41 replies to this topic

[Mr Twilight]

Haven't seen OP for years seens it's not a favorite of mine but i will pick it up tonight to update my memories of it.

[SirCliff]

I can't say I understand the characterization of FYEO as this "serious spy thriller." Only when compared with the most outlandish of all Bond films does it remotely resemble something "down to earth."

That Citroen car chase, just after the Lotus' "Burglar protection" demise.
 

 

I like the car chase. And I would argue it actually has a down to earth feel as Bond has to actually use his driving abilities to get away despite being outmatched and out- horse powered.  More typical for most Bond movies would be a different gadget used to dispatch each individual car in an outlandish way.  

[seawolfnyy]

OP is very underrated indeed.

And the "clown" scene actually is one of the best and most tense scenes in any Bond film IMO. What is a better way to show the inability to act against a nuclear threat: a secret agent having to hide undercover as a clown while the army and the audience are laughing away, seconds before the nuclear bomb on stage is about to wipe out a country and start another world war?

See that's how I always viewed it. Bond is trying to warn about a nuclear bomb, but nobody believes him because he is dressed as a clown. I'm not sure why people can't see that.

[B5Erik]

Having watched Octopussy again recently I've got to say that apart from the Tarzan yell and the, "Siiiit-t," and the clown outfit the movie is played fairly straight.  I'm a big fan of John Glen's direction style, and I think he was always able to get the most out of tight budgets.  The movies were very well made and look great.  They also feature some fantastic action scenes.

 

While Octopussy isn't as good as For Your Eyes Only or The Spy Who Loved Me, I do think it is a darned good movie - extremely entertaining.

[Turn]

 

OP is very underrated indeed.

And the "clown" scene actually is one of the best and most tense scenes in any Bond film IMO. What is a better way to show the inability to act against a nuclear threat: a secret agent having to hide undercover as a clown while the army and the audience are laughing away, seconds before the nuclear bomb on stage is about to wipe out a country and start another world war?

See that's how I always viewed it. Bond is trying to warn about a nuclear bomb, but nobody believes him because he is dressed as a clown. I'm not sure why people can't see that.

 

Because he's dressed like a clown. Some people just see what they want to see - Roger Moore being Roger Moore and not James Bond. They probably think the scene would have only worked had Bond been wearing a tux.

 

I've also seen numerous fan complaints that Craig's Bond is too often dressed casually like in the climactic scenes in QoS and the Venice scenes in CR.

[B5Erik]

 

OP is very underrated indeed.

And the "clown" scene actually is one of the best and most tense scenes in any Bond film IMO. What is a better way to show the inability to act against a nuclear threat: a secret agent having to hide undercover as a clown while the army and the audience are laughing away, seconds before the nuclear bomb on stage is about to wipe out a country and start another world war?

See that's how I always viewed it. Bond is trying to warn about a nuclear bomb, but nobody believes him because he is dressed as a clown. I'm not sure why people can't see that.

 

The issue I have with the clown scene is that ONLY Roger Moore could have made it work.  Put Connery, Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan, or Craig in a clown outfit and make-up and it would be a ludicrous scene that would just kill the movie.  Put Moore in that outfit and make-up and it works, but only with him.  So the concept is extremely silly and takes the seriousness of the movie down a notch.

 

But it isn't a deal breaker.  For me it's only a minor annoyance.  And it is mildly amusing.

[seawolfnyy]

 

 

OP is very underrated indeed.

And the "clown" scene actually is one of the best and most tense scenes in any Bond film IMO. What is a better way to show the inability to act against a nuclear threat: a secret agent having to hide undercover as a clown while the army and the audience are laughing away, seconds before the nuclear bomb on stage is about to wipe out a country and start another world war?

See that's how I always viewed it. Bond is trying to warn about a nuclear bomb, but nobody believes him because he is dressed as a clown. I'm not sure why people can't see that.

