Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Out of this world , 17 Jul 2007
In 1977 The Spy Who Loved Me, reinvigorated the James Bond franchise after the disappointing box-office returns for The Man with the Golden Gun. The next Bond movie was originally to be For Your Eyes Only, and indeed on the end credits of Spy Who Loved Me, it was stated that this would be the next film. However no one had anticipated the huge success of the original Star Wars, released the same summer as Spy Who Loved Me. With space and science fiction making a big comeback, Eon productions decided to instead make another unfilmed Ian Fleming novel Moonraker the next Bond movie. This was only remaining Fleming book with a space theme. Moonraker began filming in 1978, and would be competiting with numerous other space related films about to hit the cinema such as the original Star Trek film and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Although often regarded as one of Flemings best novels, the movie adaption of Moonraker would have little in common with the book. The name Drax is maintained for the main villain, but otherwise this movie is very futuristic in scope. Producer Albert R Broccoli once stated that Moonraker was based on science fact not fiction. But in fact is alongside Die Another Day, the most far fetched in the series. Space shuttles are faetured in the movie, although in reality the first launch was not until 1981. There is also a laser battle in the movie climax, which is set in outer space, with Drax's men fighting the US Military.
Whereas Spy Who Loved Me has a villain with an underwater base who wants to destroy the world and recreate in his own image, Moonraker's Drax plans to destroy the Earth as we know it from space. In essence then the plots of both films are very similar. Both also feature the henchman Jaws, and are both directed by Lewis Gilbert. John Barry returns after several years to give another music score. Roger Moore is by now, very comfortable in the role of Bond. Both girls are also memorable, although the death of one after she is mauled by dogs, is a dark sequence in an otherwise lighter Bond movie. Familar French actor Michael Lonsdale makes a great droll villain. This is one of the rare instances in which the movie scores over its predecessor, as he is much better than Stromberg.
The film can not be taken too seriously, and as with Casino Royale which followed Die Another Day, the producers elected to bring Bond right back to Earth for the next movie. The film is entertaining and this edition contains some great extras, including a commentary from Sir Roger Moore himself.
Although often regarded as one of Fleming's best Bond novels, the movie and book have little in common
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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moonraker? - more like The Spy Who Loved Me 2!, 26 Oct 2007
I'll begin with saying this has always been one of my personal favourites from the golden era of Bond movies - the 70s. This film is Roger Moore, the greatest Bond IMO, at his peak and he plays him with the same charm and wit we came to expect. However, this movie always seems to get a bad press, often named as the worst Bond ever, which I think is strange considering this is very similar in style to The Spy Who Loved Me, one of the most successful Bonds of all time. Both were directed by Lewis Gilbert, both feature the metal toothed henchman Jaws, both blend action with humour perfectly, and both have two very similar villains with a view to wiping out the human race, only difference being one has his lair in the sea and the other in space. Unfortunately this movie is panned for being a copy, but I don't believe this to be true as both films have their own unique qualities. I agree that Moonraker does appear to be far fetched in places, eg the laser battle, the gigantic space station that Drax had built, but, let's face it, far fetched is what you come to expect from most Bond films. There are some very good moments in the film. The film begins with Bond fighting for a parachute in mid air after being pushed out of a plane. There's a darker moment when Drax sends killer dogs to maul a girl to death after she gives infomation to Bond. Jaws is eventually hired to kill Bond, yet he doesn't outsmart him when he pursues Bond in a cable car, which makes way for the hilarious scene when Jaws falls in love! There's a great chase full of explosions when Bond is chased to Drax's base, a haven inhabited by beautiful women. It was a nice twist to see Jaws turn good and help Bond, and in his last scene, sharing a drink with his girlfriend, we hear him say his only ever words 'here's to us'. The effects stand up very well. Obviously everything in space was model shots, but IMO I think this looks more real than CGI which is so over used today. The score from John Barry is the best I have heard from a Bond movie. Very haunting and beautiful, and I love the familiar Bond tune played on the boat chase scene. This film doesn't take itself too seriously which is how I believe Bond films should be. Wish people would give this film a break, as it is in a different league to Die Another Day, the most stupidest and far fetched Bond ever! But if you like your Bonds more Daniel Craig like gritty thrillers, then avoid this at all costs! Hope this review has been helpful.
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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Close Encounters of the Bond Kind, 9 Oct 2007
I remember seeing Moonraker when it first came out at the cinema - as a young boy, it seemed like the best Bond ever - bigger and better than all the rest.
How times have changed.
This movie starts out on a high note - literally, as Bond is thrown out of a plane without a parachute. It is a breathtaking reminder that once there was a time when for a Bond movie, this sort of spectacular unique stunt was done for real. However, then follows the theme song - one of the most turgid and uninspired of the Bond movies, and a sign of what is to follow. From a French chateau recreated in California, to Venice and on to Brazil, the movie covers ground, and actually has Bond spying and involving in skulking around - the first time he has done that in a while in the series. But the tone falters... there are some great lighthearted moments (gondola chase), and there are some significantly dark moments (the beautiful pilot Corrine gets mauled by dogs in an extended chase scene), which do not sit well next to each other. The director could have done better - Moore actually looks even more relaxed in the role than he did in The Spy Who Loved Me, and not yet too old even as he was turning 50, and Lois Chiles plays well as an initially ice cool astronaut.
Really it does check off all the boxes for a great 70's Bond movie - the big stunt, the boat chase, the beautiful ladies, the droll monotone Michael Lonsdale playing the heavy (if only someone had given him a white Persian cat to stroke he would have been perfect...), and the return of the popular Jaws character, this time showing a softer side. Why, the whole idea of the story has been lifted from the previous film, with the bad guy seeking to destroy humanity so that a new master race can survive under the sea / in space (delete as appropriate) and repopulate.
No, it is the last act that really trips up the movie looking back on it now - the effects have been done terrifically well, for the time, especially since they were done in-house, without the aid of an effects company. It is the whole misconceived space station and subsequent laser shoot out in space. Terrific then, horribly dated now. It just seems to drag on too long to be exciting, much like other sci-fi movies of the time which were too impressed with their own special effects to use the scissors. And since when did blowing up the villains lair seem a good idea - when it was in space, and you were still on it??
Well, let's not be too churlish. It's a Bond movie, in the true escapist mould. It has terrific moments, and it still entertains.. for that I am willing to let it scrape through on 3 stars.. but be warned, for every moment that makes you cheer, there are a few moments lurking round the next plot twist to make you groan...
Ultimate Edition delivers yet again on sound, and bright sharp colours for the picture. The usual extras are here from the Special Edition, and a few more - but truth be told nothing too riveting, save perhaps for Ken Adams home movies of the production (his last Bond movie). Roger Moore also adds a talk track on the movie.
5 /10 for the movie, 9 /10 for the extras.
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