Pros and Cons: Moonraker

Agent Purple · November 2015

Great performance by Rog in MR, love how he looks in the G-force simulator. He seems genuinely terrified.

heartbroken_mr_drax · November 2015

Agent Purple wrote:

Great performance by Rog in MR, love how he looks in the G-force simulator. He seems genuinely terrified.

Yeah they put straws or something in his mouth to get the rippling effect didn't they? Rog certainly knows how to carry a blockbuster!

Are you going to do your signature or have you left it like that on purpose?

Agent Purple · November 2015

I'll fill out the rankings in due time.

Willard Whyte · November 2015

Pros

Great Barry score
Great locations
Jaws
Lois Chiles, who is gorgeous
The Space Scenes
Dr Goodhead

)
Great views of Rio
Tense when getting the Orbs at the end

Cons

Agreed on the stupid circus music in the pre credits
Plastic snake Sir Roger wrestles
Homage to various other films, The Mag Seven being the prime example
I didn't like Drax or Chang

Penfold Heart · November 2015

Pros:

It looks fantastic (you can tell a lot of money was spent here)
Locations are great
Roger is on top form
Good bond girl
Great villain

Cons:

It is a bit silly here and there

Agent Purple · November 2015

Does anyone else find the space battle hilarious?

am747 · November 2015

Willard Whyte wrote:

Cons

Plastic snake Sir Roger wrestles

Sir Roger was hoping to star in more 007 films and not serve himself as food

Agent Purple · November 2015

am747 wrote:

Willard Whyte wrote:

Cons

Plastic snake Sir Roger wrestles

Sir Roger was hoping to star in more 007 films and not serve himself as food

ero

Awesome one-liner after that though:

"Well, I discovered he had a crush on me."

Penfold Heart · November 2015

Agent Purple wrote:

Does anyone else find the space battle hilarious?

Yes, it is just all over the place and I don't really know who is who or what is going on -{

Willard Whyte · November 2015

Agent Purple wrote:

Does anyone else find the space battle hilarious?

Ripping off Star Wars and the new wave sci -fi films that came out circa 77-79.

When you're a kid that battle was awesome.

Grindelwald · November 2015

I find it a bit spooky when theyre killed and just float away into space......

heartbroken_mr_drax · November 2015

BluRay Marathon!

Pros:

- Roger Moore is now really comfortable in the role, enjoying himself and acting well too. Especially the centrifuge scene.
- Cinematography is beautiful, the first really rich looking Bond film.
- The production design is incredible. Everything, from the uniforms, the sets, the models etc. are extremely well done and detailed - the budget increase is obvious. The meeting room where Bond/GH get locked into is so well made and it only appears on screen for a few minutes.
- The film is engaging from start to finish and includes some great scenes; PTS, the afternoon-tea with Drax, pheasant shooting, Corrine chase, the lab, the sexy chat with Manuella at the hotel, the lab the next day, interactions with M.
- Lois Chiles is beautiful and there are plenty of great looking women throughout. Especially Manuella ;%
- Boat-chase is fantastic - what an awesome boat!
- John Barry's soundtrack is epic.
- The special effects are nothing short of incredible. The space sequences get better as they go along too.
- The chase down of the globes is incredibly tense and well shot.
- The finale in the space-shuttle with everyone watching is a great Bond moment, you finish watching with a massive smile.
- The comedic elements, while campy, have their place and are quite funny. Such as the smoking guy, the guy falling out of the boat etc.
- The plotline is diabolical and evil.
- Concorde in Rio.
- Despite Jaws returning being a con, I do like his little romance and how he and Bond join forces :x
- "Well actually they're from the river Tiperapi" :007)
- "But I'm sure I shall"
- "Such good sport"

Cons:

- Chemistry between Bond/Goodhead isn't as strong as with XXX.
- The lift and ambulance scenes in Rio feel as if they don't need to be there, the Venice boat chase is almost like this too. At times it is slightly exhausting how many people are trying to wipe Bond and Goodhead out. Pigeon/Bondola - although my GF thinks it's awesome.
- Product placement in Rio is too overt.
- Magnificent Seven theme is wrong - having the music from Lawrence of Arabia works in TSWLM, but not in this.
- Jaws shouldn't have come back and he's too comical. The faces he pulls are too silly.

Observations:

Bond gives Corrine a look when she says goodbye after cracking into the safe, almost like a look of guilt and knowing she will be killed.
Moneypenny is starting to look quite old.

