55 replies to this topic

[malaysian_bond]

Moonraker would have been better.....

1.If someone who had an experience in sci-fi was in the production of the movie. I mean, Moonraker's speacial effects were so bad that it doesn't look like the movie gets any assistance from sci-fi enthusiasts. I mean you got Kubrick to help The Spy Who loved Me, so why not bring him back for Moonraker? Or even George Lucas?

2.If they replaced that mediocre Lois Chiles with a better actress. This is a sci-fi movie right? So if you need an actress to act in a sci-fi movie, atleast find a face that looks suitable in a sci-fi movie. I mean look at Carrie Fiser, she may be a good Bond girl in Moonraker and at the same time as Leia in SW.

3.If they don't add too much gadgets. I know you wanted to make a sci-fi Bond movie but atleast don't add too many gadgets. it's too overrated. And is there a Bond movie in 60's/70's that has gadgets more than Moonraker?

And finally Moonraker would have been better.....

4.If thay don't made it at all. Seriously, 70's present-day sci-fi sucked. Because it's cheesy and not technological enough during the 70's. If you want to make Moonraker, then wait for the 21st century and made Moonraker with Pierce Brosnan instead.

[Qwerty]

And finally Moonraker would have been better.....

4.If thay don't made it at all.

Well that sums it up then.

[Judo chop]

I personally didn't think the effects were that bad.
Am I wrong? For 1979 - they don't look THAT bad, do they?!

Still, that does not take away the fact they Bond has no business on the other side of the atmosphere. Many folks here are accusing EON for jumping on the Bourne and Batman Begins bandwagon with the gritty CR reboot idea, but truth is, this first occured with Moonraker. (And MR maybe wasn't even the first - probably the most obvious though.)

So, my response is:

1. Get Bond on the frickin' ground. The effects were fine - the idea is bad.
2. Make Jaws at least partially human and lose the love interest.

That would do it for me. Other than those irritiable tidbits, I rank MR pretty darn close to TSWLM. (which is a good thing)

[Mr_Wint]

1. I think the film looks impressive even to this day. Far more visual stunning than anything in DAD or TWINE. Please give some exampels of bad special effects so we now what you mean.

2. I dont see anything wrong with Lois Chiles. Seriously, what makes the actress Carrie Fiser more suitable for a sci-fiction film? Your opinions are obviously inspired by Star Wars.

3. Agree.

4. Lewis Gilbert is the only one who could create this over-the-top and multi-big Bondfilms and get away with it (altough MR is the least successful of his three films). In the hands of, say, Tamahori, all you would get is... technology.

[Bondian]

Unfortunately, I do noy agree with any of your views on Moonraker, malaysian_bond.

[Qwerty]

Moonraker is perhaps the most underrated James Bond film in the series. Often cited as being too humourous, too "out of this world", filled with too much fantasy and other things like so, I think this is without a doubt one of the best James Bond films in the entire canon.

This is Roger Moore as James Bond. He looks the part and acts well alongside Bond girl Lois Chiles and villain Michael Lonsdale. While there is alot of comedy in this film compared to some of the others, it doesn't detract from the story or film itself much at all.

Hugo Drax has, perhaps, the very best lines of any character in any James Bond film, thanks to some sharp writing by Christopher Wood:

"Look after Mr. Bond, see that some harm comes to him."

"Observe Mr. Bond, your route from this world to the next."

"You're not a sportsman Mr. Bond, why did you break off the encounter with my pet python?"

"Mr. Bond, you appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season."

...and many more. He is an excellent villain who has a quiet menace about him. One of the very best in the series.

Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead is also sorely underrated. She's an intelligent Bond girl who doesn't immediately fall for Bond's charm, making her very interesting as the film progresses. The scene between Bond and herself in the hotel room is excellent.

The action sequence between Chang and Bond in the glass museum is also rather amusing.

Moving on, we come to John Barry's score. The best, quite simply. Melodic cues in the space scenes, a terrific '007' Theme appearance, a strong theme on the whole running through the film and simply terrific on all fronts. It's a shame it is not better represented on the official soundtrack.

Shirley Bassey's title song is also my personal favorite of the bunch by far. Whether it's the main theme of the disco end-title, it never ceases to be the best. Furthermore, it's also matched with my favorite main-title sequence designed by master Maurice Binder in the film. The deep blue backdrops and acrobat women flying throughout are perfect.

Moonraker seems to have become regarded in a higher fashion lately, and I hope more fans come to enjoy it for the outstanding Bond adventure it is.

[Bondian]

Now. That's the kind of posts we all like to see. Informative, well written and honest.

Thanks for that Dev, my friend.

Drax "Why did you break off your encounter with my pet python?".

