Moonraker
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Movie Reviews of Moonraker
Movie Review: Beneath the Silliness is a Quality Effort
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Movie Review: james bound with a touch of star wars
Summary: 5 Stars
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.Movie Review: A must-have for any Bond fan
Summary: 5 Stars
In my opinion there are two scenes in the slew of Bond films that transcend the usual feel and are truly mezmerising. The first is in OHMSS during the helicopter ride in the Alps, where the music and scenery make a breathtaking combination. The other occurs in Moonraker, once Bond has landed his hang glider and is following the mysterious girl through the jungle. Again the mixture of music and scenery is beautiful, only too brief.
Moonraker contains all of the key components of a likeable Bond flick. Holly and Manjuela are beautiful, the one-liners are funny, and the gadgets are there accompanied by plenty of sexual inuendo. The musical score is one of the best in the series and the locations are well varied. The cable car scene above Rio is very memorable.
The only real downfall are the extremely corny endings to several of the action sequences, namely Chen's death and nearly every encounter with Jaws. Bond films were never meant to be pseudo serious, but here they go too far and cross that fine slapstick line Bond has always been known for walking.
Movie Review: [3.5] Overdone and underwhelming
Summary: 4 Stars
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
Movie Review: one of the better bonds
Summary: 4 Stars
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."