BluRay:

Clear and bright, but a little grainy. This didn't feel as impressive as some of the remasters earlier. Probably because MR is already a very good looking film I was perhaps expecting more. Some space scenes now have wires visible on the models

Overall:

I know it has its flaws, it is a little too silly at times, but I absolutely love Moonraker. From an entertainment perspective - it's funny, it's full of action, has tense moments, a great plot, and it's a true massive scale blockbuster. From a Bond perspective - the pheasant shooting, the one-upping of Drax, the "River Tiperapi", staying on mission with the nerve-gas vials, the safe gadget and lighter camera all have such a great feel to it. And from a technical perspective - I have massive admiration of the guys who made this film look as good as it does. The special effects/space scenes still make my heart race. I love how Cubby took Bond into space and gave the 60s magic back to the series for new audiences. At the time, a movie based on land probably would not have been as successful - yep, it may have kept some traditional fans happy, but...

...Moonraker makes me feel like a kid again.

Oddjoblofeldraxorin · November 2015

I love everything about Moonraker, even the clownish parts.
-I don't find Dr Goodhead's wooden demeanor to be a negative. She's a NASA astronaut/CIA agent so it makes perfect sense for her character to be very regimented and stiff. I feel it makes her seem more mature and experienced than most other Bond girls.
-I don't find the space laser battle silly at all. To me, It's actually one of the darker scenes in the film. Seeing the space commandos disappear into the blackness of space after being hit with a laser is very unsettling, especially when accompanied by that haunting but beautiful John Barry score. I feel the film would have been a little too dark if it weren't for the cartoon-like moments.

heartbroken_mr_drax · November 2015

Oddjoblofeldraxorin wrote:

I love everything about Moonraker, even the clownish parts.
-I don't find Dr Goodhead's wooden demeanor to be a negative. She's a NASA astronaut/CIA agent so it makes perfect sense for her character to be very regimented and stiff. I feel it makes her seem more mature and experienced than most other Bond girls.
-I don't find the space laser battle silly at all. To me, It's actually one of the darker scenes in the film. Seeing the space commandos disappear into the blackness of space after being hit with a laser is very unsettling, especially when accompanied by that haunting but beautiful John Barry score. I feel the film would have been a little too dark if it weren't for the cartoon-like moments.

I agree that Dr. Goodhead can get away with being a bit wooden because of what you say - however, it's more the chemistry between the two that is just slightly off - but it seems to be part of Lois Chiles' look, not giving a damn, just looking incredible.

"This evening I'm giving my address."
"Then can you think of a reason why we can't go for a drink afterwards?"
"Not immediately. But I'm sure I shall."

I don't find the laser battle silly either and I agree that it's dark and disturbing. It's also very well done like the other special effects.

My only real issue with Moonraker is there are slightly too many "people trying to kill Bond" scenes - which generally makes the gondola and ambulance scenes feel unnecessary.

Agent Purple · November 2015

The plot is the one thing that keeps me from ranking MR higher, as it's basically TSWLM in space.

I do take Drax over Stromberg though.

And I think I like Dr. Goodhead more than Agent XXX.

heartbroken_mr_drax · November 2015

Agent Purple wrote:

The plot is the one thing that keeps me from ranking MR higher, as it's basically TSWLM in space.

Watching one after the other made this all the more obvious to me, and not the fact that Stromberg/Drax are both industrialists with maniacal dreams - but the working together with the other countries' agents bothered me the most.

I guess TSWLM was such an incredible success that the formula had to be done again, with FYEO being a clear departure from it. Seems they took many cues from the GF, TB and YOLT style.

Firemass · November 2015

Agent Purple wrote:

The plot is the one thing that keeps me from ranking MR higher, as it's basically TSWLM in space.

I agree that MR is basically a remake of TSWLM, except MR is not really "in space"

The battle for the villains lair takes place on a space station instead of a super tanker. Not even close to being a Star Wars type film.

heartbroken_mr_drax · November 2015

Firemass wrote:

Agent Purple wrote:

The plot is the one thing that keeps me from ranking MR higher, as it's basically TSWLM in space.

I agree that MR is basically a remake of TSWLM, except MR is not really "in space"

The battle for the villains lair takes place on a space station instead of a super tanker. Not even close to being a Star Wars type film.

What's great about MR and something I considered when watching it last night was that the science fiction elements are present, but not in the sense it isn't believable. The nerve gas scene in the lab highlights this because the globes, the set, the concept is science fiction - but it still follows the Bond formula of just a villain doing something diabolical.

