I grew up in the 70's with Bond on TV as Sunday night special events. I saw a mix of Connery's outing and Moore's and preferred Moore at the time because, I think, he was contemporary. Now I much prefer Connery's outings, "From Russia With Love" in particular. I always liked Lonsdale's calm demeanor and he gets some great lines: "James Bond. You return with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season"
My childhood was something less than spectacular. I used to look forward to going to the movies and have my disbelief suspended. I am still thankful for the silliness in those old Bond movies. They made me laugh and groan.
The first time I ever saw Moonraker was on a home-recorded VHS, and the sudden and jarring cut to Bond riding across the pampas in Clint Eastwood-esque garb had me thinking that someone had accidentally taped over the back half of the film.
Great Review of Moonraker. I personally think that Moonraker is an okay bond film at best, it is one of Roger Moore's weakest bond films, and the performances from Michael Lonsdale as Hugo Drax and Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead were both pretty bad. The John Barry music score will always be the best thing about Moonraker, the opening skydiving scene was absolutely stellar, and the scene where James Bond survives the centrifuge was also very good. To this day, my favorite James Bond film belongs to 1995's GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan and GoldenEye is my absolute favorite James Bond film. GoldenEye had brilliant performances from Pierce Brosnan and Sean Bean, it had a great video game for the Nintendo 64, and GoldenEye was the film that made James Bond awesome again.
I never understood why Bond fans have such a problem with Bond going into space (and it's only Earth orbit). He's supposed to be the world's greatest hero. He stopped WWIII in the previous film and in 'Y.O.L.T.'. What's so outlandish about space? Regarding James Mason. I have the feeling that Lewis Gilbert deliberately directed Michael Lonsdale in that low key manner. Curt Jurgens' Stromberg was similarly low key, with Gilbert again the director. I don't think Mason would have played Drax differently to Lonsdale. That's fascinating about Moore and 'Day of the Jackal'. I think he would have pulled it off too.
A great analysis of why this is a bad film and a good film at the same time. And I'll say that although I have a lot of affection for Pierce Brosnan as "my Bond" from "my era", I think the Sean Connery era was the best.
I vividly remember seeing this on the ABC Sunday night movie in the early 80’s. I guess my dad noticed how much I enjoyed watching it and he slowly started to introduce me to the older Bond movies starting with Dr. No.
Working on the VFX for this must have been terrifying. Since they were rewinding and re-shooting the same film strip dozens of times, ANY mistake would ruin the shot and force them to restart. It's amazing there aren't more glitches in the big complicated scenes. But on the upside, it had some of the cleanest outer-space VFX ever made in the optical era.
Like you, my first Bond movie was LIVE AND LET DIE. So I tend to have a particular affection for the sillier Bond movies. Roger Moore certainly knew how to smirk in a friendly, jocular, and not assholey manner. It is fascinating to binge several and to note how the tone and the technology change drastically with the time, comparing the almost travelogue lingering at the exotic locales of the initial movies to the quicker pacing of the later efforts. And I have always found it amusing when people would insist on continuity with a character that has changed appearance and personality almost as often as Doctor Who.
Great review, as always, Eric. Moonraker was my 1st Bond film and 13 year old me totally ate it all up. To this day, it's still my favorite Bond film, and a lot of that is the emotional connection I have to it. Bond films are like Godzilla films for me, I like them all, some more than others, but I love them all.
I remember seeing this in the cinema when I was a young girl with my family and did enjoy it especially with Jaws falling in love but I do remember having my hands over my ears during the space battle because the screams of the men that got hit and went spinning off were very loud and terrifying to hear.
70's Bond era is such a guilty pleasure...of course the best IMHO is ''the spy who loved me'' with its great soundtrack soooo 70's looking and sounding
A often derided Bond movie and a visual marvel-Adams sets are superb from Drax's cathedral like Brazilian base and the wonderful (if illogical space station). I should add I too have that Bond Fan thing mentioned which are good, which are bad. Of course this is very much Beauty in the eye of the beholder. I always felt Moore should have hung up his Walther after FYEO. Moonraker does have more virtues than failings and a little tightening of it wouldn't have hurt. Jaws speaking undermined his character. Lois chiles looks ravishing and Michel Lonsdale suitably droll as Drax.
