Octopussy (1983)

[zen]

1 minute ago, coffee_rules said:

Tina Turner for Golden Eye is a big hit, I like it the best

 

The song by Tina Turner is good (though now I don’t listen to it much apart from when watching the film) but parts of GoldenEye’s score can sound dull or not per the situation in some segments.

[coffee_rules]

Bad options to compare Octopussy and The Temple of Doom. The latter is highly racist towards Indians and Hinduism. Nothing redeeming in that movie. It was rightfully banned in India. 

[coffee_rules]

Best parody of Bond.

Graphic video warning 

 

 

[goose]

this live bond medley from duran duran featuring view to a kill is sheer perfection. the orchestra, the violins, the vocals, the woman silhouette, and best of all the bass drop deep into the track which usually is much closer to the start

 

 

[zen]

47 minutes ago, goose said:

this live bond medley from duran duran featuring view to a kill is sheer perfection. the orchestra, the violins, the vocals, the woman silhouette, and best of all the bass drop deep into the track which usually is much closer to the start

 

 

Yeah, a good listen. 
 

It starts off with the tune from Goldfinger -> Diamonds Are Forever -> You Only Live Twice before going to A View to a Kill.

Edited August 14, 2024 by zen

[Ranvir]

On 8/14/2024 at 2:08 PM, coffee_rules said:

Tina Turner for Golden Eye is a big hit, I like it the best

 

I don’t agree with this ranking of Bond movie title songs

 

https://variety.com/lists/james-bond-theme-songs-ranked-no-time-to-die-music/sam-smith-writings-on-the-wall-from-spectre-2015/

My faves are 

View To A Kill

Living Daylights 

You Know My Name

 

I'm a fan of 80s New Wave and Rock. 

[coffee_rules]

5 minutes ago, Ranvir said:

My faves are 

View To A Kill

Living Daylights 

You Know My Name

 

I'm a fan of 80s New Wave and Rock. 

 

Living Daylights from A-Ha (Norwefian band, I think) one of my favs too. I had a audtio tape of A-Ha in the 90s.

[goose]

you wouldn’t get a movie called octopusssy today or a character called pussy galore. has society gone backwards? some might say forwards (not me)

[zen]

46 minutes ago, goose said:

you wouldn’t get a movie called octopusssy today or a character called pussy galore. has society gone backwards? some might say forwards (not me)

Neither forward nor backward as deep down human still remain more or less the same. 

It is just that every period (driven by education, social awareness, general prosperity, …) has its norms for what is socially acceptable. 

[zen]

A contemporary review of Octopussy: 

 

 

[Ranvir]

6 hours ago, goose said:

you wouldn’t get a movie called octopusssy today or a character called pussy galore. has society gone backwards? some might say forwards (not me)

You missed out Xenia Onatopp, Holly Goodhead 

 

Austin Powers ridiculed these names with his own Alotta Fagina and Ivana Humpalot. 

[zen]

It also in how you pronounce the name:

 

Octo-pussy or Octopus-sy (see)

[coffee_rules]

1 hour ago, Ranvir said:

You missed out Xenia Onatopp, Holly Goodhead 

 

Austin Powers ridiculed these names with his own Alotta Fagina and Ivana Humpalot. 

Onatopp was ridiculous. It was not even a parody like Austin Powers's. She even says her name with a naughty smirk.

[goose]

sean connery at his finest

 

 

[zen]

The name might be inspired by “Odyssey”

[goose]

On 8/16/2024 at 8:27 AM, zen said:

Neither forward nor backward as deep down human still remain more or less the same. 

It is just that every period (driven by education, social awareness, general prosperity, …) has its norms for what is socially acceptable. 

 

 

definitely backwards. excess attention to sensitivities is not the sign of a robust and cohesive society

[Vijy]

On 8/8/2024 at 10:00 AM, zen said:

Revisited Octopussy (1983). Below is my latest impression of it, where I attempt to walk you through the film (assuming that you have watched it so you are aware of the characters and situations): 
 

 

Pre-title sequence: This is like a mini-movie, a separate mission from the rest of the film. Bond’s assignment is to blow up a facility in Cuba. He disguises himself as “Colonel Toro”, gets caught, finds a way to escape, and completes his mission. This segment has its own Bond girl. Barry’s score is spectacular, highlighting the tension. 
 

009: Post the title sequence, the film opens up with the twins chasing a clown, who happens to be 009. 009 gets a knife in his back but survives to pass the egg to the British embassy in West Berlin (Yes, it was the era of West & East Berlin). This is a powerful beginning with a 00 getting killed.  
 

The property of a lady: This is classic Fleming stuff. Bond is investigating a possible attempt to raise funds by the Russians to finance their covert operations in the West. We are introduced to the villains as well. At the auction, Bond bumps up the price of the egg. His suspicion that Kamal Khan had to buy the egg at any cost is confirmed. But why? That is the answer that Bond would venture to find out. Barry’s score shines esp. when the villains walk out of the auction and 007 follows them to their car. This is a top segment that does justice to the Fleming material. 
 

India: A magical segment. We get to see many luxurious life style elements of Bond. We are transported to the days of the maharajas in the picturesque Udaipur. Like in Goldfinger, this segment is Bond v the villain. Bond takes on a cheating Kamal at the casino. He has a romantic encounter with the villain’s acquaintance, leading to his capture. Like Oddjob, Gobinda is a man of few words. He sneaks into Bond’s bedroom to deliver a chop that renders Bond unconscious. The scene where Magda ties her saree to the balcony to come down is memorable. Bond becomes a hunting target before escaping from Kamal and his gang. 
 

Octopussy: She is one of the most mysterious Bond girls. She lives on a beautiful island inhabited only by women. I like it how Fleming’s short story, Octopussy, has been built upon (the story is narrated to Bond by Octopussy to make the connection). The introduction of Octopussy is superb where we only see her hands and hear her voice. Barry’s score shines once again, crating a mysterious environment, esp. when Kamal Khan is headed to the island on the row boat.

 

A tale of two Berlins: A classic espionage segment where Bond learns about the villains’ plans. There are memorable action sequences including the train chase. Bond avenges 009’s death. Defuses a nuclear bomb.  Barry’s score helps to build the tension nicely. The film could have ended here but we move back to India for a bonus segment. 

Back to India: The bonus segment. Octopussy and her team attack Kamal’s palace. Q balloons Bond to where the action is. Watching Q in the field tends to bring a smile. Bond chases a plane on a horse. He hangs on to the plane to save Octopussy. The score by Barry, with its use of flute, is from his top drawer. This segment helps the film to finish on an “All Time High”. 

Like most films, Octopussy has its pros and cons but the pros are so good that, overall, this has turned out to be a brilliant Bond film. It is a bit Hitchcockian and a bit like an Indiana Jones film. Talking about Indiana Jones films, Octopussy is as good as the best Indiana Jones films, which are also known for their extensive use of cinematic conveniences. As a Bond film, Octopussy continues to shine brightly.

 

 

Have you watched Octopussy lately? Is it among your favorites?

It should have been correctly spelt as: Octo-P*ssy. The movie where Bond seduces and has sex with eight women (and one bonus man).