Pros and Cons: Moonraker

Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
edited September 2015 in The James Bond Films
Moonraker was the 11th film in the series, released in 1979, and the 4th film to feature Roger Moore as James Bond. Originally, "For Your Eyes Only" was going to be the next film after the well acclaimed "The Spy Who Loved Me", but it was delayed to 1981 for Moonraker instead.

Pros:
[list=*]
[*]Richard Kiel returns as Jaws[/*]
[*]Hugo Drax as a sophisticated despotic villain[/*]
[*]Bird hunting scene, amphibious float and such[/*]
[*]Roger Moore dials up the humor and smiles[/*]
[*]Wealth of from the forests to the space station[/*]
[*]Q, Gadgets, one liners and all the signature stuff[/*]
[*]The final 3rd of the movie in outerspace is interesting[/*]
[/list]

Cons:
[list=*]
[*]Follows the Bond formula in copying TSWLM.[/*]
[*]Doesn't have much of a plot or story.[/*]
[*]Messy, meandering and full of random scenes[/*]
[*]Doesn't congeal into a believable fantasy story.[/*]
[*]Completely abandons the Moonraker novel.[/*]
[/list]

It got lots of praise in the escapist era of 70's theaters but lacks the storytelling and coherence we want today. It was a blockbuster giant, made an impact for its time. It didn't age very well, but there are still aspects of it I like. I've grown a little more fond of it recently. It may never be a great movie, but I respect the degree of ambition it had from a film-making perspective.
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Comments

  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I've always loved MR and it will always come under my List of Top Ten Bond Outings -{

    Pros -

    Amazing Soundtrack
    Amazing Locations
    Some brilliant Set Pieces

    Cons-

    Its really a Re-hash of TSWLM
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    ^ That's a good thing. I like to get as much diverse opinions as possible in these pros and cons discussion.
  • The Red KindThe Red Kind EnglandPosts: 3,119MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    Pros;
    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
    G-Force Simulator
    Cable car fight
    Nice shots around Venice
    Lois Chiles
    Corinne Clery
    Michael Lonsdale
    John Barry's score is excellent
    The zero gravity and space scenes were pretty good all things considered

    Cons;
    Silly circus music with Jaws trying to fly
    The continuity/editing is poor 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.
    Shameful, in your face, product placement
    That Gondola and pigeon!
    "Any of the opposition around..?"
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    I can't find too many things wrong with MR. It's a masterpiece and once you realize that it's over 35 years old, I have nothing but respect for it.

    Granted, Chiles' acting is very wooden the Bondola on Markus Place is silly but MR is popcorn cinema at it's best {[]
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    Shameful, in your face, product placement

    gotta pay for that zero gravity somehow lol
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Just switch off your Brain and have Fun -{ MR is classic Bond at one of it's Highest Points.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    Just switch off your Brain and have Fun

    Stop, drop, and roll. Duck and cover. Tune in and drop out. :)
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    Moonraker also started my love affair with Brazil. An affair that continued into adulthood with me visiting the country three times. It was soft focus images of the Sugarloaf and Iguacu Falls that ignited my wanderlust as a kid. The locations are used well in Moonraker – Venice looks gorgeous; and set to John Barrys lush score the feel of the film is a pleasure.
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    MR is certainly big and good looking, but it has some of the most annoying moments in Bond film history (e.g. Jaws flapping, Jaws falling in love, the pigeons, the gondola, "The Magnificent Seven" Theme). It's a great travelogue, but a bad Bond film.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    It's a Marmite Bond, you either love it or hate it.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • The Red KindThe Red Kind EnglandPosts: 3,119MI6 Agent
    I still love it and it has special memories for me as it's the first one I remember as a child :)

    James Bond, A Brilliant Henchman, A Beautiful Bond Girl, Space Shuttles, Comedy, Action. For a child it ticked so many boxes! I guess now I'm older I probably over analyse it more than I should but as others have said it should just be enjoyed to the full for everything it does right in a Bond film. It is a classic Bank Holiday Bond film! :)
    "Any of the opposition around..?"
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    I rewatched this one today. As I grew to like Moore, I liked this movie more. I also appreciate the effort it took in painting a different portrait than the other Bond films, with all sorts of atmospheres Love it or hate it, it has its own identity. It's still one of the weaker entries in my mind, but it has a lot of moments I like. It's not refined in the slightest, but it, coming off the heels of TSWLM, was really the ethos of the Moore era.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    Bumping now your old Pros and Cons threads because you are running out of ideas, Absolutely T.. err Cart?? :v
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    Do trolls get tenure after 10 years?
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    Don't know - maybe you are asking one?
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Got any of that popcorn left, AlphaOmegaSin? :D
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Indeed I do :D
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Got any of that popcorn left, AlphaOmegaSin? :D