Nice one. Cheers. At 14 years old, this film seemed appropriate for the time. The choice was Buck Rogers or Moonraker in the cinema. Sorry Buck, beggar off and take Twiki with you, (You may leave Erin Gray behind though). Moonraker was a grand old romp, rather then a serious Cold War Spy story. Bond used to be comedy, sex and death. Chuck in a space ship and it is fun all the way.
I was a young adult at the time but sure enjoyed seeing the shuttle in both "Moonraker" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century." Definitely agree with you about leaving Twiki and Buck behind but both Pamela Hensley and Erin Gray would have made great Bond women. Also, I sure enjoyed the themes to both of the movies especially the Buck Roger one.
@@GR-pv5jx Good call, Pamela Hensley would have been better served as a Bond Girl than as an occasional baddie in Buck Rogers. Erin Gray definitely deserved much more screen time across the board. Bond could have made her a mega-star. I bought the soundtrack to Moonraker, I enjoyed it thoroughly for a time. The closing song to Buck Rogers was definitely a catchy ditty, I think you are spot-on there.
Hey this Bond flick is all the way tongue in cheek goofy fun with intent. The original source aka novel is thin. A definite popcorn, beer & pizza time... Cheers!
All the detailed references are well done and switches to related films and material are excellently connected. I think Moore was the worst Bond but I still liked your review. Great work!
Enjoyed the technical details in the review. Thanks for sharing. Bond wasn't the first superspy in space. There was our man Flint. Many of the Bond movies before Moonraker had an outer space nexis. One thing, that is used in other movies, is the incredible disappearing women. Drax's crew by design was 50% female. There were present on the station right up to a certain point. Then they are no longer there. I am partial to the Sean Connery Bond movies. I tend to give extra points to originals in movies and franchises. I have a special place for From Russia WIth Love for family reasons, and because it's the closest to a credible spy story. I give The Spy Who Loved Me the top spot for Roger Moore Bond movies.
I like the Sean Connery Bond films, aside from Diamonds are Forever. The first film I went to on my own was Man With the Golden Gun, and to this day it's my favorite of the Moore films: Christopher Lee as Scaramanga has a presence and credibility most Bond villains lack, on top of being his most credible opponent. I'm not sure how much of this came from Lee's time with the British OSS, but I would bet my next paycheck that was a considerable influence. I didn't care much for Moonraker, I'm afraid.
Moonraker(1979) is a "weak" Bond movie, but the music that John Barry composed was superb. In Ian Fleming's novel, Hugo Drax tried to blow up London with an ICBM. A plot like that was considered "dated" in 1978.
I think this movie was the only Bond film that I have seen in the theater. I saw it there for the same reason you are including it here--it looks like Sci-Fi. All of the other ones have been on TV: broadcast, cable, or DVD. I prefer Connery and Craig as Bond. Both seem to be dangerous men while Moore just seems more easy going and going through the motions.
After first seeing Lonsdale in this movie, I assumed his master plan involved creating a worldwide network to talk to everyone to put them to sleep and steal all the good stuff. This movie is a lot of fun, but it does seem like a few scenes would have been right at home in a Pink Panther film. Usually a compliment, but this time... Bond films are fairly juvenile. But this one seems moreso than most. Maybe that's why it's in such disfavor.
DON'T GET ME STARTED!! After your review I will watch it again. But, honestly, this is tripe warmed over. Lois Chiles is good to look at but has a low key, passive voice. James Mason, who should have found his way into a Bond movie, would not have saved this one. Die another Day gets terrible reviews from critics and fans, but, can't say why, It is my fave Brosnen Bond. AND "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is a great Bond movie. Lazenby is much better than his critics say. The early Bonds set the trend. Now they follow it. Bad idea that.
