Octopussy (1983) - Movie Review

Roger Moore is James Bond in Octopussy, a fun Bond film about smugglers and atomic weapons.

There is nothing real extravagant about the story (it is based around a Faberge egg, which I never really understood the meaning of), but there are some good action sequences. The movie is pretty lighthearted and a lot of the scenes are meant not only to be action packed but also funny.

The opening sequence is pretty cool, and a little different from other openings. There is lots of action and a giant explosion that can compete with the one in Goldeneye.

There are only two disappointments about this film. The first is that the Bond girls aren't the greatest. One of which is the title character Octopussy, who never really reaches the sexy stage. To make it worse, Bond is put on an island filled only with beautiful women, yet he fails to react "accordingly." The other disappointment is the ending. After Bond successfully (of course) stops the atomic bomb at the circus, Octopussy's female fighters invade the bad guy's base only as circus performers would do. It was incredibly cheesy. Second, even farther in to the climatic ending, Bond duels it out with guy on top of an airplane, while it is flying a mile above the ground (!!!).

Octopussy has some good action and some comedy, and does create some good negative characters that are great to see die, but the ending is sub par.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.