Showing posts with label robert brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label robert brown. Show all posts

Saturday, September 01, 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: Licence to Kill



Based on the short stories by Ian Fleming, Licence to Kill is the story of James Bond going rogue following an attack on his friend Felix Leiter by a drug lord. Directed by John Glen and screenplay by Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum, the film marks a departure of sorts for the Bond franchise by delving into darker territory as Bond aims for vengeance. With Timothy Dalton playing Bond for the second and final time, the film also stars Robert Davi, Talisa Soto, Carey Lowell, David Hedison, Desmond Llewelyn, Caroline Bliss, Wayne Newton, Benicio del Toro, Priscilla Barnes, and Robert Brown as M. Licence to Kill is thrilling and intense film from John Glen.

It’s the wedding day of Felix Leiter (David Hedison) as James Bond is the best man where the two decide to help out the DEA capture a drug lord named Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi). The mission turns out to be a success just in time for Leiter to be married to Della (Priscilla Barnes) as things seem to go well. Instead, Sanchez manages to escape with the help of DEA agent Ed Killifer (Everett McGill) who was bribed $2 million as Sanchez sends his henchman Dario (Benicio del Toro) to kidnap Leiter. When Bond learns of Sanchez’s escape, he goes to Leiter’s home to find Della dead and Leiter barely alive from a shark attack. He and Leiter’s friend Sharkey (Frank McRae) investigate a secret marine lab run by Milton Krest (Anthony Zerbe) where Bond confronts Killifer and kills him.

Bond’s activities gets the attention of the DEA and M who wants Bond to stop going after Sanchez only for Bond to resign and go rogue. With Sharkey’s help, Bond boards Krest’s boat to learn of a drug deal that is happening where Bond causes problems by foiling the deal and stealing five million dollars. After reading Leiter’s secret report, Bond meets a former CIA agent-pilot Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) as they team up to take Sanchez down by traveling to Isthmus with Bouvier pretending to be Bond’s secretary. The two investigate Sanchez’s banks and casino where they learn that Sanchez is making a deal after Bond hears about his from Sanchez’s girlfriend Lupe (Talisa Soto). Bond later gets help from Q (Desmond Llewelyn), who is on holiday, as they plan to do more investigating where Bond attempts to assassinate Sanchez.

Instead, the assassination is foiled by a couple of Hong Kong narcotics agents (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Diana Lee Hsu) and British agent Fallon (Christopher Neame) who wants to send Bond back to Britain. Yet, it is foiled by Sanchez’s men as Bond is taken to Sanchez’s home where he gains Sanchez’s trust by telling him what happened to the Krest deal. After getting help from Q and Bouvier to help frame Krest, Bond is able to infiltrate Sanchez’s secret base to find out how Sanchez is exporting the drugs to his rich customers. Realizing what Sanchez is going to do and profit from the drug sale, Bond has to stop him from causing trouble as he hopes to get his revenge.

The film is just simply about James Bond seeking vengeance for what happened to his longtime friend Felix Leiter by going after a drug lord as he’s forced to go rogue with very few resources. It’s a different take on the Bond formula where it’s all driven by vengeance as Bond forgoes all of his duties to his government in favor of seeking justice for his friend. Even as he has to break some rules in order to go after this ambitious drug lord that simply just wants to have a lot of money and create a powerful drug trade among international dealers. Bond would realize that things are more complicated than his vendetta when various other authorities are trying to go after Sanchez.

The screenplay’s approach to creating something different with the usual schematics of a Bond film allows the story to be more engaging but also reach into dark territory. Notably with its theme on vengeance and loyalty where the latter is often spouted upon by Sanchez. Sanchez is a very interesting villain who is willing to buy his way out of anything while wanting to profit from the drug trade. Yet, he is also ruthless if he feels betrayed and has no qualms about killing anyone. Other characters such as Pam Bouvier and Lupe Lamora are just as interesting for the way they each help Bond take down Sanchez. Notably Bouvier who is first seen talking with Leiter about Sanchez’s capture as she later meets Bond where they help each other out. While Lamora is just this abused girlfriend of Sanchez, she does manage to help Bond out by giving him information and lying for him against Krest and other Sanchez associates.