    :)) :)) :))
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    Well if I had my film critic head on there would be a lot more cons than pros for Moonraker but ....... I just cannot bring myself to dislike this film.
    I should dislike it, after all most of my favourite Bond films are the Ian Fleming inspired serious secret agent films that I adore. Moonraker is the antithesis of this. So why should I like it - well I have a theory - As a child growing up watching Bond there are four films that stand out - LALD plus the three Lewis Gilbert films YOLT, TSWLM and of course MR, each film brilliantly entertaining. Because of the fond memories watching these films I still love them to this day. Once a Bond fan always a Bond fan. -{
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    I like how Moore is such a troll. Winking at the guards when they have him in captivity.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Well if I had my film critic head on there would be a lot more cons than pros for Moonraker but ....... I just cannot bring myself to dislike this film.

    Film critics actually like it more than they hate it: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1014217-moonraker/
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • DR NO-ahDR NO-ah AustraliaPosts: 104MI6 Agent
    It's a Marmite Bond, you either love it or hate it.

    I love Moonraker...can't stand Marmite though...
    "Mango, banana and tangerine. Sugar and ackee and cocoa bean!"
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    DR NO-ah wrote:
    It's a Marmite Bond, you either love it or hate it.

    I love Moonraker...can't stand Marmite though...

    Agree -{ .
    Everything about it is just so entertaining! (I am talking about Moonraker here not Marmite - can't stand the stuff).
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    DR NO-ah wrote:
    It's a Marmite Bond, you either love it or hate it.

    I love Moonraker...can't stand Marmite though...


    I love both :D
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    Pros:
    - Effects are good
    - Scenes in space are good
    - Pre titles sequence
    - Cable car scene
    - Drax is a great villain
    - Jaws is back
    - Set designs

    Cons:
    - Jaws is one big joke
    - Gondala scene
    - Cartoonish


    Good Bon film, fun to watch. 9/10.
    1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent
    Pros

    Drax is a great villain and he gets some great dialogue (apart from the "unloved season" line.).

    Great locations

    It's a good looking Bond film.

    Goodhead is a strong independant Bond girl and not a damsel in distress.

    Bond goes to space. It's a first for the series

    Jaws is back and i liked that he turned good.

    Amazing score from John Barry

    Cons

    Jaws is a buffoon, compared to the cold demeanour he had in the previous film.

    I'm not a fan of jump scares. I count three of them in the film

    Lois Chiles sounds as if she's reading off a script.

    The plot isn't original. It's taken from the previous film
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Jaws is a buffoon, compared to the cold demeanour he had in the previous film.

    Jaws is most certainly a buffoon in TSWLM as well. Not to the extent that he is in MR, but he does some stupid things in TSWLM like destroy the scaffolding at the temple and cause a mess to fall on him.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • eric7064eric7064 USAPosts: 343MI6 Agent
    I really love MR. It has Imo one of the better villians. It has one of the best Bond Girls. And I think it's one of Moore's best acted outings. Space does not bother me one bit. It's something different for the series that stands out.
  • blame_thatcherblame_thatcher Posts: 199MI6 Agent
    Pros:
    Great cinematography, score, production design.
    Moore's effortless charm.
    Very amusing dialogue including best double-entendre of the series.
    Michael Lonsdale's hilariously dry villainy.

    Cons:
    Difficult for many Bond fans to enjoy as it's as far from Fleming as possible.
    Corrine death scene is brilliant but completely out of sync with tone of the film.
    Poor rear projection in cable-car sequence.
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 6,030MI6 Agent
    Watched this last night for the first time in probably 20 years it was never a favourite of mine and holds a low position in my old ranking list.

    Pros:
    PTS up to the point where Jaws tries to fly.
    Boat chase

    Cons:
    Hunting scene
    Gondola sequence
    Chang fight
    Cable car
    Space laser battle
    Jaws - Dolly

    Observations: Jaws is back from TSWLM and is even more stupid than ever. The plot is similar to TSWLM swapping locations to space from under the sea.

    Conclusion:
    Whereas TSWLM was a great Bond entry in the canon MR is more like Abbot & Costello Meet James Bond. Apart from the misjudged comedy elements almost everything else is just so bland - Barry's score is insipid even if it is a great improvement on TMWTGG - the gondola sequence is embarrassing - the Chang fight is just crass - the laser battle is just the TB finale in space and less exciting. Drax is dull, when compared to the villain in the book he should have been as good as Goldfinger. What I don't understand is that after the great characterisation of Bond by Roger in TSWLM all that is rejected for a silly comedy performance hardly worthy of Carry On Spying. I can recall seeing this in the cinema and thinking this could well be the end of Bond but unbelievably it made shedloads of dosh and the mould was cast until Roger hung up his shoulder holster :# Well this is now last on my new list and I am thinking it may well stay there.

    CHB will return with my review of FYEO soon :D
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
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