OHMSS didn't follow the usual Bond formula, sticking closer to the book. Its weak performance (profitable, but no overwhelmingly so) is why so many later films went back to the formula.
Drax was made for Mason. I'm with ya--Drax may be one of the most "evil" baddies (he only wanted to kill *everyone*), but he's one of the worst portrayed. Maximillan Schell woulda worked, too (see The Black Hole). While having a terrible name, Dr. Goodhead is one of the best and most underappreciated Bond "girls." And I need not go into my opinions of Bond and those that played him--you already know! I'll stand and defend For Your Eyes Only, though, when it comes to the Moore-era.
Are you going to make a Buck Rogers movie and series presentation? Buck needs a new movie making. 15 certificate with some brutal fights and use of weapons. Buck The Barbarian…..Buck goes back in time to fight muscle men and sorcerers
@@TheUnapologeticGeek good. How do you decide on the length of a production? Buck was dark in places but so happy too. If I had the money I’d buy the rights to it and clean it up with new effects. I’d then make a new trilogy of Rogers. Rogers and Flash Gordon team up to save the galaxy! Ha!
You are still the best sci-fi film reviewer out there! Keep up the good work. I really enjoy your videos
Thank you SO SO much!!
Moonraker is silly fun a guilty pleasure mostly cause I saw in theaters as a kid!
I grew up in the 70's with Bond on TV as Sunday night special events. I saw a mix of Connery's outing and Moore's and preferred Moore at the time because, I think, he was contemporary. Now I much prefer Connery's outings, "From Russia With Love" in particular. I always liked Lonsdale's calm demeanor and he gets some great lines: "James Bond. You return with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season"
I think Drax is the most evil Bond villain. He was planning to kill EVERYONE ON EARTH.
it's like pavlov's bell. If you hear mention of the War Room, you have to cut to "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"
I had no choice. I must obey the will of the id.
My childhood was something less than spectacular. I used to look forward to going to the movies and have my disbelief suspended. I am still thankful for the silliness in those old Bond movies. They made me laugh and groan.
The first time I ever saw Moonraker was on a home-recorded VHS, and the sudden and jarring cut to Bond riding across the pampas in Clint Eastwood-esque garb had me thinking that someone had accidentally taped over the back half of the film.
That is a very bizarre transition!
@@TheUnapologeticGeek It was Roger Moore's Clint Eastwood phase.
Great Review of Moonraker. I personally think that Moonraker is an okay bond film at best, it is one of Roger Moore's weakest bond films, and the performances from Michael Lonsdale as Hugo Drax and Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead were both pretty bad. The John Barry music score will always be the best thing about Moonraker, the opening skydiving scene was absolutely stellar, and the scene where James Bond survives the centrifuge was also very good.
To this day, my favorite James Bond film belongs to 1995's GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan and GoldenEye is my absolute favorite James Bond film. GoldenEye had brilliant performances from Pierce Brosnan and Sean Bean, it had a great video game for the Nintendo 64, and GoldenEye was the film that made James Bond awesome again.
I never understood why Bond fans have such a problem with Bond going into space (and it's only Earth orbit). He's supposed to be the world's greatest hero. He stopped WWIII in the previous film and in 'Y.O.L.T.'. What's so outlandish about space? Regarding James Mason. I have the feeling that Lewis Gilbert deliberately directed Michael Lonsdale in that low key manner. Curt Jurgens' Stromberg was similarly low key, with Gilbert again the director. I don't think Mason would have played Drax differently to Lonsdale. That's fascinating about Moore and 'Day of the Jackal'. I think he would have pulled it off too.
Thanks!
Thank you!! 🙏
Genre crossing! Didn't think James Bond was gonna be on this channel anytime soon!
A great analysis of why this is a bad film and a good film at the same time. And I'll say that although I have a lot of affection for Pierce Brosnan as "my Bond" from "my era", I think the Sean Connery era was the best.
I vividly remember seeing this on the ABC Sunday night movie in the early 80’s. I guess my dad noticed how much I enjoyed watching it and he slowly started to introduce me to the older Bond movies starting with Dr. No.
