For some reason, and I don’t know why, but this is my favorite of Roger Moore’s Bond films. There’s action and adventure, and I don’t even mind the camp this time around.Similar to For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy presents a more plausible setup- a power-hungry Soviet general plans to gain the upper hand in the Cold War by setting up a nuclear explosion in West Germany to look like an accident. With Europe already uneasy over the issue of nuclear proliferation, the accident will spur Europe to pursue disarmament, allowing General Orlov to sweep through Europe, increasing the might of the Soviet Union.
To stop this all from happening, Bond approaches their main accomplice, a circus owner and smuggler named Octopussy. She had no previous knowledge of Orlov’s plan and, as it turns out, she owes Bond for letting her father commit suicide instead of facing a court martial. Convenient for sure, but still a very intriguing way to turn the tables.
Bond and Octopussy work hard to prevent the nuclear strike and Bond eventually has to dress up as a circus clown in order to gain access to the circus transporting the bomb, saving the day at the last possible second. I find it personally satisfying to see Roger Moore dressed as a clown in the final act, because it highlights just what he turned the character of 007 into with his stint as Bond. Call it poetic justice.
RATING: 3.25 out of 5
