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Post by skywalker on Dec 2, 2008 7:59:35 GMT -5
Octopussy (1983) is the thirteenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the sixth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, Octopussy was released in the same year as the non-EON Bond film Never Say Never Again. Written by George MacDonald Fraser, Richard Maibaum, and Michael G. Wilson, the film was directed by John Glen.
As usual please rate out of 10 and add your comments
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Post by Jake on Dec 2, 2008 10:16:13 GMT -5
Rog was knocking on a bit and the film is fairly lightweight but anything this lavish and spectacular with a John Barry score is hard not to enjoy. You'd have to be a right miserable sod (although there are plenty of them around) not to derive any enjoyment from the film. Would I rather watch this or QoS? No contest!
8/10
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Post by poirot on Dec 2, 2008 12:51:21 GMT -5
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Post by adam on Dec 2, 2008 13:29:13 GMT -5
Dispite Cubby's best efforts to stop it happening, Connery was finally given the green light to make a rival Bond movie. Cubby decided he needed his current established Bond to take Connery on.
Moore said after FYEO 'I definatly do not have any plans to make any more Bond films'. However by now everyone knew of the 'cat and mouse' games that went on between the two sets of agents. This did'nt stop rumours circulating about Billington, Dalton & Collins. Eventually James Brolin signed for O. This was followed virtually the following day by Moore signing on. Whether Cubby was serious about Brolin or just used him to stop Moore phaffing about, only Cubby knows. Another potential problem was the posible cut in budget. The massive flop 'Heavens Gate' had hit United Artists. Eventually Cubby was given the budget he wanted. With Moore on board and an adequate budget, everything was in place to do battle with Connery.
Moore looks older in O. But not too old. He handles the role with typical aplomb and moves effortlessly through the scenes. After ten years as Bond he's confident and leaps around as if he means business and says his lines with conviction. He even gets quite upset with Steven Berkoff on the train. The film suited an older Bond, which he was. Louis Jordan is a good slimey villian and Berkoff gives a decent OTT performanace as a mad general. The henchman says virtually nothing and is a bit of a second rate jaws while the Bond girls are a bit dull.
The film itself is a wonderful Bond movie. Full of exotic locations, tight editing, great set peices and exciting action. The PTS is entertaining, even though it had nothing to do with the rest of the film. There was humour, perhaps too much in the first half. The Americans did'nt understand when Bond says 'Sit' to a tiger (Barbara Woodhouse was'nt shown in the US) and the tarzen yell is a bit much. The one liners you either love or hate, but will always remember. The second half gets more serious and builds to a great double climax.
Overall O is tremendous entertainment and outgrossed NSNA. 9/10.
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Post by Greg Haugen on Dec 2, 2008 13:53:28 GMT -5
Dispite Cubby's best efforts to stop it happening, Connery was finally given the green light to make a rival Bond movie. Cubby decided he needed his current established Bond to take Connery on. Moore said after FYEO 'I definatly do not have any plans to make any more Bond films'. However by now everyone knew of the 'cat and mouse' games that went on between the two sets of agents. This did'nt stop rumours circulating about Billington, Dalton & Collins. Eventually James Brolin signed for O. This was followed virtually the following day by Moore signing on. Whether Cubby was serious about Brolin or just used him to stop Moore phaffing about, only Cubby knows. Another potential problem was the posible cut in budget. The massive flop 'Heavens Gate' had hit United Artists. Eventually Cubby was given the budget he wanted. With Moore on board and an adequate budget, everything was in place to do battle with Connery. Moore looks older in O. But not too old. He handles the role with typical aplomb and moves effortlessly through the scenes. After ten years as Bond he's confident and leaps around as if he means business and says his lines with conviction. He even gets quite upset with Steven Berkoff on the train. The film suited an older Bond, which he was. Louis Jordan is a good slimey villian and Berkoff gives a decent OTT performanace as a mad general. The henchman says virtually nothing and is a bit of a second rate jaws while the Bond girls are a bit dull. The film itself is a wonderful Bond movie. Full of exotic locations, tight editing, great set peices and exciting action. The PTS is entertaining, even though it had nothing to do with the rest of the film. There was humour, perhaps too much in the first half. The Americans did'nt understand when Bond says 'Sit' to a tiger (Barbara Woodhouse was'nt shown in the US) and the tarzen yell is a bit much. The one liners you either love or hate, but will always remember. The second half gets more serious and builds to a great double climax. Overall O is tremendous entertainment and outgrossed NSNA. 9/10. Good review adam. I remember Michael Billington saying on his website he was on the set of Octopussy as a reserve Bond. It's strange to think that James Brolin nearly played 007 in this too.  |
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Post by Greg Haugen on Dec 2, 2008 13:55:24 GMT -5
Those were the days.  |
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Post by adam on Dec 2, 2008 16:05:29 GMT -5
I wonder if Cubby was serious about Brolin. He looked good in Capricorn One in 1978 & was screen tested. However other actors were probably also screen tested around the same time as Moore had turned 50. Maybe screen testing is something that goes on continuously, even when an actor is establised as Bond. Producers probably want back up in emergencies or want to suss out possibilities for the future.
Brolin was 45 and did'nt sign up for three films, as per usual. He only signed up for O. He was also American. Something Cubby was against. I suspect Brolin was given a cheap one picture deal to presurrise Moore into action. Brolin's deal could be torn up without any big financial loss to Cubby.
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Post by Gambit on Dec 3, 2008 13:56:24 GMT -5
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Post by harrypalmer on Dec 3, 2008 14:25:06 GMT -5
 9/10 from me. |
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alex
Commander
Posts: 344
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Post by alex on Dec 4, 2008 9:24:17 GMT -5
8/10
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Post by drfanshawe on Dec 4, 2008 14:22:22 GMT -5
8/10. not quite as majestic as The Spy Who Loved Me or Moonraker, but still fun.
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Post by Stockslivevan on Dec 5, 2008 0:21:47 GMT -5
7/10. I think it's Moore's best flick.
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Post by skywalker on Dec 5, 2008 13:56:21 GMT -5
7/10. I think it's Moore's best flick. It certainly boasts some of his best Bond related acting. I think the film really benefits from the return of John Barry. 8/10 |
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Post by Stockslivevan on Dec 5, 2008 16:46:27 GMT -5
7/10. I think it's Moore's best flick. It certainly boasts some of his best Bond related acting. I think the film really benefits from the return of John Barry. 8/10 EVERY Bond film benefits John Barry.  And yes, OP had one of the very small moments of Moore taking the role seriously, most notably his encounter with Orlov and he managed to be believable. I wish he was more like that in most of his flicks. |
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Post by poirot on Dec 5, 2008 16:54:51 GMT -5
One of Sir Roger's classiest Bond outings. I really love the first half, with Bond at Sotheby's and opposing Kamal at backgammon. You can tell Cubby wanted to outdo the rival Bond production, and Barry topped it off with a fine score.
I think people tend to underrate it because of the comedic elements. I would argue that the clown scene doesn't degrade the character- anymore than it degrades 009 at the film's start. Ironically, it provides Moore with one of his most serious moments.
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And yes, OP had one of the very small moments of Moore taking the role seriously, most notably his encounter with Orlov and he managed to be believable. I wish he was more like that in most of his flicks.