. >> reporter: author and naturalist saya montgomery believes their intelligence is almost off the chartsve them the same toys to play with that we give our children. we love to play. play one of those characteristics of higher minds. >> reporter: as if on cue -- >> there she is.r:rudy, a giant pacific octopus and one of the stars of the new england aquarium in boston, seemed to want to play with us. >> some people go ew, that's creepy. you go -- >> i say this is one of the most beautiful creatures on this planet. one of the smartest, one of the most interesting, and one of the most alien. >> reporter: in fact, they're portrayed in movies as aliens. >> that's right. and as monsters. >> reporter: yes, hollywood octopuses have torn down the golden gate bridge. they've destroyed ships. and feasted on movie stars. montgomery says it's unfair to demonize them. >> you would really have to go to outer space to come up with is. their nerves are in their armpits. they have three hearts. they have blue blood. and the grace. i mean, who has gracetgery spen countless hours here studying these other-w