John Glen’s direction is definitely big in terms of presentation as it begins with this very expansive sequence where Bond and Leiter help the DEA capture Sanchez in the Florida Keys. Even as it would involve helicopters and Bond hooking a small plane onto that helicopter before he and Leiter jump off the helicopter to arrive to the wedding in style. With a lot of the film set in Florida and Mexico, Glen’s direction is also more aggressive in terms of the action as there’s more fights and gun battles that happen where it’s driven by Bond’s vendetta. Glen also balances it with suspense as he allows the audience to take its time to uncover Sanchez’s ideas as well as realize how complicated Bond’s plans for vengeance are. Overall, Glen crafts a very mesmerizing yet exhilarating suspense-action film.

Cinematographer Alec Mills does excellent work with the photography from the colorful shots of the Florida and Mexican exteriors to the dark interiors in Krest marine lab where Bond confronts Killifer. Editor John Grover does terrific work with the editing by creating a straightforward approach to the editing in terms of building up its suspense and flesh out the action sequences. Production designer Peter Lamont, with set decorator Michael Ford and art directors Dennis Bosher and Michael Lamont, does spectacular work with the set pieces ranging from Sanchez’s lavish home to the home base where he runs his drug lab.

Costume designer Jodie Lynn Tillen does superb work with the costumes such as the lavish dresses that Lamora and Bouvier wears to the suits the men wear. Special effects supervisor John Richardson does nice work with the special effects for the film‘s action sequences including the climatic one at Sanchez‘s home base. Sound recorder Edward Tise does wonderful work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of some of the film‘s intimate yet tense moments such as Leiter‘s torture scene. The film’s score by Michael Kamen is very good for its orchestral flourishes to play up the suspense and action as it incorporates many variations of the Bond theme. The soundtrack includes a powerful title track sung by Gladys Knight while Patti LaBelle sings the lush, closing ballad If You Ask Me To.

The casting by Janet Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Pedro Armendariz Jr. as the President of Isthmus, Wayne Newton as Sanchez’s middle man Professor Joe Butcher, Don Stroud as Sanchez’s henchman Colonel Heller, Anthony Starke as Sanchez’s financial advisor Truman-Lodge, Grand L. Bush as the DEA agent Hawkins, Frank McRae as Leiter’s friend Sharkey, Christopher Neame as British agent Fallon, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Diana Lee Hsu as undercover Hong Kong narcotic agents, and Priscilla Barnes as Leiter’s bride Della. In their last appearances as Bond regulars, Robert Brown is excellent as M while Caroline Bliss is good as Miss Moneypenny.

Anthony Zerbe is terrific as the slimy Milton Krest while Everett McGill is quite good as the DEA agent Killifer who sold Leiter out for money. In one of his early film roles, Benicio del Toro is great as the very devious Dario who is ruthless in his duties for Sanchez. David Hedison is wonderful as Bond’s longtime friend Felix Leiter while Desmond Llewelyn is superb in his role as the gadgets inventor Q who helps Bond out. Talisa Soto gives a very fine performance as Lupe Lamora who helps Bond out in giving him information while hoping that Sanchez will be stopped. Carey Lowell is brilliant as the ex-CIA agent Pam Bouvier who helps Bond out as she deals with her feelings for Bond as well as trying to ensure that things get done.

Robert Davi is fantastic as the villainous Franz Sanchez by bringing a dark sense of charm to his character as well as a brutality to the way he gets rid of his enemies and those who betrayed him. Finally, there’s Timothy Dalton in a marvelous performance as James Bond. Dalton brings a real sense of brooding intensity to a man seeking vengeance for his friend as he’s willing to be more visceral in his pursuits while trying to maintain his professionalism as a secret agent. It’s a very complex performance from Dalton as he gives Bond a dark edge that is very captivating to watch as it’s really one of the best portrayals of James Bond.

Licence to Kill is a phenomenal film from John Glen that features an outstanding performance from Timothy Dalton as James Bond. While it’s different film of sorts in terms of what is expected from Bond as it doesn’t feature a lot of humor. It is still very compelling for the way Bond is portrayed in a revenge angle to show a side of him that isn’t seen very much. Even as he has to go on his own with very little help. In the end, Licence to Kill is a mesmerizing yet fun film from John Glen.




