I wasn’t looking forward to this movie because of the title–Octopussy. Then I watched the Prime Video trailer. There were men in military uniforms and flying missiles. And the movie’s over two hours long! As a non-Bond fan, I try to go into each movie positively, but a two-hour war movie, plus the title…ugh.
Surprisingly, and thankfully, the two hours didn’t seem as long and the movie wasn’t bad. Yes, there were men in military uniforms and a flying missile or two but it wasn’t a war movie.
Does Bond evolve in the movie Octopussy?
The movie is action-packed with no room for James Bond to reveal a deeper side to his character. Even if the producers wanted to develop his character I didn’t see any place in the movie to do that. But that’s how it is with most Bond movies. I see Bond movies as action stunts pasted together to make a storyline.
In order to develop Bond’s character, there has to be something about him beyond his superhero action-figure persona. He got married and became widowed in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service so it’s not like there’s no room to deepen his character.
To make Bond more interesting they need to add emotional depth and mystique to his character that leaves the audience wanting to know: Who is he? Why did he do that? What’s his family history?
James Bond and Women in the Movie Octopussy
The main female character has the same name as the movie title–Octopussy. She’s a rich entrepreneur and jewelry smuggler who owns an island with an all female workforce.
It seems a common theme in Bond movies that when a woman is beautiful and powerful she’s given a derogatory sexual name. The sad message to women and girls: You might be powerful but when it comes down to it you’re nothing more than a sex object.
I thought the crude female names came from Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, but in this movie that isn’t the case. In Fleming’s short story, Octopussy and The Living Daylights, Octopussy is the name of a live pet octopus, not the name of a woman. So, it’s the Bond Franchise (producers? writers?) who named the woman Octopussy. Why?!
James Bond has sex with at least two women in his movies and this movie isn’t an exception. By the way, Roger Moore looks so uncomfortable in his kissing scenes. I feel sorry for the women.
Overall thoughts on the Movie, Octopussy
Octopussy is a basic Bond movie. Beautiful women. Action. Gadgets. Because of the title, I was expecting a sexist crude movie, but it wasn’t nearly as sexist as previous Bond movies. The most sexist thing was to name the female character Octopussy.
I’m sure there were some amazing stunts in the movie, but, sorry I can’t remember any of them. Actually, I do remember one…Bond flew a small jet through an aircraft hangar with a missile in pursuit. Instead of the missile blowing up his plane, it blew up the hangar and the bad guys in it. I guess those are the things avid Bond fans get excited about. I can’t deny, that stunt was pretty awesome.
Production & Filming Info
Filming started in August 1982 and Octopussy was released into U.S. theaters in June of 1983.
If you’d like to know why I, a non-Bond fan, am watching all 25 James Bond movies you can read about it in detail here: Who Is The Next James Bond? A Non-Bond Fan Makes Her Prediction.