137 replies to this topic

[Professor Pi]

Corrine Clery.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

Corrine Clery.

Haha! Agreed!

In all seriousness, I really don't have too many problems with Moonraker. It has an excellent pre-titles sequence, an interesting plot, an enigmatic villain in Hugo Drax and a really thrilling fight between Bond and Chang in the glass museum.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Was there anything good about Moonraker?

No, nothing; I just watched it for the first time earlier this week, and it's terribly limp and episodic.

[kronsteens shin]

Moonraker wins over TSWLM in one very important respect. When I got my Lotus Esprit toy, it stubbornly refused to stay in 'dry land' mode - the fins etc were always unfolding. That never happened with the Moonraker shuttle model...! Important stuff to a ten year old!

No, Moonraker's an okay film which just hasn't aged as well as some of the others...

[Safari Suit]

Was there anything good about Moonraker?

No, nothing; I just watched it for the first time earlier this week, and it's terribly limp and episodic.

The first time? Wasn't this on your "Worst of 007" list way back when?

You seem to have a tendancy to either completely love or loathe things. Nothing wrong with that, just something I noticed.

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

Shirley Bassey's theme song.
Nothing else.

[Double-Oh Agent]

The pre-titles sequence, Bond's centrifuge experience, Corinne being chased by Drax's Dobermans, Bond's fight with Chang, many great lines spoken by Drax, the return (for the last time ) of the 007 Theme, and Bond's attempt at re-entry.

[Safari Suit]

It's funny seeing people who watch the film drop their monocles in their cognacs.

I kid, I kid.

[Professor Pi]

The pre-titles sequence, Bond's centrifuge experience, Corinne being chased by Drax's Dobermans, Bond's fight with Chang, many great lines spoken by Drax, the return (for the last time ) of the 007 Theme, and Bond's attempt at re-entry.

I'm glad someone else notices Drax's lines. He has the best of any villain, almost foreshadowing Dr. Evil two decades ahead. Among my favorites:

"You defy my attempts to plan an amusing death for you."

"Your own private mausoleum. Even in death my munificence is boundless."

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

"Oh! Well, if we could get him of course." on a replacement thug for Chang.

And to M, the Foreign Secretary, and Bond as they walk into what used to be a lab all wearing gas masks,
"You'll forgive me, gentlemen, but not being British, I sometimes find your sense of humor difficult to follow."

[Mr. Blofeld]

Was there anything good about Moonraker?

No, nothing; I just watched it for the first time earlier this week, and it's terribly limp and episodic.

The first time? Wasn't this on your "Worst of 007" list way back when?

You seem to have a tendancy to either completely love or loathe things. Nothing wrong with that, just something I noticed.

When I got my James Bond DVD boxset, I made a vow to not watch any of the crappy Bond films on DVD; this has partially been broken with my watching of TMWTGG, Moonraker, and AVTAK, all of which were terrible.

Tonight, my marathon continues with YOLT and DAF. Let's hope I come out of this alive...

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

Tonight, my marathon continues with YOLT and DAF. Let's hope I come out of this alive...

Good luck with DAF Mr. Blofeld...

[Professor Pi]

Was there anything good about Moonraker?

No, nothing; I just watched it for the first time earlier this week, and it's terribly limp and episodic.

The first time? Wasn't this on your "Worst of 007" list way back when?

You seem to have a tendancy to either completely love or loathe things. Nothing wrong with that, just something I noticed.

When I got my James Bond DVD boxset, I made a vow to not watch any of the crappy Bond films on DVD; this has partially been broken with my watching of TMWTGG, Moonraker, and AVTAK, all of which were terrible.

Tonight, my marathon continues with YOLT and DAF. Let's hope I come out of this alive...

I suppose the bottom of the Connery barrel is better than the bottom of the Moore barrel. Good luck!

[Mr. Blofeld]

Was there anything good about Moonraker?

No, nothing; I just watched it for the first time earlier this week, and it's terribly limp and episodic.

The first time? Wasn't this on your "Worst of 007" list way back when?