© thevoid99 2012
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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: The Living Daylights



Based on Ian Fleming’s short story, The Living Daylights is the story of James Bond traveling all over the world to retrieve a defected Soviet general where Bond finds himself being conned in the process. Directed by John Glen and screenplay by Richard Maimbaum and Michael G. Wilson, the film marks a new shift in the Bond story as it returns to more grittier territory as it is also the first film to star Timothy Dalton as James Bond. Also starring Maryam d’Abo, Joe Don Baker, Art Malik, John Rhys-Davies, Jeroen Krabbe, Geoffrey Keen, Desmond Llewelyn, Caroline Bliss, and Robert Brown as M. The Living Daylights is a fantastic action-adventure film from John Glen.

In Bratislava, Bond aids fellow agent Saunders (Thomas Wheatley) to handle the defection of Soviet general Georgi Koskov (Jeroen Krabbe) by helping him escape to Austria. After Bond targets the assassin who is revealed the cellist Kara Miloy (Maryam d’Abo), Bond only shoots the gun as he successfully gets Koskov to Austria. Returning to London, Bond and his superiors hear Koskov’s claims about new KGB leader General Pushkin (John Rhys-Davies) reviving an old policy that targets spies including Bond. Yet, a break-in into Koskov’s secret hideout has Koskov captured as Bond is assigned to track down Pushkin and retrieve Koskov though Bond remains suspicious as he and M know Pushkin.

Bond returns to Bratislava to track down Miloy as he notices that she’s being followed by the KGB where he finds her gun in her cello trunk where he makes a discovery. After helping Miloy escape to Austria to avoid the KGB, Bond asks Saunders to figure out where Koskov bought Miloy’s cello as Bond learns that it was paid for by an arms dealer named Whitaker (Joe Don Baker). This adds more suspicions as Bond finally confronts General Pushkin in Tangiers as he would make moves to figure out what is really going on. After confessing to Miloy about what he’s really doing, Bond and Miloy are captured where they learn the truth about really happened to Koskov. With the help of a local Mujahideen leader in Kamran Shah (Art Malik), Bond would stop an illegal transaction from happening and uncover the truth about Koskov.

The film is essentially the story of James Bond trying to uncover a mysterious plot in the re-capturing of a defected Soviet general as he learns that the defection plan was really a ruse for something far more troubling. This would have Bond track down a Czech cello player, who is the girlfriend of the defected general, as she’s revealed to be a pawn in this defection plan where she would aid Bond in uncovering the truth. This plot would also involve illegal arms deals, extortion, and drug trades where Bond would eventually help the Mujahideen in defeating a group of Russians.

The screenplay succeeds in balancing both action and suspense as the screenwriters definitely wanted to do something that is a bit different as James Bond is a bit more ruthless in his pursuits. Even as he maintains an air of professionalism in his role while he’s also willing to take some risks in uncovering the truth. Helping his is Kara Miloy who is essentially this woman that’s been kept in the dark about what is happening as she would eventually become a more resourceful woman who can fight back and get things done. Then there’s General Koskov who is this ambiguous figure that makes all of these claims but there’s something about him that has Bond wondering if he’s really telling the truth. Even as Bond learns what he’s really up to as it would involve this arms dealer profiting from the Soviet-Afghan conflict.

John Glen’s direction is definitely superb for the way the film opens as it involves this training exercise that goes wrong where it would introduce Bond to do what is necessary. With the film largely shot in Vienna and Morocco, Glen does maintain a lot of straightforward shots of the locations while creating some spectacular action sequences in the Alps where it is about the stakes as Glen takes his time to capture its intensity. While there isn’t much humor in this film as it’s mostly restrained, the film’s suspense makes up for it in the way Glen builds it up and create some silent moments where Bond would play investigator to make his discoveries. Overall, Glen creates a marvelous and engaging action-suspense film that does more than what is expected in a Bond film.

