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Comments
You can't fight in here. This is the war room!
I don't appreciate Octopussy at all (minus some individual scenes). But it's at least the second-worst Moore film for me, which is why I haven't shared in this "appreciation" so far. I don't appreciate much of Octopussy.
But I much less share this pro-Putin-war-of-aggression propaganda coming up here from certain posters, so I propose to close this thread, since I'd say it has been hijacked by fascists (or whatever you'd call them).
Is he out? Is he gone? Confiscate his coat!
It's a film I love to re-visit often. The music, the locations, the cast, ... everything works. I could've done with a little less slapstick in India but the clown climax really works for me; it's a tense moment in the film. I have always had a soft spot for OP! ☺
That's music to my ears too. One of my favourite Bond films that never fails to be entertaining and thrilling. That clown bomb countdown is still one of the tensest scenes in all of Bond. It's Hitchcockian in terms of suspense and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The quintessential Moore Bond film in my book.
Indeed. And Barry makes it all come together. The minute Bond exposes himself, Barry's suspense theme kicks in, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
It's one of the -- dare I say -- most realistic climaxes in the series, and Moore nails it. The clown disguise makes perfect sense in another way too; it's a callback to the death of Bond's colleague earlier in the film that almost seems to hint at an impending doom for this double-oh as well. Meanwhile, Octopussy's mind is torn between Bond and the 'mission', with loyal Magda complicating matters further without her knowing what is really going on. This scene is particularly well-constructed in my opinion, no matter how low-key a climax it is compared to the biggies of YOLT, MR and others. It's a thrilling moment and something that Fleming himself might have more than agreed with.
You guys are capturing exactly why this is my favorite Moore film, one I've loved since June 10, 1983, and one of my favorites of the series. It just hits on all the elements to love in a Bond film.
Ironically, MR is the film that made me a hardcore Bond fan. I saw FYEO as an overreaction to its excesses, just repeating a lot of stunts done in previous films with less compelling villains and story, although it comes from Fleming. Although OP's humor is overdone, it has the best balance with the excitement and fun and should've been Moore's perfect exit from the series. If Eon really want to capture a crowd-pleasing Bond, go back to this minus the goofy humor.
If the next Bond film had the charm and exotic richness of OP (and, indeed, a lot less goofy stuff), I'd be more than pleased.
Overall, I like what Glen did with his Bonds. I have serious issues with AVTAK, but the other four are splendid films in my book. The times were very trying for Bond; others were moving in fast on what had always been 'Bond territory', and a competing Bond film was on the horizon, with Connery no less. Yet Glen took Bond through the '80s with grace and success. Barry wrote some of his best stuff. Both Moore and Dalton delivered. The plots were, for the most part, really interesting, believable and fun. As a child of the '80s, I am furthermore impressed by how these films take me back to my first few years. These are also the 'adult' Bond films, in my opinion, less playful than the '70s' ones, less "spy fantastical" than the '60' ones, but mature and down-to-Earth for the most part. Some call Glen's Bonds boring. I'd say they are the opposite of that: they took risks in keeping Bond's feet on the ground as much as possible while still delivering the traditional goods, and it's exciting to see how strong the output was. OP is definitely among the "classics".
I'm of the same mind. Sailing off with Maud Adams after an amazing adventure that was truly tense, right up until the climax,would have been perfect.
I wasn't a fan of the Bond films at all. But after seeing OP I was blown away how much i enjoyed it! I had such a great time with the film on the big screen that I immediately started seeking out all the Bond film's I'd missed. I'd say I was then a fan of Bond, but that was cemented after seeing TLD and delving into Fleming's novels.
So I will always have a soft spot for Octopussy and still think it's a cracking Bond film with a really good story. My second favourite Moore film after FYEO.
I've long loved OP. It was my first Bond.
I do wonder if the assault on Kamal's palace was needed. You could nip and tuck the story and still end up with Bond, Kamal, Gobinda, and Octopussy in the plane above Germany.
Good point. The raid on Kamal's was probably redundant. And they were playing things for laughs. The plane fight would have been tense enough.
I'd rank OP as my third favorite Moore Bond, behind FYEO and TSWLM. I prefer it to Roger's first two Bonds, where he hadn't yet settled into the role, and it's less silly (and more down to earth) than MR. It's a livelier film than AVTAK and doesn't have as many tonal issues. Moore does some of his best acting in the circus tent--the clown makeup ironically gives his features more urgency and gravity. The sense of urgency in his gestures and voice is gripping, and they make you regret there weren't more scenes like this in his other Bonds.
I second that. Despite EON's wherewithal to produce epic-scale climaxes, both FYEO and OP opted for something smaller. What their finales lacked in spectacle, they made up for in tension and drama.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2023/02/09/why-pam-grier-refused-to-play-octopussy-bond-girl-role/amp/
I asked, ‘Am I challenging Bond? Am I out to kill him? Will I kill him before he kills me?’ They hadn’t thought of that,” she said. “I gave them other ideas, which were much more profound and interesting than what they were doing.
Eye roll …
Thanks for sharing the link @MI6HQ
Ms.Grier may have made an interesting character in the series, but this seems like someone who is commenting on a role they would play in modern times.
This sounds like Craig's relationship with Bond throughout his run.
Oh, scriptwriter is she? Why doesn't she go to Hollywood and write scripts for them? 8-}
I think we were very well served with what we got in terms of Octopussy as both a character and a film.