You seem to have a tendancy to either completely love or loathe things. Nothing wrong with that, just something I noticed.

When I got my James Bond DVD boxset, I made a vow to not watch any of the crappy Bond films on DVD; this has partially been broken with my watching of TMWTGG, Moonraker, and AVTAK, all of which were terrible.

Tonight, my marathon continues with YOLT and DAF. Let's hope I come out of this alive...

I suppose the bottom of the Connery barrel is better than the bottom of the Moore barrel. Good luck!

Not by much; the last time I watched YOLT was three years ago, shortly after I became hooked on Bond with Casino Royale. Since it was the one with the volcano, I reckoned, it'd be a good place to start; boy, was I in for a big surprise...

Tonight, my marathon continues with YOLT and DAF. Let's hope I come out of this alive...

Good luck with DAF Mr. Blofeld...

I've watched it before, but never as a "one-two punch" accompanying YOLT; hopefully, I'm not completely psychologically scarred by this...

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

I've watched it before, but never as a "one-two punch" accompanying YOLT; hopefully, I'm not completely psychologically scarred by this...

Too late for me...

[Vanish]

Things I liked about Moonraker:

- John Barry's lush, atmospheric score.
- Locations
- Michael Lonsdale as Hugo Drax, the drollest Bond villain ever.

[Safari Suit]

They're just films you wimps. Sheesh, don't ever cross the street or do anything that might really scar you.

Obligatory wink=

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

They're just films you wimps. Sheesh, don't ever cross the street or do anything that might really scar you.

Obligatory wink=

I sort of felt scarred after watching DAF, TMWTGG, MR, AVTAK, and DAD

Kidding!

[Mr. Blofeld]

I crawled into a corner and wept after watching AVTAK.

[golrush007]

I like Moonraker a lot - although to a certain degree it is for nostalgic reasons as it was the first Bond movie I saw. About 11/12 years ago my dad rented the video and it hooked me within the space of the PTS. It had great stunts, the Bond theme music, and the character of Jaws captured my ten year old imagination.

Over the years I have come to realise its faults, but in my opinion it is still full of plus points, and although it is not a popular opinion, I prefer it to TSWLM.

As mentioned, the pre-title sequence is a great one, second only to TSWLM in my opinion for a spectacular, gasp inducing opening.

Another point mentioned numerous times already is John Barry's classy music score. I'm not a huge fan of the title song though.

I think Michael Lonsdale plays a great Drax, even though it is very different to the Drax in the novel, but then again, the film borrows very little from the novel.

I'm not a fan of the concept of Bond in space, but I felt that Derek Medding's special effects in those scenes was very good, given his lack of access to advanced technology to make those scenes. I read in an earlier post that a member felt that they paled in comparison to 2001: A Space Odyssey. I haven't seen the whole of 2001, but what I have seen is only marginally better than MR, if better than all, in my opinion.

I still enjoy Jaws, even though admittedly he is a better, more menacing character in TSWLM. I also thought that Holly Goodhead was a good character, and I personally find Lois Chiles one of the most attractive leading ladies.

The locations are good, I enjoyed the scenes at Drax's chateau, and also the Venice scenes. I'm a sucker for Venice scenes as I have a great affection for that city.

Finally, the death of Corinne is a beautifully done sequence, the cinematography, editing and music all work beautifully together.

These are just some of the things that I like about MR. I'm sure that I could find just as many things that I dislike, but that's for another thread. Overall, MR fits into my Bond ranking at number 12 out of the 22 films. If a Bond film is just meant to be good fun, the MR delivers, and this is what attracted me to the series in the first place, so a big thank you to MR!!

Edited by golrush007, 11 January 2009 - 05:44 AM.

[Safari Suit]

I crawled into a corner and wept after watching AVTAK.

Me too. I was 18 months old at the time.

[Scottlee]

"Oh! Well, if we could get him of course." on a replacement thug for Chang.

I've always wondered how it is Drax knows who Jaws is. Judging by the way he reacts on the phone you'd think Jaws had popped up on some kind of free transfer list for goons website, kind of like a top class footballer who has found himself between clubs.

