007/Octopussy

While not entirely abandoning the more realistic tone established in "For Your Eyes Only", successful author George MacDonald Fraser certainly takes steps back in the direction of comic strip adventure with "Octopussy".

This one actually has a more complex, labyrinthine plot than we're used to for a Bond film, taking in a renegade Russian general, a greedy Indian prince and a dubious lady smuggler for a twisted scheme to aid Russian domination of Western Europe. To fight it, Bond must journey from the auction house of Sothebys to India and the still-partitioned Germany.

It's a great thrill ride, with some superb action sequences both on the streets of India and through the hilltop roads of Germany. Louis Jourdan is fun as amoral Prince Kamal Khan, while Steven Berkoff competes for the overacting awards as bonkers Russian General Orlov.

Between these two and the ever-seductive Bond is beautiful smuggler Octopussy, played by the commanding Maud Adams in her second Bond film. It turns out that Bond may have killed her father. But will that put her off him? What do you think?

Moore is still doing well in his sixth film as Bond, and the raised eyebrow is well and truly operational here. Aerial stunts and hunts though the tiger-filled Indian jungle put him through his paces in his most challenging adventure yet, but he comes through it all with barely a wrinkle in his safari suit.

With its grasp of realpolitik and twisty, twisty plot, "Octopussy" is a terrific Bond film.