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Post by drystyx on Jan 19, 2021 14:47:56 GMT
This one was made during the best years of 007 films, sandwiched between what are arguably the two best. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME gets the nod as the best ever 007 film from those who have seen all the films, and FOR YOUR EYES ONLY is obviously one of the five best 007 films ever.
MOONRAKER has most of the great Bond elements. There are beautiful women, lots of action, the exotic and beautiful scenery, adventures in all the milieu of ocean, mountain, even outer space, and there is the great tongue in cheek dark comedy, along with the wit. As far as wit goes, this one has the best closing comedy line of all the 007 films. It comes from Q this time, so maybe some people don't like that it doesn't come from Bond.
So what is missing?
Not much is missing. It is a bona fide Bond film. Perhaps because it is sandwiched between the two best 007 films, and because most people do prefer Sean to Roger, there is just a reason to pick at it.
It has what still remains to this day as the best outer space battle/war on film. It has the best closing quip. It has one of the most beloved of Bond villains in Jaws. It has the ingredients, and they're put together very well.
MOONRAKER 8/10, and I rank it tied for 6th place (with Octopussy) in 007 films, behind Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only, Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice
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Post by claudius on Jan 19, 2021 15:13:32 GMT
Actually the criticism has zilch to do with Connery fanboyism or Q stealing the end. The opposition is that it is too Over the Top, seeing it as the nadir of the Bond films doing the ‘Goldfinger’ formula of Larger than life situations, science fiction, etc. There are moments of seriousness like the centrifuge scene and Drax killing his secretary, but the majority is tongue-in-cheek to the extreme. Bond fans thought this was so out of touch with the spy film source. The producers thought so too, and toned things down to FOR YOUR EYES ONLY.
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Post by politicidal on Jan 19, 2021 15:19:11 GMT
“... It has what still remains to this day as the best outer space battle/war on film.”
The nostalgia is strong with this one.
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Post by Downey on Jan 19, 2021 15:22:05 GMT
Actually the criticism has zilch to do with Connery fanboyism or Q stealing the end. The opposition is that it is too Over the Top, seeing it as the nadir of the Bond films doing the ‘Goldfinger’ formula of Larger than life situations, science fiction, etc. There are moments of seriousness like the centrifuge scene and Drax killing his secretary, but the majority is tongue-in-cheek to the extreme. Bond fans thought this was so out of touch with the spy film source. The producers thought so too, and toned things down to FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. Bond fans thinking that was too over the top when Bond films previously had volcano military bases, flying sword hats, dead women painted in gold, face swapping Blofelds, flame throwing tanks, satellite swallowing spaceships and magical voodoo gods are the dumbest in history. People new to the Bond films at least have the excuse to be cretins. |
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Post by claudius on Jan 19, 2021 15:56:09 GMT
There were criticism on those as well. This was “Enough is enough”
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Post by Salzmank on Jan 19, 2021 16:04:22 GMT
I’m utterly torn on Moonraker. I think the villain’s great, the opening’s great, the settings are great, the set pieces are great, the pace is great. Even some of the lines are better than usual in the Moores, such as “At least I shall have the pleasure of putting you out of my misery” (admittedly, of course, not one delivered by Moore himself). And yet they blast off into space and fight with pyoo-pyoo lasers, which didn’t need to happen and is laughable. And yet, then again, most of the movie is so good. For the most part I like it, all things considered, but… Gah, why’d they go for outer space? (Yes, I know, Star Wars. Rhetorical question.)
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Post by Prime etc. on Jan 19, 2021 16:06:23 GMT
I saw this at a drive-in--I remember the opening best.
Have to watch it sometime before I finally watch For Yours Only which I have yet to see beyond the opening.
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Post by Feologild Oakes on Jan 19, 2021 16:17:11 GMT
I think its an ok movie.
