Moonraker [Blu-ray] [1979]

Richard Kiel was amazing

I love it. I don't know how many times I have watched it. I love watching James Bond films.

Not the finest Bond film, not even the finest Sir Roger Moore James Bond movie but a fun movie all the same. The return of Jaws is welcome albeit in a comedy role. The film is nothing like the Fleming novel but merely to jump on the Star Wars bandwagon of the time. Sir Roger would return in 1981 with the far more serious, For Your Eyes Only. The blu ray is good quality and the film itself has been cleaned up as most movies have been when they have been transferred to high definition format.

a great film, great quality and a great buy.

It's a wonderful movie, perfect to add to my James bond collection and a perfect gift

I remember seeing Moonraker when it first came out at the cinema - as a young boy, it seemed like the best Bond ever - bigger and better than all the rest.How times have changed.This movie starts out on a high note - literally, as Bond is thrown out of a plane without a parachute. It is a breathtaking reminder that once there was a time when for a Bond movie, this sort of spectacular unique stunt was done for real. However, then follows the theme song - one of the most turgid and uninspired of the Bond movies, and a sign of what is to follow. From a French chateau recreated in California, to Venice and on to Brazil, the movie covers ground, and actually has Bond spying and involving in skulking around - the first time he has done that in a while in the series. But the tone falters... there are some great lighthearted moments (gondola chase), and there are some significantly dark moments (the beautiful pilot Corrine gets mauled by dogs in an extended chase scene), which do not sit well next to each other. The director could have done better - Moore actually looks even more relaxed in the role than he did in The Spy Who Loved Me, and not yet too old even as he was turning 50, and Lois Chiles plays well as an initially ice cool astronaut.Really it does check off all the boxes for a great 70's Bond movie - the big stunt, the boat chase, the beautiful ladies, the droll monotone Michael Lonsdale playing the heavy (if only someone had given him a white Persian cat to stroke he would have been perfect...), and the return of the popular Jaws character, this time showing a softer side. Why, the whole idea of the story has been lifted from the previous film, with the bad guy seeking to destroy humanity so that a new master race can survive under the sea / in space (delete as appropriate) and repopulate.No, it is the last act that really trips up the movie looking back on it now - the effects have been done terrifically well, for the time, especially since they were done in-house, without the aid of an effects company. It is the whole misconceived space station and subsequent laser shoot out in space. Terrific then, horribly dated now. It just seems to drag on too long to be exciting, much like other sci-fi movies of the time which were too impressed with their own special effects to use the scissors. And since when did blowing up the villains lair seem a good idea - when it was in space, and you were still on it??Well, let's not be too churlish. It's a Bond movie, in the true escapist mould. It has terrific moments, and it still entertains.. for that I am willing to let it scrape through on 3 stars.. but be warned, for every moment that makes you cheer, there are a few moments lurking round the next plot twist to make you groan...Ultimate Edition delivers yet again on sound, and bright sharp colours for the picture. The usual extras are here from the Special Edition, and a few more - but truth be told nothing too riveting, save perhaps for Ken Adams home movies of the production (his last Bond movie). Roger Moore also adds a talk track on the movie.5 /10 for the movie, 9 /10 for the extras.

As his fourth cinematic appearance as the suave 007, Roger Moore takes Bond to new heights which are literally out of this world! Although not the best Bond film of Moore's career, Moonraker still delivers all the thrills and excitement of its better-praised predessecor, The Spy Who Loved Me, presenting strong characters such as the now familiar Jaws (Richard Kiel) a villain with an intriguing plot, Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) who plans to destroy the world with a large amount of nerve gas globes released from his Space Station and aided by the Moonraker programme. The world's only hop is Agent 007 and American CIA agent Holly Goodhead who is slightly unbelievably played by Lois Chilles, as they blast off into Space to stop Drax's deadly scheme once and for all.Although this is one of the 007 adventures which is mostly criricised for being to unrealistic and over the top, Moonraker still remains one of my favourite films to date with spectatcular action sequences and legendary characters which have made the Bond series so popular in cinema history.The DVD contains the usual interviews from cast and crew including the TV spots and Cinematic Trailers which we have come to expect from Bond DVDs and an eye-catching booklet depicting Roger Moore dressed in a space-suit, clutching his Walther PPK in traditional style.