Working on the VFX for this must have been terrifying. Since they were rewinding and re-shooting the same film strip dozens of times, ANY mistake would ruin the shot and force them to restart. It's amazing there aren't more glitches in the big complicated scenes.
But on the upside, it had some of the cleanest outer-space VFX ever made in the optical era.
Like you, my first Bond movie was LIVE AND LET DIE. So I tend to have a particular affection for the sillier Bond movies. Roger Moore certainly knew how to smirk in a friendly, jocular, and not assholey manner.
It is fascinating to binge several and to note how the tone and the technology change drastically with the time, comparing the almost travelogue lingering at the exotic locales of the initial movies to the quicker pacing of the later efforts. And I have always found it amusing when people would insist on continuity with a character that has changed appearance and personality almost as often as Doctor Who.
Great review, as always, Eric. Moonraker was my 1st Bond film and 13 year old me totally ate it all up. To this day, it's still my favorite Bond film, and a lot of that is the emotional connection I have to it. Bond films are like Godzilla films for me, I like them all, some more than others, but I love them all.
I also have a lot of the same feelings about Godzilla that I do James Bond!
Richard Kiel is the best part of this movie and just by himself makes it highly rewatchable.
I remember seeing this in the cinema when I was a young girl with my family and did enjoy it especially with Jaws falling in love but I do remember having my hands over my ears during the space battle because the screams of the men that got hit and went spinning off were very loud and terrifying to hear.
70's Bond era is such a guilty pleasure...of course the best IMHO is ''the spy who loved me'' with its great soundtrack soooo 70's looking and sounding
A often derided Bond movie and a visual marvel-Adams sets are superb from Drax's cathedral like Brazilian base and the wonderful (if illogical space station).
I should add I too have that Bond Fan thing mentioned which are good, which are bad. Of course this is very much Beauty in the eye of the beholder.
I always felt Moore should have hung up his Walther after FYEO.
Moonraker does have more virtues than failings and a little tightening of it wouldn't have hurt. Jaws speaking undermined his character.
Lois chiles looks ravishing and Michel Lonsdale suitably droll as Drax.
Great review by the way
Moonraker one of the Best Bond movies . It had spectacular locations. It was escape for a regular person.
Nice one. Cheers. At 14 years old, this film seemed appropriate for the time. The choice was Buck Rogers or Moonraker in the cinema. Sorry Buck, beggar off and take Twiki with you, (You may leave Erin Gray behind though). Moonraker was a grand old romp, rather then a serious Cold War Spy story. Bond used to be comedy, sex and death. Chuck in a space ship and it is fun all the way.
I was a young adult at the time but sure enjoyed seeing the shuttle in both "Moonraker" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century." Definitely agree with you about leaving Twiki and Buck behind but both Pamela Hensley and Erin Gray would have made great Bond women. Also, I sure enjoyed the themes to both of the movies especially the Buck Roger one.
@@GR-pv5jx Good call, Pamela Hensley would have been better served as a Bond Girl than as an occasional baddie in Buck Rogers. Erin Gray definitely deserved much more screen time across the board. Bond could have made her a mega-star. I bought the soundtrack to Moonraker, I enjoyed it thoroughly for a time. The closing song to Buck Rogers was definitely a catchy ditty, I think you are spot-on there.
Hey this Bond flick is all the way tongue in cheek goofy fun with intent. The original source aka novel is thin. A definite popcorn, beer & pizza time... Cheers!
All the detailed references are well done and switches to related films and material are excellently connected. I think Moore was the worst Bond but I still liked your review. Great work!
This was actually my first Bond film. I was like in middle school and I knew then it was a bad movie.
Enjoyed the technical details in the review. Thanks for sharing. Bond wasn't the first superspy in space. There was our man Flint. Many of the Bond movies before Moonraker had an outer space nexis. One thing, that is used in other movies, is the incredible disappearing women. Drax's crew by design was 50% female. There were present on the station right up to a certain point. Then they are no longer there. I am partial to the Sean Connery Bond movies. I tend to give extra points to originals in movies and franchises. I have a special place for From Russia WIth Love for family reasons, and because it's the closest to a credible spy story. I give The Spy Who Loved Me the top spot for Roger Moore Bond movies.