Cinematographer Alec Mills does excellent work with the photography from the wonderful look of many of the film‘s locations including the nighttime scenes in Vienna to the array of lights in Bond‘s climatic confrontation with Whitaker. Editors John Grover and Peter Davies do nice work with the editing by creating lots of rhythmic cuts for the film‘s action scenes as well as more methodical ones for the film‘s suspenseful scenes. Production designer Peter Lamont, along with set decorator Michael Ford and art director Terry Ackland-Snow, does superb work with the set pieces from the home base of Whitaker to Q’s gadget room in the secret MI6 base.

Costume designer Emma Porteus does terrific work with the costumes from the dresses that Kara wears to the uniforms that Whitaker wears. Special effects supervisor John Richardson does splendid work with the visual effects in some of the film‘s action scenes. Sound recorder Derek Ball does wonderful work with the sound to capture the intensity of the action scenes as well as the atmosphere of the orchestra concert scenes. The film’s score by John Barry is brilliant for its mixture of orchestral flourishes and electronic rhythms to give the Bond themes a new sense of flair as they add to the film’s action and suspenseful moments. The soundtrack includes some classical pieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, and Alexander Borodin as well as a couple of songs by the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde as well as the wonderful mid-tempo title song by A-ha.

The casting by Debbie McWilliams is phenomenal for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Virginia Hey as General Pushkin’s mistress, Julie T. Wallace as Bond’s Bratislava contact, John Terry as Bond’s CIA friend Felix Leiter, Thomas Wheatley as Bond’s aide Saunders, and Andreas Wisniewski as the henchman Necros. There’s also some terrific performances from such Bond regulars like Desmond Llewelyn as Q, Robert Brown as M, Caroline Bliss in her first appearance as Miss Moneypenny, and in their final appearances, Geoffrey Keen as defense minister Frederick Gray and Walter Gotell as former KGB head-turned diplomat General Gogol. Art Malik is excellent as local Mujahideen leader Kamran Shah who helps Bond in Afghanistan while John Rhys-Davies is superb as new KGB head Leonid Pushkin.

Joe Don Baker is wonderful as the scheming arms dealer Whitaker who loves guns and war as he tries to engineer a plot to profit from conflict. Jeroen Krabbe is great as General Georgy Koskov who tries to create things where he makes Bond suspicious and also leave Kara in the dark over his ideas. Maryam d’Abo is very good as Kara Miloy as a woman who has been kept in the dark by her boyfriend as she aspires to play cello all over the world as she would aid Bond in his plans to stop these schemes. Finally, there’s Timothy Dalton in a marvelous performance as James Bond. Dalton brings a real sense of cool to his character as well as restrained aggression in the way he handles his situations as there’s a bit of a dark edge to Bond as Dalton really brings a fresh take on Bond.

The Living Daylights is an incredible film from John Glen that features Timothy Dalton in a top-notch performance as James Bond. The film is definitely a return of sorts to simpler, suspenseful Bond as it strays away from the silly humor of the Roger Moore period. The film is also different for giving Bond more grit as he is more fearless in his pursuits as well as giving some of the sexual interplay a bit of break in the wake of AIDS. In the end, The Living Daylights is an extraordinary film from John Glen.




© thevoid99 2012
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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: A View to a Kill



Based on Ian Fleming’s short story From a View to a Kill, A View to a Kill is about James Bond going up against a microchip industrialist who plans to destroy Silicon Valley for financial reasons. Directed by John Glen and screenplay by Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maimbaum, the film marks the seventh and final time Roger Moore played the role of Agent 007. Also starring Christopher Walken, Grace Jones, Tanya Roberts, Patrick Macnee, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, Walter Gotell, Geoffrey Keen, and Robert Brown as M. A View to a Kill is a stellar yet adventurous film from John Glen.

After recovering a microchip in Siberia, James Bond gives the chip to Q (Desmond Llewelyn) who analyzes it as he reveals that it’s a chip that can withstand electromagnetic pulse. Learning that it’s manufactured by an industrialist named Max Zorin (Christopher Walken), Bond joins M, Q, and Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) to the horse racetrack where they meet Sir Godfrey Tibbett (Patrick Macnee) where they make a discovery about Zorin’s horse. After talking to a French investigator at the Eiffel Tower, Bond comes across a mysterious assassin whom he tries to chase as he later goes to Zorin’s French estate with Tibbett pretending to be his driver. After meeting Zorin, Bond notices a beautiful young woman named Stacy Sutton (Tanya Roberts) being given a check for more than five million dollars.

