A Major Disappointment

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

There's a certain level of camp that one can expect from the Roger Moore era, and "Moonraker" certainly could've used more of it. The movie doesn't pick up until Bond and the fair Ms. Goodhead (still a great name) jetting off into outer space, and even then, it's mostly shuttles doing space ballet. It's indicative of the film's overall sleepy vibe. And it's not like there aren't action scenes here. OO7 does battle with a giant python, engages in multiple fistfights and boat chases, and narrowly escapes death by cable car. But somehow, in spite of the stunts, it's a real snooze.5/10

It's probably a bit controversial to claim that Roger Moore is the best Bond. It's probably even more controversial to say that 'Moonraker' is the best Bond film ever. I know. I've read other reviews. I know it had its faults. I guess, for me and my love of Star Wars, there was just something uber cool about seeing James Bond in space fighting with laser guns (and, yes, I know that they only made a 'James-Bond-in-space' film to cash in on George Lucas' game-changing masterpiece, but I didn't care about that, either!).This time round, the UK government is charged with the task of transporting (and therefore safe-guarding) a couple of American-built space shuttles. However, things do not go according to plan for her majesty's minions when both shuttles disappear in mysterious circumstances. Enter one 007 to get to the bottom of this.Now, as I've mentioned, I do love this film. Maybe because I grew up with it and it's totally tainted with nostalgic memories of watching it round friends' houses on Sunday afternoons. So, rather than saying what's so great about it, I will acknowledge other people's criticisms of what I consider 'Bond's finest hour.' Firstly, people (even more cynical than I am) were taken up with the Star Wars cash-in I've already mentioned. Secondly, there was too much humour. Gone are the days of Sean Connery's dry wit and darker take on Bond and they're all replaced with a lot of tongue-in-cheek silliness involving pet dogs doing comedy double-takes when Bond drives a boat through a crowded market square. The last two major complaints about the film revolve around the casting of the villain 'Drax' and the latest Bond girl – Dr Goodhead (seriously – that's her name!). Now, due to my love of this film as a child, I was more interested in armies of laser-wielding astronauts spinning off into the blackness of space than acting abilities. However, over thirty years later, I do tend to cringe a little when either character opens their mouth. Yes, they really are a little bit wooden. Perhaps I'm being unfair as I guess they do their best with the lines that are given to them. But, for every cloud there's a silver lining – and that silver lining comes in the form of a giant with metal teeth. Yes, 'Jaws' is another baddie hell bent on creasing Bond's tuxedo – and he is as awesome as ever.I know I'm not alone in my appreciation for Moonraker, but I think most people who enjoy it as much as me are my age. I guess it might not hold up too well with the modern audience – it's not the special effects which are the problem (correct me if I'm wrong, but a laser battle in zero-gravity space has never been attempted before on screen!). It's the tone that may not sit well with today's Bond fans. Currently, we have a much darker Daniel Craig Bond who rarely smiles or makes a witty (borderline innuendo) quip. However, if you can appreciate a Bond with a much lighter feel to it (and I know there are people out there who do – otherwise 'Kingsman: The Secret Service' wouldn't be so successful!) then you could do worse than relaxing your brain for a couple of hours and letting it drift into deep space. If nothing else, the final line about 'attempting re-entry' is worth watching the whole film for. RIP Roger – you were always the best Bond (my opinion only!).

Widely Considered the Worst James Bond Movie, Without much Dissent, it's a Bad Movie on Any Account. The Pacing is Horrible, not one Joke is Funny, the Score is Unremarkable and Anemic, and it Contains, perhaps, the Worst Chase Scene in a Big Budget Movie, Ever (gondola).It's Embarrassingly Inconsistent and Fails to Follow Form. Bond (Roger Moore) is Strangely Absent a Gun at times, or even the Wrist Weapon He is given at the Outset, in the Fight Scenes. Speaking of Fight Scenes, some are Choreographed so Stiff as to be in Slow Motion. The Glass Shop Abomination in so Over the Top with Yelling and Smashing Everything in Sight that it becomes Jaw Dropping Bad.Speaking of "Jaws", as little as possible, the Returning Character Lampoons Himself in what could be Called the most Clumsy Scene in any Bond Film, only to be almost Topped by the Ending Switcheroo.The Shameless "Bond in Space" Scenes are Infamous. The Villain "Drax" is a Monotone Bore with Lines that are only Memorable because they are Cringe-Worthy. There are a Multitude of "Bond Girls" that are Displayed more Mannequin than usual, and the Lead, "Dr. Goodhead", delivers some of the Worst Acting and Line Reading Imaginable.The Impressive SFX, the Enormous and Stunning Sets are Eye-Popping and some are Artistically Interesting (Drax lair in South America), but all the Money up there On the Screen Can't Save this from the Bottom of the James Bond Gun Barrel. Speaking of Guns, Bond Fires One Shot in the Entire Film.Abysmal Movie by any Standard and as a James Bond Entry it is Intolerable.

Directed by Lewis Gilbert and produced by Albert Broccoli, has script by Christopher Wood and is the eleventh film in the franchise. Its definitely the great Bond film about the conquest of space, topic that other films had approached. For Brazilians, its a special film because it was partially filmed in Brazil.In this film, James Bond investigates the disappearance of a space shuttle belonging to Drax Industries, which largely finance the aerospace project. He begins with a visit to the headquarters of the firm, in United States, staying at the château of Mr. Drax, a man fascinated with the conquest of space. After several dangers, the trail leads Bond to Venice and Brazil, where he discovers the frightening plans of the villain.To some extent, Drax is like Stromberg, the villain of the film that preceded it. Both feel a fascination for environments that aren't naturally theirs, and both despise humanity and are ready to make it disappear. However, the decision to make the film an authentic space odyssey was, probably, a response to the increasing popularity of science fiction films due to the Star Wars trilogy. One of the most famous scene in the movie is the approach to the space station built by Stromberg in Earth orbit. Equally famous is the scene where Jaws (who returns in this film and gradually turns into an good guy) finds love after the famous fight scene in the Corcovado's cable car. To date, its the only villain in the franchise that redeems and presumably becomes good. Machines and inventions also continue to be part of the Bond films, which a famous Venetian gondola who turns into an hovercraft.In this film, apart from central casting inherited from the previous films, Lois Chiles gave life to the bond-girl Holly Goodhead, Corinne Clery played Corinne Dufour, Michael Lonsdale was the villain, Drax, Richard Kiel returned to the role of Jaws and Bernard Lee plays, for the last time, Bond's boss, M. The actor would die shortly after.