The five star rating is for the product, not necessarily for the film. The remastered DVD is first class. And the extras included in the Ultimate Collection (2 disks) are plentiful.If you like the film or not is a matter of personal preference and probably even depends on your mood on the day. This is Bond at its campiest. It is actually great fun to watch, and Jaws' romance is almost touching and utterly un-Bondian. Moonraker is a product of its time. A Star Wars it is not, but hey, the next year gave us that campiest space opera of all time: Flash Gordon.I loved this film when it first came out (at a time when the dark and intense Bond of Dalton and Craig was still in the distant future), then over the years more or less forgot about it. When I watched it again lately in the course of a Bond marathon I was aware of the very low regard for the film these days. Thus it came as a pleasant surprise that I found myself hugely entertained. Just as long as you don't expect anything other than silly laughs with high production values you may enjoy this one more than you'd like to admit.

„Moonraker“ war der elfte Film der „Bond-Reihe“, der vierte mit ROGER MOORE in der Hauptrolle. Gleichzeitig ist es der erste Film, in dem „JAMES BOND“ ein „Bond-Girl“ zur Seite gestellt bekam, das ihm fast schon ebenbürtig war. Dieses „Bond-Girl“ war LOIS CHILES, die sein amerikanisches Pendant „DR. HOLLY GOODHEAD“ spielt.Dieses Mal lautet „BONDS“ Auftrag den entführten Raumgleiter „Moonraker“ wieder aufzustöbern und herauszufinden, wer dahinter steckt. Zu diesem Zweck reist er nach Kaliforniern, um in den Produktionsstätten des Shuttle-Herstellers mit seinen Ermittlungen zu beginnen. Dort trifft er auf die attraktive NASA-Forscherin „DR. HOLLY GOODHEAD“, die ihm die Produktion und das Ausbildungsprogramm der Astronauten erklärt. Er lernt auch den zwielichtigen Firmenchef DRAX (Michale Lonsdale) kennen und entgeht nur knapp einem Mordanschlag von dessen chinesischen Leibwächter „CHANG“ (Toshiro Suga). Doch „BOND“ wäre nicht „BOND“, wenn er sich dadurch abschrecken lassen würde, denn schon in der selben Nacht findet er bei einem Einbruch in „DRAX`“ Büro Hinweise, die ihn zu einer Glasbläserei nach Venedig führen. In Venedig angekommen, trifft er überraschend auf „DR. HOLLY GOODHEAD“, die vorgibt bei der ESA einen Vortrag halten zu müssen. Als „BOND“ sich nachts in der Glasbläserei umsieht, findet er ein geheimes Labor und einen Behälter mit rätselhaften Phiolen …..„Moonraker“ ist ein typischer „Bond-Film“, da gibt es den Superagenten, die hübschen Mädchen und die fiesen Bösewichte mit ihren Handlangern. Die Filme sind alle gleich strukturiert und aufgebaut, neu ist in „Moonraker“ nicht nur, dass eines der „Bond-Girls“ fast ebenbürtig ist, sondern auch, dass ein Bösewicht zweimal dabei ist.RICHARD KIEL, der bereits in „Der Spion der mich liebte“ den „BEIßER“ spielte, darf in „Moonraker“ erneut Jagd auf 007 machen. Grund war, dass dieser Riese beim Publikum so gut ankam, dass die Produzenten ihn einfach nochmal dabei haben wollten.Ansonsten sind natürlich altbekannter Gesichter dabei, LOIS MAXWELL spielt „MISS MONEYPENNY“, DESMOND LLEWELYN ist Tüftler „Q“ und BERNARD LEE spielt ein letztes Mal „M“.Highlights der „Bond-Filme“ sind neben der Musik auch immer die Gadgets. Von denen gibt es dieses Mal reichlich, am besten hat mir die Gondel mit der Luftkissenfunktion gefallen. Aber auch das Parfümfläschchen mit Flammenwerfer-Funktion, das Armband mit Gift- und Explosionspfeilen, die dazugehöriger Uhr mit Sprengstoff und Zeitzünder, oder der Kugelschreiber mit integrierter Giftspritze fand ich noch charmant.Den Titelsong singt wieder einmal SHIRLEY BESSEY, die ja bereits die Titelsongs zu „Goldfinger“ und „Diamantenfieber“ gesungen hat. Auch das berühmte „Bond-Thema“ ist das erste Mal seit „Leben und sterben lasen“ wieder zu hören.Gedreht wurde der Film in Brasilien, Frankreich, Italien, Guatemala und den USA, die sind also ganz schön was rumgekommen. Heutzutage würden wahrscheinlich die FfF-Kinderchen empört und schnappatmend zum Schule schwänzen aufrufen, um ihren Protest auszudrücken. 😉Für mich gehört „Moonraker“ mit zu den besten „Bond-Filmen“, die Story ist spannend, die Darsteller sehr gut, hier stimmt eigentlich alles.Offensichtlich waren viele Menschen dieser Meinung, denn „Moonraker“ sollte bis zur Veröffentlichung von „Goldeneye“ im Jahr 1995, der finanziell erfolgreichste Film der Reihe bleiben.Mein Fazit: Für „Bond-Fans“ dürfte „Moonraker“ ein Highlight sein, nicht nur das er super spannend ist, auch die Darsteller und die gesamte Produktion ist schön klasse. Mir gefallen die exotischen Schauplätze, die hübschen Frauen und der „BEIßER“ war schon immer einer meiner liebsten Bösewichte. Ich fühle mich auch heute noch bestens unterhalten, insofern gibt es von mir natürlich eine dicke, fette Empfehlung für diesen Klassiker.