I like the Sean Connery Bond films, aside from Diamonds are Forever. The first film I went to on my own was Man With the Golden Gun, and to this day it's my favorite of the Moore films: Christopher Lee as Scaramanga has a presence and credibility most Bond villains lack, on top of being his most credible opponent. I'm not sure how much of this came from Lee's time with the British OSS, but I would bet my next paycheck that was a considerable influence.
I didn't care much for Moonraker, I'm afraid.
Love Roger Moore but Timothy Dalton is my favourite Bond, its him i see if i read a bond novel (:
Moonraker(1979) is a "weak" Bond movie, but the music that John Barry composed was superb. In Ian Fleming's novel, Hugo Drax tried to blow up London with an ICBM. A plot like that was considered "dated" in 1978.
I remember this one - it was always the silliest Bond movie in my mind. If that's possible...😅
Great movie 😊
I think this movie was the only Bond film that I have seen in the theater. I saw it there for the same reason you are including it here--it looks like Sci-Fi. All of the other ones have been on TV: broadcast, cable, or DVD.
I prefer Connery and Craig as Bond. Both seem to be dangerous men while Moore just seems more easy going and going through the motions.
After first seeing Lonsdale in this movie, I assumed his master plan involved creating a worldwide network to talk to everyone to put them to sleep and steal all the good stuff.
This movie is a lot of fun, but it does seem like a few scenes would have been right at home in a Pink Panther film. Usually a compliment, but this time...
Bond films are fairly juvenile. But this one seems moreso than most. Maybe that's why it's in such disfavor.
DON'T GET ME STARTED!! After your review I will watch it again. But, honestly, this is tripe warmed over. Lois Chiles is good to look at but has a low key, passive voice. James Mason, who should have found his way into a Bond movie, would not have saved this one. Die another Day gets terrible reviews from critics and fans, but, can't say why, It is my fave Brosnen Bond. AND "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is a great Bond movie. Lazenby is much better than his critics say. The early Bonds set the trend. Now they follow it. Bad idea that.
OHMSS didn't follow the usual Bond formula, sticking closer to the book. Its weak performance (profitable, but no overwhelmingly so) is why so many later films went back to the formula.
Very well done as always! A decidedly silly film handled brilliantly!
Drax was made for Mason. I'm with ya--Drax may be one of the most "evil" baddies (he only wanted to kill *everyone*), but he's one of the worst portrayed. Maximillan Schell woulda worked, too (see The Black Hole). While having a terrible name, Dr. Goodhead is one of the best and most underappreciated Bond "girls." And I need not go into my opinions of Bond and those that played him--you already know! I'll stand and defend For Your Eyes Only, though, when it comes to the Moore-era.
Please do Zardoz!
Shame Mason wasn’t in this film. I don’t mind this villain but Mason would have upped the movie stakes.
a sad disappointment after the previous one which was one of my most memorable cinema experiences
Had Moonraker significantly reduced the comedy, then it would have been a much better film.
Are you going to make a Buck Rogers movie and series presentation? Buck needs a new movie making. 15 certificate with some brutal fights and use of weapons. Buck The Barbarian…..Buck goes back in time to fight muscle men and sorcerers
Buck is ABSOLUTELY on my list!
@@TheUnapologeticGeek good. How do you decide on the length of a production?
Buck was dark in places but so happy too. If I had the money I’d buy the rights to it and clean it up with new effects. I’d then make a new trilogy of Rogers. Rogers and Flash Gordon team up to save the galaxy! Ha!
great video, like always.
my favorite bond actor is daniel craig. who is your favorite one?
Probably Connery, but I do love Craig. If he had more than two movies, I might be tempted to say Dalton, though.
@@TheUnapologeticGeek ok, interesting.
That was great, too.