Moonraker
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Emily Bolton, Georges Beller, Irka Bochenko, Jean-Pierre Castaldi, Roger MooreBrand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Italian (Original Language); French (Dubbed), Unknown
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 126 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-05-22
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Movie Reviews of Moonraker
Movie Review: Don't Listen to the Critics; This is One of the BEST of the Moore Era
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Summary of Moonraker
A Boeing 747 carrying a US space shuttle on loan to the UK crashes into the Atlantic Ocean. When the British examine the wreckage they can find no trace of the spacecraft and send agent James Bond to the shuttle's manufacturers Drax Industries to investigate.System Requirements:Run Time: 122 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG UPC: 027616074041 Manufacturer No: M107406Similar DVD Movies
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