 

The issue I have with the clown scene is that ONLY Roger Moore could have made it work.  Put Connery, Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan, or Craig in a clown outfit and make-up and it would be a ludicrous scene that would just kill the movie.  Put Moore in that outfit and make-up and it works, but only with him.  So the concept is extremely silly and takes the seriousness of the movie down a notch.

 

But it isn't a deal breaker.  For me it's only a minor annoyance.  And it is mildly amusing.

 

Interesting point. I think Lazenby might've been able to pull it off, but basing it only on one film, I can't say for sure. The whole scene is great and tense and a lot of that comes from Bond dressed as a clown and not being to convince anyone that he is serious.

[thecasinoroyale]

I prefer 'Octopussy' over 'For Your Eyes Only', and don't find 'FYEO' dark or gritty, it's just got less humour and more brutal moments, bordering on something Timothy Dalton could have done. It was a good brave move for Sir Roger and shows he did have the Bond character down to a T when he wanted to portray him as a government assassin, but it just wasn't the Bond film for him.

 

I turn to 'Octopussy' and 'A View To A Kill' most in the Moore era for fun, escapism and easy-watching adventures from Bond rather than anything too intense or "dark" - except the only Bond who did that perfectly, that is Dalton.

 

'Octopussy' is no more daft and fun than 'Moonraker' was, lest we forget the double-taking pigeon and number of in-jokes and comical moments. Wonderful locations, yet more brilliantly staged action sequences and decent cast lend wonders to the film, and the series. Actually, when I think about the Moore era action, the moments that always come straight to mind is the finale train sequence in Berlin which I think is great, and going to 'AVTAK' with the Golden Gate battle.

 

'FYEO' doesn't have anything like what we expcect from Bond beside maybe the St.Cyrils mountain climb sequence, which is a very over-looked piece of stunt work in my eyes.

 

And going from your comments about Bond dressed as a clown, it infuriates me how people think this is played for laughs, when it's clearly not. He's dressed as a clown to escape police and infiltrate, get this, a circus to find an atomic bomb! Rather that than he goes as a comedy back end of a horse or something.

 

It's slighty comical as Sir Roger always played the "clown" side of 007 in his films, but at this moment he's anything but, convincing not just the US General, but also audiences, that this ISN'T funny Bond, but deadly serious Bond trying to avert a catastrophe. The acting, the music, the dialogue and suspense are brilliant, and a highlight of the Moore era, and the series in terms of him trying to prevent a disaster - it's far better than the 'Goldfinger' and 'The World Is Not Enough' bomb diffusals, and 'The Living Daylights' opium bomb comes close second for something so simple but so tense and well played out.

 

A firm appreciator of 'Octopussy', and I'm glad they brought it back down to Earth rather than continue with the seemingly-forced 'FYEO' just to convince audiences that 'Moonraker' was a one-off out of this world extravaganza and James Bond isn't really that crazy!

[glidrose]

 

Also had no problem with Bond disguising as a clown. It works because we already saw 009 get killed dressed as a clown at the beginning of the film. Is Bond, following his predecessor's path, next in line for a similar fate, etc?

Isn’t this supposedly based on an unused Fleming idea? Something about an assassin who’d gained access to an embassy party as part of a team of clowns or acrobats. Bond gets into a fight to the death with the guy but, because their both in costume, the guests all think it’s part of a circus routine.

I briefly met George Macdonald Fraser a good many years ago. All he’d say about Octopussy was that the money was good and he’d have liked to do another one.

 

I don't know that it was based on Fleming's idea per se, but Fleming did have an idea in mind as you set out here. It was in his notebook of ideas. He let a reporter from one of the London dailies have a look through it. Some time in 1964, shortly before he died.

 

Yep, bleeding shame GMF didn't get called back to do another one.

[Iceskater101]

To be honest they both sucked ass!

 

I kind of agree with you, but I prefer FYEO to OP. I think it's just a better film overall.

[Mallory]

For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy are one of the better Bonds to me. My biggest criticism of the films is Bill Conti's awful score for FYEO and the Octopussy's attack on the palace. Would have been a perfect setup for a porno though.

[AMC Hornet]

You wouldn't even have to change the title (of either of them).