The space scenes use quite a bit of artistic licence in the sense of the size of the space station and the response of the US existing and even being so fast. Even now, none of this is possible. Despite that, the scenes to me still have plenty of realism to it and what a thrill it would've been to watch at the time.

heartbroken_mr_drax · December 2015

Moonraker has been floating around in my mind since I watched it the other day, and a few things have come to mind...

Bernard Lee's Final Film:

I believe the way M was written in Moonraker is a great sign off. The discussion between Bond and M in Venice after the MoD walks off is quite unique. M has complete faith in Bond but still has to follow his orders of sending Bond on 2 weeks leave. We see him at the end of the film, but the Venice scene to me is quite special.

Box office performance:

Yep it is impressive that Moonraker achieved the greatest box office take (without inflation) only to be passed by GE - but in comparison with TSWLM, Moonraker only made $25m more ($185m to $210m) with an extra $20m spent on the budget. What makes this all the more interesting is that United Pictures froze the budgets for the films following until LTK which was severely limited in budget.

Modern looking film:

The filming techniques, cinematography and special effects make this film feel more modern than it's surrounding Bond counterparts. Other than some 1979 style suits that Roger wears, everything else in the film doesn't look dated. It's a very good looking picture.

First Bond film with full credits at the end:

All ones before this had minor credits at the end of the film.

{[]

MooseWithFleas · December 2015

I too love the writing of M's character in this one. Great sendoff for Bernard Lee.

MR is my all time favorite at the moment so struggling to find many cons! Just such a wonderfully fun adventure ride for two hours.

Agent Purple · December 2015

It's a fun watch indeed.

Matt S · December 2015

MooseWithFleas wrote:

I too love the writing of M's character in this one. Great sendoff for Bernard Lee.

I agree. They made great use of him in Moonraker, and despite poor health he was always perfect as M. Not even in Moonraker was he turned into a joke.

am747 · December 2015

MR is a fun ride .... When you want to just sit back and enjoy, MR is hard to beat

heartbroken_mr_drax · December 2015

am747 wrote:

MR is a fun ride .... When you want to just sit back and enjoy, MR is hard to beat

{[]

Agent Purple · December 2015

There's too much love for the film here, won't anyone come in who doesn't like MR?

heartbroken_mr_drax · December 2015

Agent Purple wrote:

There's too much love for the film here, won't anyone come in who doesn't like MR?

X-(

But yeah, I'm ready to defend!

)

Loeffelholz · December 2015

Moore has some fine moments in this one---the best is in the centrifuge, IMO. I also like the fight with Chang in Venice, the PTS (until Jaws flaps his wings

), the suspense in the Venice lab, the sequence with Drax's dogs chasing down the girl in the woods, the hunting bit ("Such good sport")...and I actually didn't mind Bond going into space, actually---I always thought that the best way to end Blofeld (in #25? LOL) would be having Bond chase him across the surface of the moon in EVA suits, just when ESB had thought he'd got away from it all :v

But there is so much in MR that disturbs my sensibilities that it inevitably lands in my lowers (currently #22 of 24, behind NSNA and DAD, until SP officially pushes it down to #23): Jaws trying to 'fly'...the Bondola/double-taking pigeon...the guy on the gurney in the cigarette billboard...the really fake snake (Ed Wood would be proud)...the space station rotation magically providing gravity by magic instead of any actually centrifugal design...Jaws' love affair and toast, etc., et al. It's all fun, certainly, but at some point it crosses that fuzzy line for me to the point where cringes outweigh happy grins.

Cheers to all who love it, of course {[] It's certainly preferable to a couple of other Moore entries

...and it made loads of cash. So what do I know? -{

Oddjoblofeldraxorin · December 2015

Anyone ever read "James Bond and the Moonraker"?-the novel by the screenplay writer of the movie, Christopher Wood. It's a fun little read. I recommend to anyone who loves the movie.

am747 · December 2015

Loeffelholz wrote:

But there is so much in MR that disturbs my sensibilities that it inevitably lands in my lowers (currently #22 of 24, behind NSNA and DAD, until SP officially pushes it down to #23):

I will like to see your ranking .... may be you could re-post your ranking in "that" thread for the benefit of new members

Agent Purple · December 2015

Last I remember, Lh's Top 10 was dominated by Craigs and Connerys.

Pros and Cons: Moonraker

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