Bond "I discovered that he had a crush on me!".

[Judo chop]

Moonraker is perhaps the most underrated James Bond film in the series. Often cited as being too humourous, too "out of this world", filled with too much fantasy and other things like so, I think this is without a doubt one of the best James Bond films in the entire canon.

This is Roger Moore as James Bond. He looks the part and acts well alongside Bond girl Lois Chiles and villain Michael Lonsdale. While there is alot of comedy in this film compared to some of the others, it doesn't detract from the story or film itself much at all.

Hugo Drax has, perhaps, the very best lines of any character in any James Bond film, thanks to some sharp writing by Christopher Wood:

"Look after Mr. Bond, see that some harm comes to him."

"Observe Mr. Bond, your route from this world to the next."

"You're not a sportsman Mr. Bond, why did you break off the encounter with my pet python?"

"Mr. Bond, you appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season."

...and many more. He is an excellent villain who has a quiet menace about him. One of the very best in the series.

Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead is also sorely underrated. She's an intelligent Bond girl who doesn't immediately fall for Bond's charm, making her very interesting as the film progresses. The scene between Bond and herself in the hotel room is excellent.

The action sequence between Chang and Bond in the glass museum is also rather amusing.

Moving on, we come to John Barry's score. The best, quite simply. Melodic cues in the space scenes, a terrific '007' Theme appearance, a strong theme on the whole running through the film and simply terrific on all fronts. It's a shame it is not better represented on the official soundtrack.

Shirley Bassey's title song is also my personal favorite of the bunch by far. Whether it's the main theme of the disco end-title, it never ceases to be the best. Furthermore, it's also matched with my favorite main-title sequence designed by master Maurice Binder in the film. The deep blue backdrops and acrobat women flying throughout are perfect.

Moonraker seems to have become regarded in a higher fashion lately, and I hope more fans come to enjoy it for the outstanding Bond adventure it is.

Somebody hit a nerve with the Q-man! I don't remember the last time I saw more than 5 words out of him. (During my legendary tenure at CBN. )

[Bond Bug]

Moonraker would have been better:

If they hadn't put Bond (and others) in a bright yellow space suit.

If they didn't have the silly Bondola/hovercraft scene.

If Jaws was more realistic instead of comic strip: the silly cable car scene lacked any credibility.

[PierceConneryMoore]

Moonraker is so underrated, only 2nd next to the criminally underrated DAD. Sure, it's sillier than most Bond adventures but that's all right. The special effects are actually very good for it's time & still good for today. Lois Chiles is also very good. She's tough, she's smart & I think she's the sexiest Bond girl ever, but that's just me. Everything else about it is pretty good.

[triviachamp]

1. If Gilbert had instructed Lonsdale to use more intonation in his voice.

2. Eliminated the Bondola

3. Got rid of Jaws.

4. Make it less of a Star Wars Ripoff (Take that "CR is a ripoff of Bourne!" )

5. "Science Fact"

6. More background on Drax, rather than "He's the bad guy, so there!"

Edited by triviachamp, 21 December 2005 - 08:07 PM.

[double-O-Durg]

We have seen it before and we are seeing it again. The Bond films taking a look at the current crop of films and trying to imitate them (live and let die was blaxploitation, MR = Star Wars) and dumping the source novel.

Moonraker is one of Fleming's better books, why couldnt they have done a straight adaption of the book and dump the 007 in space thing they had going on??

[Qwerty]

An interesting CBn Story to check out.

[Mr Malcolm]

An interesting CBn Story to check out.

Interesting article. I like MR, and have to say that I'm not opposed to Bond films being influenced by other genres or trends per se. As long as they don't go overboard with it, I think it makes for more variety.

[Mister Asterix]

Unfortunately, I do noy agree with any of your views on Moonraker, malaysian_bond. 

[mra]Really? I find it fortunate that I don

[Blue07]

Lois Chiles = Lovely!

[Bond Bug]

I don't think the movie was too far fetched.

As Moore said at the time, they were badly let down by the space shuttle program that was delayed by years.

Don't forget how quick the space race was moving. It was only 10 years before Moonraker that man landed on the moon and it was only 8 years before that, that a man was sent into space. It was quite feasable at that time that advances would continue at such a pace and space stations would be built and there would be private enterprise involved in space missions.

Bond has always been ahead of its time and with the success of Star Wars, who can blame the producers for using a space theme?

[MarcAngeDraco]

... if they had left Jaws out of it.

[dunmall]

the special effects were crap?????? the movie was nominated for an oscar!!
The effects were by the late great dereck meddings, the man who Stanley Kubrick asked to do the model work on 2001 after seeing his effects work on Thunderbirds! (The TV series' producer Sylvia Anderson denied the request) Medding's also went onto win an Oscar for work on Superman. (No Sci Fi back ground?)

