Moonraker (1979)

This was the first James Bond adventure produced after the success of Star Wars, so it jumped on the sci-fi bandwagon by combining the suave appeal of Agent 007 (once again played by Roger Moore) with enough high-tech hardware and special effects to make Luke Skywalker want to join Her Majesty's Secret Service. After the razzle-dazzle of The Spy Who Loved Me, this attempt to latch onto a trend proved to be a case of overkill, even though it brought back the steel-toothed villain Jaws (Richard Kiel) and scored a major hit at the box office. This time Bond is up against a criminal industrialist named Drax (Michel Lonsdale) who wants to control the world from his orbiting space station. In keeping with his well-groomed style, Bond thwarts this maniacal Neo-Hitler's scheme with the help of a beautiful, sleek-figured scientist (played by Lois Chiles with all the vitality of a department-store mannequin). There's a grand-scale climax involving space shuttles and ray guns, but despite the film's popular success, this is one Bond adventure that never quite gets off the launching pad. It's as if the caretakers of the James Bond franchise had forgotten that it's Bond--and not a barrage of gizmos and gadgets (including a land-worthy Venetian gondola)--that fuels the series' success. Despite Moore's passive performance (which Pauline Kael described as "like an office manager who is turning into dead wood but hanging on to collect his pension"), Moonraker had no problem attracting an appreciative audience, and there are even a few renegade Bond-philes who consider it one of their favorites. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

2.5 stars out of 4

The Bottom Line:

A pretty silly film that shamelessly tried to capitalize on the space craze set in motion by 1977's Star Wars, Moonraker features a character named "Holly Goodhead," laser fights in space, a steel-teethed villain who falls in love with a nerdy girl half his age, and a villain whose agenda is pretty much the same as the previous Bond villain, but in space not underwater--in a word, pass. December 27, 2008

Beneath the Silliness is a Quality Effort

It's hard for me to argue with people who hate Moonraker. It is the most cartoonish of all the Bond movies reaching its peak of silliness right off the bat with Jaws, returning from The Spy Who Loved Me, surviving a freefall from an airplane. The absurdity is made all the more tragic in that it follows one of, if not the most spectacular Bond opening in the entire series. Moonraker is a movie with sky high highlights and some pretty bad lowlights. The pre-credit sequence with Bond being shoved from an airplane sans parachute is thrilling and leads into the spectacular Moonraker theme sung by Shirley Bassey. This movie may have the best musical score of any of the Bond movie and that is no small feat.

Moonraker was created by some of the most talented people ever to work on the Bond films. John Barry produced the music, John Glen was the film editor and the set designs were still being created by Ken Adam. Unless you're a ravenous Bond fan like me you may have never heard of Ken Adam but his work probably has as much to do with the success of Bond as anything and Moonraker is one of his best. The locations in Moonraker also excel, in particular the French estate owned by Hugo Drax is absolutely one of the most beautiful backdrops of any of the Bond films.

The incredible music and set design are so good they take a mediocre plot and create something special. Here is an example. Late in the movie Bond is searching a river in South America in a speedboat. It's really irrelevant how he get to this point because the scripting is paper thin but the music that kicks up when Jaws and Drax's henchmen attack is perfect. Next Bond happens to stumble across Drax's lair and what a set. It looks incredible and the design of the command center is absolutely breathtaking. Even the final space battle between the space marines and Drax's men is rather goofy but the music is done so well that it works.

I fully understand if people don't like this film. It is the least serious entry in the series existing in a completely different universe than films like `From Russia with Love' and `Casino Royale' but there are moments that really make the film. When Bond staggers out of the G-Force simulator it is one of the very few moments in the Bond series where James looks really human and wounded. It is perhaps Roger Moore's best moment as Bond. I also tend to be a sucker for the crazy zillionare who wants to take over the world scenario. I'm going to give this one five full stars because I find it to be one of the most watchable of all the Bond movies. November 4, 2008

one of the better bonds

In a word: outtathisworld! Forget what the Bond "purists" say. None of the films was particularly faithful to Fleming anyhow. "Moonraker" opens with arguably the best pre-credit sequence ever and segues effortlessly from one action set piece to another. Taken on its own terms, "Moonraker" features F/X that hold up even today (well, except for the laser beams). The major flaw is that Lois Chiles Holly Goodhead never lives up to her name. That's it for my "Moonraker" review but I will return in "For Your Eyes Only." July 20, 2008

james bound with a touch of star wars

In moonraker the action packed sequel and continuation of the spy who loved me James bound must stop a mad man who has stolen moonraker a us space shuttle from wiping out all man kind with and orb filled with a leathal flower particles. The first set of with a new bad guy for the first in the film history of Bond Spector was not the villains reposible for this crime. Infact after this film none of the spector members are seen again expect for blowfield in the beginning of your eyes only. Even though he supposedly died about sixteen year prior in the climax of 1971 diamonds are forever. This is one of roger mores best. Those that loved the Spy who love me get and extra special treat. Who makes a reappearance in this film but Jaws hire as a minion of evil master mind played by Michael Lonsdale. Jaws was the only minion who survived the destruction of aquatic lair of evil mastermind Stronghold in the Spy who loved me. This was Roger More third to last aperance his last two appearance were Octopussy in 1983 and a view to a kill 1984. Can roger more stop the evil mad man from destroying all human life on earth expect for a couple dozen chosen people on his staff. Or has James bond final meet his match or will help come from an unepexcted source find out in the thrilling conclusion. If you like this I recommend these other bond films staring roger more A View to a Kill, Octopussy The spy who Loved Me, and Live and let Die. December 28, 2007

Silly, overblown and campy

This is the point where the Bond franchise took a silly turn. Obviously inspired by the phenomenal success of the sci-fi fantasy "Star Wars", James Bond was launched into space. "Moonraker" is so crammed with space hardware and overblown gadgetry that it's barely about Bond at all; the producers lost focus on the main subject, almost parodying him.
The criminal industrialist Drax is just another loony-as-a-bedbug power-mad villain cut from the same clothe as the previous Bond baddies. One of the most blase performances from a Bond villain ever.
On the plus side: The menacing, steel-toothed Jaws returns from "The Spy Who Loved Me" to liven things up as he picks up where he left off---trying to put the bite on Bond. The subplot in which the mute Jaws is softened by love & becomes an ally is campy too but ultimately touching.
"Moonraker" is entertaining popcorn fun, but beyond that, it's little more than a far-fetched "spy-in-space" opera. Roger Moore would re-bound with his following outings, but it would really take his exit from the role to get the franchise back on track. November 28, 2007

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