'Moonraker' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Josh has reviewed 'Moonraker.' You know you want it (Editor's Note - Fine! I got it, but it's stuffed in the back of my sock drawer). He says this is as cheesy as ever, but still fun. This Blu-ray is dynamite. Worth a look, but we know you Bondian maniacs already have it.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/2061/moonraker.html

[ack_bak]

From Josh's review:

'Moonraker' is, in many ways, an absurdly awful movie. But that's not to say that it isn't entertaining. As a James Bond film, it's downright terrible. As a thick slice of '70s sci-fi cheese, it has its charms. It may not be "good" in any objective, rational sense, but I'd still rather watch this one again than some later entries like 'A View to a Kill' or 'Die Another Day'.

Having watched "Moonraker" about a week ago on Blu-Ray, I tend to agree. I have always considered "Moonraker" one of the worst Bond films every released (although I loved it when I first saw it in the theater as a kid. It was my first Bond film that I saw in the theater). I still think it is. The gondola/hovercraft scene (with the pigeon/bird doing the poorly edited double take) has to be one of the most absurd and just outright dumb Bond scenes ever filmed. IMHO, Lois Chiles was a horrible actress. Corrine Clery (as Corrine Dufour) however, was excellent. I also really liked Micheal Lonsdale as Hugo Drax.

It really does not get as cheesy as "Moonraker" IMHO. But at the end of the day it is still a fun movie and still enjoyable. I actually prefer it to several other Moore films and think that I actually prefer it to Die Another Day...

[jetthead]

As a kid I LOVED Moonraker but it has not aged well at all for me while I find a greater appreciation for The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only as the years go by. It has gone from being one of my favorites to one of my least favorites (although I agree that it's still better than A View To A Kill or Die Another Day). And I also agree that Corrine Clery & Michael Lonsdale were excellent, in fact they're about the only highlights of the film for me these days.

[D_Strasse]

I am eagerly anticipating rewatching this. I really don't recall thinking that the effects were cheesy or ridiculously over the top - BUT it has been a while since I've seen this as it wasn't one of the few I have collected over the years.

Could be I might agree, but I do have a soft spot for the Moore Bonds. I think it will be harder to watch AVTAK due to Moore's age, than this will be due to cheese.

[irrob]

This review is spot on!

[ben1080p]

Good review. The movie was pretty cheesy. good rental tho.

[-zombie-]

I know a lot of people hate Moonraker but I've always thought it was one of the best 007 films... okay maybe not the best, but certainly one of the most entertaining. Gotta love Jaws getting some love too!

[damonous]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

...Having watched "Moonraker" about a week ago on Blu-Ray, I tend to agree. I have always considered "Moonraker" one of the worst Bond films every released (although I loved it when I first saw it in the theater as a kid. It was my first Bond film that I saw in the theater). ... I also really liked Micheal Lonsdale as Hugo Drax.

It really does not get as cheesy as "Moonraker" IMHO. But at the end of the day it is still a fun movie and still enjoyable. I actually prefer it to several other Moore films and think that I actually prefer it to Die Another Day...

Originally Posted by jetthead

As a kid I LOVED Moonraker but it has not aged well at all...

Perhaps what's most disturbing to me ...is how LONG it took for this movie 'not to age well' with me. I remember owning the LD back in the 90's, and still considering it a great Bond film (like Ack Bak, it was the very FIRST Bond I ever saw, and in the theater).

Like Josh said, though: for 3/4 of the movie, I still consider it not bad. It's just that now, the movie literally falls off the edge of the planet in the final half-hour. Not just by devolving into utter plot-stupidity (as Josh mentioned, the awaiting American space troopers, along with the 'backup shuttle' primed & ready to launch at a moment's notice ).

The acting and continuity also spin completely out of control. As Ack Bak mentions, Micheal Lonsdale as Hugo Drax is a very cool and subdued villain. ....Until, of course, he suddenly wigs out at Jaws because he needs Jaws (and only Jaws --not any one of his other countless minions) to put Bond & Goodhead in the airlock.

How about the final 'space chase': could Lois Chiles have looked any LESS stressed about having enough time to catch-up to and destroy the pods? At least Moore looks like a calm, but intense professional. She just looks like she's out getting groceries.

And, of course, you have to love the space station that is TOTALLY tearing itself to pieces, especially in the main control chamber ....where you've just seen all the henchmen die and beams fall (probably likely that the air would be escaping). .....Except, of course, when Jaws and his chick are just standing around calmly walking through that SAME AREA just minutes later, and nothing is falling on them.

[davcole]

Despite the film being the worst Bond of the Moore era, it does have some entertaining moments.

As for the disc itself, I found the picture to be stellar!! An absolute wonderful job Lowry did with this film and the transfer. With the audio, well the results aren't that great but an improvement over what was there before and the lossless track allowed for the beauty of John Barry's great score.

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by damonous

How about the final 'space chase': could Lois Chiles have looked any LESS stressed about having enough time to catch-up to and destroy the pods? At least Moore looks like a calm, but intense professional. She just looks like she's out getting groceries.

Honestly, she cannot act. She is just another pretty face. Although I still think she is a better actress than Denise Richards on TWINE, or Tanya Roberts (View To A Kill).

And, of course, you have to love the space station that is TOTALLY tearing itself to pieces, especially in the main control chamber ....where you've just seen all the henchmen die and beams fall (probably likely that the air would be escaping). .....Except, of course, when Jaws and his chick are just standing around calmly walking through that SAME AREA just minutes later, and nothing is falling on them.

Yeah. It is really bad. I really hate how they tried to make Jaws the good guy at the end of the movie.. At any rate I have come to grips with this movie now. I think I have come full circle (as much as I can). I went from loving it as a kid, to hating it, to somewhat enjoying it again. I guess I have just accepted the campiness and moved on. Still on the bottom of the list of favorite Bond movies for me, but not the very bottom.

And the PQ looks amazing on Blu-Ray. Amazing 4K restoration by Lowry. I was shocked that this movie was made back in the 70's. I think that really helped me enjoy the movie more.

[fugazied]

This is the first Bond movie I saw. Such a classic, unmissable!

[TheAnswerMVP2001]

Regarded as one of the worst Bond films? Not being a Roger Moore fan I thought Moonraker was his best. There are certainly a lot worse Bond films out there.

[starstreak]

As a kid who grew up on Bond. The gadget loving bond. I loved Moonraker. I bet if I watch it now, I may not be as impressed, but still it was action filled. I loved the lasers, the boat with the glider, and even thought how funny it was they ripped off close encounter's little ditty. It was meant for kids. No swearing, no nudity, no blood and guts. Yet enough hinted that made my mom wonder why she took me to see it.

The newest bond, while plenty of action and more rooted to real life than that of gadgets, I don't like. For me, Bond was the 007 with a hidden bazooka up his pants.

[Duncan]

"Around this same time, NASA launched its first successful space shuttle mission, reigniting public interest in the space program."

Except of course they didnt...

The first flight of Columbia wasnt until April 1981.

Please try and get your basic facts right

[Josh Z]

Originally Posted by Duncan

The first flight of Columbia wasnt until April 1981.

Please try and get your basic facts right

My mistake. I was confusing the fact that NASA had built and test flown the space shuttle Enterprise back in 1977. But you're correct that the first shuttle launch into space was the Columbia in 1981, so I've edited that sentence in the review.