[laseredbydiana]

Love moonraker - whats not good about Lois Chiles in a spacesuit? she can laser me anytime!

[Cruiserweight]

Everything's good about Moonraker.
It delivers what it promised.
Like i said elsewhere going into Moonraker they didn't promise us a hard edged serious Bond like TLD or CR. They promised us a fun big time blockbuster & that's what we got.

[DaveBond21]

Since this thread was started in 2003, opinions have changed about Moonraker. Back then, you didn't see much praise for the film, but these days there is a lot of love for this one.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Yes, many things, IMO.

The teaser, Roger Moore's superb acting, and many hilarious action sequences. I think Moonraker is not a film one can bash. It's not as serious or dramatic as Casino Royale, Licence to Kill or On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, for sure, but it provides a great entertainment.

[SecretAgentFan]

It´s interesting to see what younger viewers make of the old films. If someone sees Craig´s CR as his/her first Bond film, I can fully understand that MR feels strange, shallow, silly.

Personally, my first Bond film was TSWLM. After that I was lucky to catch all the previous Bond films in the cinema. In those days (late 70´s, early 80´s) Bond was not shown on TV or was available as VHS. Instead cinemas showed Bond festivals: every week another Bond film. What a great way to be introduced to the series.

Since "Dr.No" was only 15 years old at that time it did not feel that dated to me. So I could enjoy all earliers Bonds without getting the feeling I got from films that were much older (films from the 50´s, 40´s, 30´s). And when MR came along, I enjoyed it so much. It was the time of "Star Wars". And MR was a kind of Bond cross-over film with all the space operas during that time.

This, of course, is a totally different frame of reference than people have today, experiencing the film only on DVD.

But all the Bond films are so wonderful to me because each one is like a time capsule. They reflect the moods and mindsets of the time they were made in. "MR" was a film that truly went for the fantastic and pure escapism. In a way I long for that kind of innocence today.

It will be very interesting to see how young people will react to the Craig era when that has gone by and people´s first Bond films will be starring another actor.

[The spy who loved me]

Moonraker is one of the best Bond films!

I can't believe it !...It's simply NOT a OO7 film ! It's about Ronald McDonald in a space ship with Mrs McDonald...



It's one of the most stupid film I've ever seen. Period.

Edited by The spy who loved me, 11 September 2009 - 06:32 AM.

[dee-bee-five]

I like Moonraker a hell of a lot now. Bond is a broad church and while my taste leans towards the gritty, Flemingian style - which is why QoS, CR and OHMSS are my top three (in that order) - I appreciate that the outlandish entries in the series have varied the diet, kept the series fresh and, very possibly, kept it alive. Of all the outlandish Bonds, I now believe Moonraker to be the best, more so even than Spy; and there was a time I couldn't have imagined I would ever say that.

Moonraker has faults. And some of the silliness still grates, though less than it once did. But I think it was Jim who pointed out that, beneath the silliness, there lies a great deal of nastiness and edge in Moonraker and I agree. Corinne being ripped apart by Drax's dogs, though largely left to the imagination, is one of the more arresting sequences of the whole series. And Bond at the pheasant shoot ("You missed"/"Did I?") is one of Bond's coolest moments ever.

Moore is bloody good in Moonraker (easily the equal, on his terms, as Connery in my book). Lois Chiles is stunning. Drax is one of the best ever villains. Ken Adam's work is magnificent. John Barry's score is easily one of his best. Shirley Bassey's theme is actually my favourite of her three. The locations are beautiful. And the whole thing just looks amazing.

So, yes, there's plenty good about Moonraker. It just took me nearly 30 years to realize it...

[Trident]

I never realized they were wearing Chucks!

For that matter I also never realized Ronald McDonald is wearing Docs!

[sharpshooter]

Since this thread was started in 2003, opinions have changed about Moonraker. Back then, you didn't see much praise for the film, but these days there is a lot of love for this one.

Indeed. And rightly so.