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Post by Downey on Jan 19, 2021 17:03:59 GMT
I’m utterly torn on Moonraker. I think the villain’s great, the opening’s great, the settings are great, the set pieces are great, the pace is great. Even some of the lines are better than usual in the Moores, such as “At least I shall have the pleasure of putting you out of my misery” (admittedly, of course, not one delivered by Moore himself). And yet they blast off into space and fight with pyoo-pyoo lasers, which didn’t need to happen and is laughable. And yet, then again, most of the movie is so good. For the most part I like it, all things considered, but… Gah, why’d they go for outer space? (Yes, I know, Star Wars. Rhetorical question.) Because space was where the villain was sending the virus bombs from genius. What good would a villain be if he sent virus bombs from space to kill himself with because he was still on earth that was the target in first place. |
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Post by Downey on Jan 19, 2021 17:08:57 GMT
There were criticism on those as well. This was “Enough is enough” And again the Bond films are about escapism too which is why they are popular. Flemishists can always jump ship to the Bourne films instead. |
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Post by Salzmank on Jan 19, 2021 17:38:16 GMT
I’m utterly torn on Moonraker. I think the villain’s great, the opening’s great, the settings are great, the set pieces are great, the pace is great. Even some of the lines are better than usual in the Moores, such as “At least I shall have the pleasure of putting you out of my misery” (admittedly, of course, not one delivered by Moore himself). And yet they blast off into space and fight with pyoo-pyoo lasers, which didn’t need to happen and is laughable. And yet, then again, most of the movie is so good. For the most part I like it, all things considered, but… Gah, why’d they go for outer space? (Yes, I know, Star Wars. Rhetorical question.) Because space was where the villain was sending the virus bombs from genius. What good would a villain be if he sent virus bombs from space to kill himself with because he was still on earth that was the target in first place. Right, as set-up in story. What I’m asking (or meant to ask) is, why did the filmmakers go for outer space?
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Post by Downey on Jan 19, 2021 17:49:49 GMT
Because space was where the villain was sending the virus bombs from genius. What good would a villain be if he sent virus bombs from space to kill himself with because he was still on earth that was the target in first place. Right, as set-up in story. What I’m asking (or meant to ask) is, why did the filmmakers go for outer space? What? I think you need to rewatch Moonraker. The villain wanted to end the world so that he could repopulate it with his super race born on his space station. Do you understand? The space station that would be protected in space because it is in space far from earth. |
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Post by claudius on Jan 19, 2021 18:03:28 GMT
The novel just had Drax build a missile to blow up London (under the cover that it would be used for English defense).
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Post by sdrew13163 on Jan 19, 2021 23:14:21 GMT
Pretty good until they get to space. Then it’s just silly. Borders on parody imo.
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Post by drystyx on Jan 20, 2021 1:10:12 GMT
Pretty good until they get to space. Then it’s just silly. Borders on parody imo. Well, we know how realistic 007 movies are.
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Post by wmcclain on Jan 20, 2021 1:56:55 GMT
Moonraker (1979), directed by Lewis Gilbert. Who hijacked a space shuttle? An evil genius needs it so he can wipe out humanity and start again with a new master race. Can we rely on James Bond to save the world? Bond #11 is the last of the 1970s. Roger Moore is, as usual, suave and uninvolved. Dumb gadgets and too many ineffectually clever ways of disposing of 007. Strained comedy and limp action, although launching the shuttle fleet is undeniably exciting. The space station battle has some impressive moments, all clouded by laser beam and zero-g video game silliness. The locations are California, Venice and Brazil, where it's always Carnival. The pre-credit bit of diving out of an airplane without a parachute was a ballsy stunt and I remember the theater audience going wild. The stuntmen had emergency chutes under their clothes, but still... The wikipedia article says the team did 88 dives to film the scene. Bond girl fatality rate: 33%. Richard Kiel's second appearance as "Jaws". John Barry score, lovely in spots. Shirley Bassey sings her third Bond theme. Available on Blu-ray. 
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Post by mrellaguru on Jan 20, 2021 2:02:31 GMT
Dolly not wearing braces is one of the big "Mandela effects." A lot of people remember her wearing braces.
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Jan 20, 2021 8:31:59 GMT
The film is solid up until the final act. Once they head off into space the whole thing comes apart and ends up feeling like a cheap 50s B-movie. Although there are shades of the ending to Star Trek: The Motion Picture to its final segment.
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Jan 20, 2021 8:42:31 GMT
I really like it. Its a lot of fun.
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Post by notoriousnobbi on Jan 20, 2021 22:37:02 GMT
It's a great example of a "guilty pleasure"
- great music score (I bought the soundtrack on vinyl 40 years ago)
- great bond girls (Corinne Cléry!)
- great sets (Ken Adam! like ... always ...)
- great moments (Hugo Drax Dobermann dogs not touching food!)
- very entertaining
... but cheesy as hell, too (Holly "Goodhead" - please ... )
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