Later that night, Bond and Tibbett break into Zorin’s secret lab where they learn about what Zorin and his henchman Dr. Carl Mortner (Wiloughby Gray) are injecting into the horses. When Tibbett leaves the next day to contact M, Bond goes horse riding with Zorin where things become tense as Bond’s identity was identified by Zorin’s henchwoman May Day (Grace Jones). Though Bond was able to survive Zorin’s attempt to kill him, he later re-appears in San Francisco to meet with CIA agent Chuck Lee (David Yip) who reveals to Bond some information about Zorin. After trying to uncover what Zorin is doing at an oil rig, Bond gets information from Russian agent Pola Ivanova (Fiona Fullerton) who is also going after Zorin since he used to be a KGB agent that’s gone rogue.

Bond then meets Stacy Sutton who reveals about the check Zorin gave her as she helps Bond trying to figure what Zorin is up to. Realizing his plan, Bond once again has to stop another villain from creating chaos.

The film is essentially the story of James Bond trying to stop a psychopathic industrialist from destroying Silicon Valley in order to create a monopoly in the microchip business. Yet, the villain that Bond faces is a man who isn’t just a rogue KGB agent who has grown rich on his own. He’s also a man who is the product of medical experiments performed by the Russians that had gone absolutely mad in his ambitions. It’s an interesting premise that allows Bond to do what he does to stop a madman but not everything about the screenplay works.

Some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy in its attempt to be funny while the Stacy Sutton character is badly written as she is this geologist who despises Zorin for wanting to buy her family’s business. Other issues in the screenplay involves a few ridiculous moments in which a group of police officers try to go after Bond where it feels like it belongs in another movie. Still, the screenplay does play faithfully to the formula as well as creating some interesting characters like May Day who adds some excitement to the story.

John Glen’s direction is definitely engaging for the action sequences, sprawling stunt sequences, and other adventurous moments that is created. Even in the way he builds up suspense as it is still about James Bond trying to uncover a mystery. While there’s moments in the humor that is good, some of it feels forced and off at times where it delves into very silly moments that takes away some of the action. Glen is still able to pull off the moments of thrills and knows when to slow things down in order for Bond to do his job and take his time. Even as he creates scenes to establish more information about Zorin and his plans. Overall, Glen creates a very solid though flawed film that has all of the hallmarks of what is needed in a James Bond film.

Cinematographer Alan Hume does excellent work with the film‘s photography from the colorful locations set in France, London, and San Francisco to some of the interiors set in Zorin‘s estate. Editor Peter Davies does terrific work with the editing in playing up the energy of the action scenes to more straightforward cuts for the suspense and dramatic scenes. Production designer Peter Lamont, with set decorator Crispian Sallis and art director John Fenner, does superb work with the look of Zorin‘s estate as well as the meeting room in his blimp. Costume designer Emma Porteus does wonderful work with the costumes such as the lavish clothing that May Day wears.

Special effects supervisor John Richardson does fantastic work with some of the action sequences that involves explosions and other big things. Sound editor Colin Miller does nice work with the sound from the way the sound is recorded during the oil rig scene as well as the broad mix in the film‘s action scenes. The film’s music by John Barry is very good for its orchestral-driven score from the bombastic arrangements for the action scenes to more lush-driven pieces for the romantic moments. The title song performed by Duran Duran is definitely one of the best theme songs for its mixture of new wave and orchestral bombast provided by Barry.