Kubrick only helped Ken Adam in lighting the Lepuris set as a favour to Adam as they were close friends and associates.

[Bond Bug]

I haven't seen Moonraker for a while, but are these images from Moonraker?

http://www.sonoran-s...m/columbia.html

[K1Bond007]

If..

1. They had done a proper adaptation of the novel.
2. They had less gags.
3. They didn't bring back Jaws. He was cool in TSWLM, but in Moonraker he was a complete joke. At this point, just remove him.

[K1Bond007]

I haven't seen Moonraker for a while, but are these images from Moonraker?

http://www.sonoran-s...m/columbia.html

No, thats Armageddon or something...

Edited by K1Bond007, 22 December 2005 - 01:56 AM.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Moonraker is my favourite Moore Bond film after The Spy Who Loved Me.

I wouldn't change a thing.

[Turn]

Moonraker

I dug it in '79 when it was new, I still dig it 2005. It may be of a certain time period, but I have more fun with it than anything Eon has done in the last decade.

[Bondian]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' date='21 December 2005 - 22:12'][quote name='Bondian' date='21 December 2005 - 11:37']Unfortunately, I do noy agree with any of your views on Moonraker, malaysian_bond.

[David Schofield]

The blue-print for making Moonraker a classic Bond - and not the camp, Star Wars rip-off it became - exists. It is Christopher Wood's novelisation of his script. The bulk of the stupidity goes, Jaws role is cut down.

Follow that script, get rid of Roger - having a lead who plainly gives the impression that the whole situation is ludicrous destroys ANY tension: yes, Rog, we know its fantastic but go a long with it - this guy Drax is threatening the human race with armagedon. In fact, Dalton-style straight playing by the lead against the sci-fi background - Jesus, the guys really going to destroy the world if I don't stop in AND I'm in a space shuttle I can't fly heading to a space station in orbit! - would have balanced it nicely.

In fact, just get Dalton and film the Wood book.

[Streetworker]

Moonraker is perhaps the most underrated James Bond film in the series. Often cited as being too humourous, too "out of this world", filled with too much fantasy and other things like so, I think this is without a doubt one of the best James Bond films in the entire canon.

This is Roger Moore as James Bond. He looks the part and acts well alongside Bond girl Lois Chiles and villain Michael Lonsdale. While there is alot of comedy in this film compared to some of the others, it doesn't detract from the story or film itself much at all.

Hugo Drax has, perhaps, the very best lines of any character in any James Bond film, thanks to some sharp writing by Christopher Wood:

"Look after Mr. Bond, see that some harm comes to him."

"Observe Mr. Bond, your route from this world to the next."

"You're not a sportsman Mr. Bond, why did you break off the encounter with my pet python?"

"Mr. Bond, you appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season."

...and many more. He is an excellent villain who has a quiet menace about him. One of the very best in the series.

Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead is also sorely underrated. She's an intelligent Bond girl who doesn't immediately fall for Bond's charm, making her very interesting as the film progresses. The scene between Bond and herself in the hotel room is excellent.

The action sequence between Chang and Bond in the glass museum is also rather amusing.

Moving on, we come to John Barry's score. The best, quite simply. Melodic cues in the space scenes, a terrific '007' Theme appearance, a strong theme on the whole running through the film and simply terrific on all fronts. It's a shame it is not better represented on the official soundtrack.

Shirley Bassey's title song is also my personal favorite of the bunch by far. Whether it's the main theme of the disco end-title, it never ceases to be the best. Furthermore, it's also matched with my favorite main-title sequence designed by master Maurice Binder in the film. The deep blue backdrops and acrobat women flying throughout are perfect.

Moonraker seems to have become regarded in a higher fashion lately, and I hope more fans come to enjoy it for the outstanding Bond adventure it is.

I wholeheartedly endorse what you've written. Yes, there are parts of Moonraker that are overblown, too comedic and occasionally utterly ridiculous; but the whole package is a treat and I just love the way Roger Moore looks in the movie. For years, I used to believe that buried beneath Moonraker's silliness was a great Bond movie. But now, I don't even mind the silliness.

And the charge about Moonraker's supposedly "poor" special effects is absurd. The producers consulted closely with NASA during the making of the film, so to suggest the effects would have been better if they'd used people who knew about science fiction borders on the idiotic.

Edited by Streetworker, 22 December 2005 - 01:05 PM.

[james st.john smythe]

i think moonraker is mint

[Blue07]

i think moonraker is mint

[Qwerty]

Lois Chiles = Lovely!

One of the most underrated Bond girls in the entire series by far. I think she works great against Moore's Bond.