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

 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

 [3.5] Overdone and underwhelming
The first time I watched Moonraker I was honestly blown away by the large scaleness of this Bond film - keeping in tradition with the prior The Spy Who Loved Me film. The locations and variety of suspense and action was one-of-a-kind, but upon a few more viewings, I began to see where it all started to go wrong. For such a big film, this is perhaps oe of the laziest Bond films ever made. Roger Moore isn't the only one at fault here - even the Bond girl and main villain seem to be sleeping on the job.

Moore has seemed to have aged rather quickly after his first 3 Bond films, and in Moonraker, seems to be a bit sluggish to everything around him. The dry humor seems to have hit an all time low, and the charm towards the ladies feels tiresome. I get the impression Moore wasn't very interested in this film, but the script didn't really help provide very exciting lines to work with. Hugo Drax is the super-villain, and in the tradition of large-scale Bond movies, has plans for world domination. He owns all the manufacturing plants for Moonraker shuttles, and steals them to transport his perfect humans to a space station - there he plans to use the poisonous pollen of a rare orchard to wipe out human life on Earth. Unfortunately, Drax too looks terribly unexcited with his role, and is nearly unemotional with the majority of his lines. He has two notable henchmen - Chang - who does gives Bond a good fight in a glass factory (but he's no Oddjob, that's for sure) and the return of Jaws, who was still pleasing to watch, though too goofy this time around after his introduction in The Spy Who Loved Me.

What still manages to keep Moonraker a fun ride is the combinations of locations and action. The film begins with an exciting and breathtaking scene of Bond and Jaws battling it out in the sky, falling to the Earth without parachutes out - followed by the opening credits paired with the gorgeous Moonraker theme. After the credits, things start to role in California, at the Drax estate, which is absolutely marvelous - perhaps the biggest villain estate seen in all of the Bond films. Bond continues to Venice, where we see some good fights and boat chases through the Venetian canals. Then Bond travles to Rio, where some of the most spectacular arial views of the bay are shown, including a very fun cable car fight between Bond and Jaws high above the city. After Rio, Bond heads deeper into Brazil, where another boat chase occus on the Brazilian rivers, which ends in an array of waterfalls. Lastly, Bond travels to space along with Drax and Jaws (not the real space of course). The space station scene is entertaining, but feels extremely odd for Bond, and the effects and action are ok, but really extremely cheesy.

A big time Bond adventure that was wasted by uninteresting actors and script is what Moonraker comes down to. This movie is worth it just to see some fabulous scenery - some of the best ever. The whole space thing is a little ridiculous, but some may find it an enjoyable change of pace.

Acting - 3.5
Action - 4.5
Characters - 3.5
Story - 3
Overall - 3.5
November 27, 2007

 Not the best, not the worst
OK, so Moonraker isn't one of the better 007 outings, but it certainly has some good points. This was the first Bond adventure I saw in the theaters, and, for that reason alone, it has a lot of sentimental value for me. From the beginning, it seems like we know where this one is going, and it certainly walks that way, by way of an overabundance of comedic gags and one-liners, and an overly simple plot. The makers obviously took advantage of the popularity of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, as well as trying to top the sci-fi flicks of the 70's, but it captures some of the hugeness and vastness of a super-spy doin' good in outer space. It also is an example of how a Bond film captures the danger and sense of doom and villany. The chases are classics, despite the one-liners, but the flow of the film is well-paced. The space battle is not the quickest but it makes up for it in the brilliant special effects. Roger Moore is not in his best-his humor having got in the way. But he is dynamic when it comes to the ladies. Check out some of his more successful acting scenes, some which you wont see until his next, more ground-based 007 film, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. In fact, this movie is an important preview to some of the next two, dynamite epic 007's. John Barry practically saves the film and gives it the sense of danger and excitement not seen since the Connery days. Roger Moore stays on for the next, more tightly delivered two Bonds, leaving this one in the dust. The best part: The return of Jaws! October 30, 2007

 Don't Listen to the Critics; This is One of the BEST of the Moore Era
I steered clear of MOONRAKER (1979) For years because critics unanimously said it was awful. Well, in 2003 I was on a Bond kick and systematically saw most of the films (the ones I didn't see I was already well familiar with, like GOLDFINGER). Anyway, I was going through the Moore era and finally came to MOONRAKER fully expecting to see a real dog. WOW, was I wrong! MOONRAKER is thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end and one of the BEST films of Roger Moore's 7-film stint in the series.

THE PLOT: Bond investigates Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) after a space shuttle on loan to the British is stolen. Drax has a mad scheme to destroy the entire human race via nerve gas loosed from his hidden space station, starting over with what he considers perfect human specimens. The giant villainess sidekick Jaws (Richard Kiel) returns from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977) to stop Bond as 007 teams up with the beautiful Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles). The story climaxes with a spectacular space battle at the space station.

WHAT WORKS: Everything in MOONRAKER is over the top! The locations, the action, the villain's mad scheme, the humor, the seriousness, Jaws and the space-battle finale. This works fabulously because Bond films were never meant to be deep, thought-provoking pieces of art, but rather grandiose fun pieces of pure entertainment.

One thing that I demand in any Bond adventure is great globe-trotting and spectacular locations. MOONRAKER delivers in this area in spades! The film starts out with breathtaking scenes high above Napa Valley, California, as Bond engages in a thrilling sky-diving duel. From there we get France, Venice, Italy, Rio De Janeiro, the jungles of Brazil & Guatemala and the spectacular Iguazu Waterfalls, Argentina.

Lois Chiles is one of the more beautiful and competent Bond "girls." Of course her name -- "Dr. Goodhead" (yeah, right) -- is ludicrous in the tradition of Pussy Galore and Chew Mee (LOL).

Drax is a formidable, serious villain contrasted by the cartooney villainy of Jaws.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: As far as I'm concerned the film works on every level in entertaining the viewer, but -- depending on one's tastes -- some people may have one or two cavils. For instance, many criticize the goofy humor associated with Jaws. The good thing is that this humor is really funny -- you'll likely bust out laughing a number of times throughout the flick. Regardless, the picture remains an essentially serious story, albeit fantastical.

Others object to the notion of Bond in space. What's the problem? He's been all over the earth and in every ocean, why not have an adventure in space for something new? I don't get the beef. Some have criticized that MOONRAKER was trying to go "Star Wars", but this makes no sense; MOONRAKER has nothing in common with "Star Wars." It's like absurdly arguing that THUNDERBALL ripped-off "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" because it has underwater scenes (as another reviewer more eloquently pointed out). Listen, compared to MOONRAKER "Star Wars" is a kiddie space flick (and, no, I don't care how much money it's made).

Something else I'd like to point out: One of the reasons I steered clear from MOONRAKER for so many years was because I thought most of the film took place in space (sssnnnnooooorrrreee). This isn't the case at all. Bond dosn't go up in space until over an hour and a half into the story! Overall, only 23% of the film takes place in space.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Roger Moore has done more Bond films than any other actor (not including Connery's unofficial NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN). He started the role in 1973 when he was 45 and ended in 1985 at the age of 57 (!!). Regardless of his age he always looked great and perfectly convincing as 007. His films contained more humor and action than the sightly-more-serious 60's Connery films, which were fantastical and absurd in their own way (Oddball's killer hat, etc.). Many prefer the Connery era, and I certainly appreciate those films, but I find the Moore era to be the most consistently entertaining. Every one of his films was hugely successful at the box office. There's not a dud in the bunch; I don't care what anyone says. They're colorful, vibrant and full of pizzazz, unlike Pierce Brosnan's ultra-dour stint. October 5, 2007

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