The casting by Debbie McWilliams is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it includes some notable small performances from Patrick Bauchau as Zorin’s henchman Scarpine, Daniel Benzali as Stacy’s boss, Fiona Fullerton as KGB agent Pola Ivanova, Dolph Lundgren as one of General Gogol’s men, Papillon Soo Hoo and Alison Doody as a couple of May Day’s assistants, David Yip as CIA agent Chuck Lee, and Wiloughby Gray as Zorin’s scientist associate Dr. Mortner. Walter Gotell is wonderful as General Gogol while Lois Maxwell is very good in her final appearance as the always charming Miss Moneypenny. Bond regulars like Geoffrey Keen as defense minister Frederick Gray, Desmond Llewelyn as Q, and Robert Brown as M are excellent as always with Llewelyn always being the standout. Patrick Macnee is terrific as Bond’s friend Sir Godfrey Tibbett who gives him access to enter Zorin’s estate and stable.

Tanya Roberts is OK as Stacy Sutton where in less chaotic moments, Roberts can give a good performance but her character is so badly written that she is nothing more than just a damsel in distress. Grace Jones is great as Zorin’s henchwoman May Day as she displays a great sense of bravado as a woman eager to kill Bond and help out Zorin in any way. Christopher Walken is phenomenal as Max Zorin by displaying a dark sense of charm to his role as well as a craziness that is restrained. Although the performance could’ve been more campy and out there, Walken does enough to make Zorin a very memorable villain.

Finally, there’s Roger Moore as James Bond where Moore displays his usual wit in the role of Bond though it’s obvious that there’s a weariness in his performance as Moore definitely looks old for the part. Still, Moore brings all of the elements that makes James Bond one of films’ great characters.

While it may be among one of the weaker films of the James Bond series, A View to a Kill is still a worthwhile film from John Glen thanks to the performances of Roger Moore, Christopher Walken, and Grace Jones. With some amazing action sequences and thrilling moments, it’s a film that has a lot of things Bond fans can enjoy. In the end, A View to a Kill is a pretty good film from John Glen.




© thevoid99 2012
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: Octopussy



Octopussy is the story of James Bond who tails a general stealing jewels from the Soviet Union that leads him to a mysterious Afghan prince who plans to aid the general to disarm Europe with nuclear weapons. Directed by John Glen and screenplay by George MacDonald Fraser, Michael G. Wilson, and Richard Maimbaum, the film is based on a short story by its creator Ian Fleming as Bond once again face off against new foes with Roger Moore playing Bond for the sixth time. Also starring Maud Adams, Louis Jourdan, Steven Berkoff, Kristina Wayborn, Douglas Wilmer, Desmond Llewelyn, Walter Gotell, Lois Maxwell, Geoffrey Keen, and Robert Brown in his first appearance as M. Octopussy is a fun and engaging film from John Glen.

After the death of agent 009 (Andy Bradford) in East Berlin after trying to capture a Faberge Egg from a circus, James Bond is asked by M to investigate the matter where Bond attends an auction over the real Egg. At the auction, an exiled Afghan prince named Kamal Khan (Louis Jourdan) wins the Egg at the auction but unaware that Bond switched the fake one and taking the real for the government as he travels to India to find out what Khan is up to. After some encounters with Khan and his bodyguard Gobinda (Kabir Bedi), Bond learns that Khan is conspiring with mad Soviet general Orlov (Steven Berkoff) who wants to expand the Soviet borders into Europe much to the dismay of his superiors including General Gogol (Walter Gotell).

After escaping Khan’s prison, Bond learns from his contact Vijay (Vijay Amritraj) about an island that only a cult of women live in where Bond meets its leader Octopussy (Maud Adams). Learning that she’s a wealthy smuggler who also likes to have other business ventures including a circus, Bond believes that Khan is trying to set her up in an upcoming deal where Orlov plans to take real diamonds as part of a ruse. Going to East Berlin, Bond sees what Orlov and Khan are up to as he decides to stop them from deactivating an atomic bomb on a U.S. air base.

The film essentially has James Bond tackling an Afghan prince and a Soviet general in a diamond smuggling operation that will help fund a disarming plan against Europe. It’s a film where Bond goes to India and Berlin to stop another attempt at World War III from happening while he meets a wealthy diamond smuggler whose association with this exiled prince has her unaware of the ruse that is around her. It’s a plot that simple but at times is hard to follow because of the actions of Khan and General Orlov where it takes a while for their plan to finally come into fruition. They’re interesting villains although the Khan character isn’t as well-defined since his motivations, other than profit, aren’t clear.

