

[DLibrasnow]

I enjoy OCTOPUSSY but it's not one of my favorites.

[Qwerty]

* These last few movies put Roger as the best 007! Sean's dies off after the first 3.. Timothy they didn't give a chance & Pierce I am just not a fan even though I think his last was his best one (well the first half/the set up)

Well, I do admit that Octopussy was certainly my favorite out of Roger's last three Bond films.

I think it perfectly captured (in my opinion) the very down to earth For Your Eyes Only moments and the A View To A Kill abundance on grandness and comedy together and it fused into a great film. Always enjoyable.

[DLibrasnow]

Actually I think it is my least favorite of Rogers last three movies -- but then FYEO and AVTAK are both in my top 5.