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Everyone knows Roger Moore Bond films tend to stray from the dark qualities that made the original Connery films a "Must See" for Bond die-hards, but that being said, I think Octopussy is one of the best Bond films ever made, bar none. Moore's top two entries in the Bond series are this film and its immediate predecessor, For Your Eyes Only.

Unlike such wacky films as Moonraker (ironically, my first Bond film as a child) or Diamonds Are Forever (don't let critics fool you into thinking the campy era started with Moore), these films deal with more down to earth subjects, not necessarily involving the end (or re-making) of the world by some mad would-be dictator. Instead, in both this film and FYEO we get villains who kill and are a direct threat, but not nearly so over-the-top. The result is more believable drama by far and something you don't find yourself shaking your head at in disbelief.

Sure, Bond does some pretty crazy stuff, but in these two films he's mostly human, and Roger Moore is in his prime here, completely comfortable with his role, young enough to be physical and old enough to be hardened and wise. The interplay with the other characters is extremely well done, from Q to M to Miss Moneypenney to Maud Adams as the seductive Octopussy. The sets are fantastic and don't bounce around from place to place like a travelogue as well.

All in all, I highly recommend this Bond film and its predecessor, For Your Eyes Only. It proves Roger Moore had what it took to be Bond, James Bond.

Let's face it, this film had a few entertaining moments, mostly thanks to the superior talents of Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith, but 90 percent of this film is embarassingly bad. Almost every cliche and overused idea is present here, and unless you're willing to accept that Americans and ONLY Americans are capable of defeating an enemy like this (with a virus that even Windows could resist), then this is the film for you. Absolutely no effort is put forth here to show that any other country can pull its weight. It's America to the rescue. I can understand this, after a certain fashion, this movie is made in America by Americans, but still, it flies in the face of logic. The acting is hackneyed and unentertaining, except for Goldblum and Smith, who are great talents, and the entire genesis of the idea is stolen from the most overused "invasion" plots that date back to the beginning of science fiction. No, no, you'll have to do much better than this to entertain me. If you're reading this, it's because you want to read reviews. Here's mine: skip this horrible film and rent one of the good Star Treks (II, VI, First Contact) first Jurassic Park, The Empire Strikes Back, or even War Of The Worlds. And they said Star Trek V was bad.