One character who is compelling is the titular character who is revealed to be this woman that wants to create a safe haven for other women while wanting to do business legally other than her usual work in diamond smuggling. She’s also a woman who can handle her business though she’s unaware that she’s being played by Khan in a smuggling operation that she thinks will go her way. It’s one of the screenplay’s highlights although at times, it is uneven in tone as it wants to be a full-on suspense film with humor. It’s just that the humor leads to moments where things feel too ridiculous at times.

John Glen’s direction is engaging from the thrilling opening prologue scene where Bond infiltrates a base as well as many of the film’s action sequences that includes a chase scene through Udaipur, India. Glen’s direction is definitely big in what is expected in terms of action and suspense scenes while he does try to keep the humor subtle. Yet, there’s moments where the humor doesn’t really work such as Bond in a clown suit and a gorilla costume to evade foes where it reaches to the level of silliness. Despite the flaws the film carries, John Glen does manage to succeed in creating a James Bond film that has all of the sense of adventure and suspense that is needed to make it thrilling enough for its audience.

Cinematographer Alan Hume does excellent work with the film‘s photography from the gorgeous nighttime shots in the Indian locations to the more colorful locations in Berlin. Editors Peter Davies and Henry Richardson does superb work with the editing by creating rhythmic cuts to many of the film‘s action sequences as well as more straightforward cuts to the film‘s dramatic and suspenseful moments. Production designer Peter Lamont, with set decorator Jack Stephens and art director John Fenner, does brilliant work with the set pieces such as the homes of Khan and Octopussy that are lavish to complement their personalities.

Costume designer Emma Porteus is terrific for the lavish wardrobe Octopussy and her group of women wear to the Indian garb some of the men wear in the Indian scenes. Special effects supervisor John Richardson does fantastic work with some of the effects created in some of the film‘s action scenes such as the opening prologue with the plane. Sound editor Colin Miller does nice work with the sound to play up the atmosphere of the Indian locations as well as the layered work in the action scenes. The film’s score by John Barry is very good for its orchestral score from the thrilling pieces to play up the action to the lush string arrangements for some of the film’s romantic moments. The original song All Time High by Barry and Tim Rice that is sung by Rita Coolidge is a fine mid-tempo song highlighted by its string arrangements and Coolidge’s calm yet soaring vocals.

The casting by Debbie McWilliams is wonderful for the ensemble cast that is created as it features some memorable small performances from Andy Bradford as Agent 009, Douglas Wilmer as a MI6 operative Bond accompanies to the auction, David and Anthony Meyer as Khan’s knife-throwing henchmen, Kabir Bedi as Khan’s bodyguard Gobinda, and Michaela Clavell as Miss Moneypenny’s assistant. Bond regulars such as Geoffrey Keen as defense minister Frederick Gray, Walter Gotell as General Gogol, and Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny are all very good while Desmond Llewelyn is excellent as usual as the inventive Q as he gets to be involved in the film’s climatic action scene. Robert Brown is terrific as M as Brown brings a very different approach to the character as a more stern version of the character. Kristina Wayborn is very good as Octopussy’s aide Magda while Vijay Amritraj is also good as Bond’s Indian contact Vijay.

Steven Berkoff is amazing as the mad General Orlov who is intent on ensuring the Soviet Union’s power by his desire to start World War III. Louis Jourdan is quite fine as Kamal Khan by displaying a sense of charm to the character although it’s a very un-memorable role in comparison to the other Bond villains of the past. Maud Adams is superb as Octopussy by displaying a sense of grace and determination to a character that just wants to do what is right for herself while being intrigued by Bond. Finally, there’s Roger Moore in a stellar performance as Agent 007 where Moore displays his sense of charm and wit to the role also proving to be very physical in dealing with foes.

While it may be one of the weaker films of the James Bond franchise, Octopussy is still a worthwhile film from John Glen featuring Roger Moore as James Bond. While it’s a flawed film due to its uneven tone, it does have a lot of the elements that makes a Bond film enjoyable to watch. In the end, Octopussy is a very good James Bond film from John Glen.



© thevoid99 2012
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