Octopussy

British super spy James Bond (Roger Moore) investigates a fellow agent’s death, leading him to a smuggler (Maud Adams), a clown disguise, and a plot to instigate World War III.

Octopussy is the thirteenth in the long-running James Bond series of films, and the fifth for star Roger Moore. After the previous knock-out, For Your Eyes Only, this entry is quite a let down, as the pendulum has swung all the way back to over-the-top camp, making for a fun, but ultimately forgettable, film.

Cast-wise, star Roger Moore is still fine, if getting a bit long in the tooth. Supporting him, Louis Jourdan is wasted as a flat baddie, and Maud Adams fails to register as the titular jewel thief.

The script is little more than a stitched together array of set pieces, some of which work better than others, though none stands out. The movie tries to distract you by perpetually trying to one-up itself in the action department, but all it really succeeds in doing is tossing any semblance of believability out the window.

Yet, as bad as Octopussy is, it’s still a hair better than Moonraker, but only just, which makes this one necessary for Bond enthusiasts only.