Octopussy

Stupidity: When the saw yo-yo comes down for the third time, Bond grabs the cord to pull the wielder down off the gallery. That was, when you think about it, a patently bad idea. If the yo-yo hadn't become stuck in the desk, Bond would be collecting his fingers in his hat (note that the blades are still spinning as Bond grabs). (01:15:45)

Stupidity: Khan's backgammon games make no sense by conventional rules. He claims to have won the first game even though he has a counter on the bar. His opponent is well behind but since he hasn't borne off any pieces he should have continued to avoid losing a gammon and having to pay double stakes. In the second game Khan rolls a double six but he doesn't bear off before Bond takes his turn. (00:29:30)

StarryMessenger

Continuity mistake: At the end of the film, Bond chases Khan following the battle at Octopussy's mansion. In the short time it takes to run to a nearby plane, it turns from pitch darkness to bright sunshine.

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General Anatoly Gogol: My government categorically denies the incident ever occurred.

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Trivia: The "blink and you'll miss it" part of Smithers (Q's assistant, who triggers the powerful door-slam) is played by Jeremy Bulloch. Only worth noting because we see his face for once, as he's most famous for a part where he wears a mask - Boba Fett in the Star Wars sequels.

Jon Sandys

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Question: The opening scene shows a military base with an equestrian event taking pace, which Bond infiltrates and places a bomb in an aircraft before getting caught, then escapes with the aid of his assistant and a small jet aircraft. How was this related to the rest of the plot?

Answer: It wasn't meant to be related at all. It was just an action sequence to start off the film as Bond completes a previous assignment before a segue into the familiar 007 opening theme and a new song. I recall there were some other earlier Bond films that also used this formula. After the opening bit, the story starts as Bond meets with "M" for a new mission, then a briefing with "Q" about the latest spy gadgets. There was also the obligatory flirtatious banter between Bond and Miss Moneypenny.

raywest

I see what you mean. I'm thinking of those films where the opening scene has some link to the main plot (e.g. The Spy Who Loved Me), but Moonraker is like this one, it starts off (spectacularly) with Bond at the end of a previous assignment.

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