Moonraker: for all its flaws, it's actually quite fun
jonnybond78
Posts: 35MI6 Agent
Having just watched moonraker for the first time in years. It's actually quite a fun film. I've kinda always gone with the general consensus, that it pisses over Flemings literary idea of Bond. However 11 movies on, I think maybe it has its place. Surely if all the Bond films were as pure as, FRWL or OHMSS. The franchise would have died on its arse by 1979. The general public enjoyed it. See the box office. And FYEO did bring things back to earth. Hence, the great thing about Bond is the variety of movies and actors we have all had the privilege of enjoying down the years. Few got there in the end
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and I think many judge it harshly by using today's standards.
Beyond the Poseidon adventure
Star Trek: The motion picture
Concorde : airport 79
Meteor
A force of one
A good year for Sir Roger, along with MR, he had North sea hijack and
Escape to Athena. -{
Transformed into a Drax office. Which was set in Venice.
Was the office filmed in Venice or was it a room in the French château
From the start of the film? Anyone know ?
Just looking at it today I thought would they have used a room in the château
Or found an Italian location. Now I know no cheating with Bond.
On the screen.
WHAT???
Even TODAY'S films can't compare to the grandure of that epic event!
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
The new films are much better ! {:)
For some, Bond in space is a big NO! For the most part I really do enjoy it. The Moonraker's converging, the reveal of Drax's space station to John Barry's epic Flight Into Space is terrific stuff. Likewise, Drax's speech, ordering Jaws to obey him, chasing the globes into the Earth's atmosphere. For me, where it falls flat on it's face is the laser battle in space.
That's the great thing about Bond films, they are all a product of their time, I love that about them, it is one of the really endearing aspects of the franchise.
There's YOLT, MR, DAD etc or for something a bit more realistic CR, QOS
FYEO. Etc, and of course the classic films from the early 60s. -{
Even if that were true, I have little doubt that it would've been rebooted in the mid 80s by the time the public were ready for a more serious take on Bond.
And frankly, I think I'd rather see quality over quantity. I'd rather that there were fewer Bond films if it meant that they were closer to the novels.
I did not enjoy Moonraker (the film) one bit.
Activate Auxillary Power Unit.
A.P.U. Activated!
"Even in death, my magnificence is boundless....."
Ridiculous conceat on Drax's part, but irronically it is a good one liner to describe Moonraker. I love the fact I am not a Fleming purist, because it has enabled me to fully enjoy all the aspects of the Bond films. Moonraker does have its problems and it can't stretch the envelope any further. But that doesn't take away from the sense of fun it conveys.
Trek The Motion Picture is very serious, but it was a film hashed through production with a thrown together script. The Directors Cut excises all its problems barr the tone.
Rocket ships, lasers, space stations, huge sets and loads of people
In futuristic space clothes.
Definitely with you all the way here TB. Really, is there any good reason why every film has to be FRWL or CR, except for "because Fleming dammit"?
Also, Star Trek: The Motion Picture is awesome and similarly underrated, albeit for the opposite reason as MR. Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission. -{ -{
Well, TLD was originally going to be a Reboot (As in an Origin Story)
I saw MR at a very young age - and despite some bits coming being **** (Jaws in love?) it holds together as a imaginative adventure where Barry's music and Ken Adams production design all come together. Drax and Holly are like old friends.
It introduced ten year old me to Rio de Janeiro - who could have thought such a spectacular city could exist..
My favourite bits;
Stealing the shuttle in the PTS is pure Bond
Shirley Bassey back on board and singing what for me is an underrated title song
Having Jaws back (he was too good only to appear once)
Roger still looks good
Cable car fight
Nice shots around Venice
Lois Chiles
Corinne Clery
Michael Lonsdale
John Barry's score
The zero gravity and space scenes were pretty good all things considered
My worst bits;
Silly circus music with Jaws trying to fly
The direction/editing is awful in places - notably when Bond falls out of the ambulance, the next 'Western' scene is just completely out of place and doesn't fit or work at all. (Can someone please enlighten me as to why this was included in this way?) Surely they must have realised how wrong it looked in continuity etc..??)
Shameful, in your face, product placement
That bloody Gondola and pigeon! X-(
But the story is neat and well manicured, the script is polished, and the acting is superb. I am not a fan of the outlandish, but it seems to work here.
-{
Considering Derek Meddings designed the Thunderbirds and supervised the miniatures and filming of both, it IS Bond meets The Thunderbirds Pussy! Plus on of the shuttles launches from an area with palm trees. I don't think it's Moonraker 3 though.
I saw Kinsman at the weekend. It's over the top, and I loved it because the director got it right. Bond at present has become very dark, serious and theatrical. (Slightly too theatrical in places, but I expected that.) Kingsman is a modern non-Bond celebration of the excess of the Moore era. It works! It too has flaws, but it was fun. If you like TSWLM and MKR for their sense of fun, you will enjoy it.
Sidewinder, damn right! Sometimes it's dangerous to veer away from the source material, and Bond is no exception. But sometimes it just works. MKR is one of those happy accidents.
Could have done without the double taking pigeon though!
Even hiding many of the strings that worked Roger Moore.
( I am joking {:) )
It's clear that I enjoy MR more than you do, especially the first half, but it's still near the bottom of my list of Bond films.
As Dick Emmery was fond of saying, "Ooh you are AWFUL! But I like you!"
For me the odd thing is, TMWTGG and Octopussy are more down to earth films which I enjoy, yet they have gags that I find irritating far more than those in MKR. Sergent Pepper's encore and the Tennis serve routine immediately spring to mind. Maybe I just see them as more blatently for laughs than the MKR gags. The aforementioned pigeon the exception.
One thing those who hate Moonraker can take heart from I guess. Like AVATAK, DAD, and QoS, it won't happen again.