I have seen Moonraker several times over the years, and always feel it is excellent as a Bond movie. The movie gives me a sense of nostalgia for the cars and objects I remember from many years ago when I was a kid. You don't see that style of Ford trucks any more -- and notice that Bond films over the years seem to focus on Ford vehicles if they are filmed partly in the United States. It is useful to study how the sets are constructed and what furnishings are provided. It brings back a bygone era, and often, that can make up for other things that a movie is missing.This movie has no subtlety at all. We are quickly shown that Drax is indeed a villain within a minute or so of seeing him. From then on, it is very clearly Drax vs. Bond: evil and good, black and white, Death and Life. Of all the Bond movies, the scene in which dogs are unleashed upon one of Drax's employees is one so brutal I can't bear to watch it. I'm bothered by how Richard Kiel (Jaws) is used in the film, the role feels a little like he is being insulted by using his height and great strength to cast him as a freak of nature. However it is also a role where Jaws experiences love and begins a transformation. We can wish them both a happy ending to their adventure.It is hard for me to judge Roger Moore as a Bond. I like his keep calm and carry on Eton approach. He is a very good Bond. We see him thinking about what he is doing, even though it is remarkably easy for him to add 2 and 2. We see him loving the girls and fighting the bad guys, which is to be expected. (He seems to endure hand to hand combat with boku-wielding ninjas better than he did in "The Man With The Golden Gun" against trainees who had only their fists, but that is another miracle story.) As 007, he succeeds against his villains effortlessly, and that is hard for viewers to accept. There is no doubt in my mind that the two best Bond actors are Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan. Both have an explosive power and immersion into their roles that is authentic to viewers. Where Moore doesn't get so much as a chipped fingernail, Craig is often wounded and at least once tortured. We see he same things happen to Brosnan, again with authenticity. Connery experiences wounds and torture as well, but with less authenticity than Craig and Brosnan can convey. Moore goes on without a scratch, Craig and Brosnan and Connery bleed and go on, and are therefore more interesting. But note, they make stunningly rapid recoveries from wounds and torture.In Moonraker, most of the scenes lack real authenticity. It is hard for the viewer to believe Bond's ability to survive and then destroy Drax despite all the obstacles. Drax's villainy is cleverly played, and it carries authenticity; his attempts to kill Bond should have worked. We can believe Drax: we can't really believe Bond. For instance, why would a space shuttle need an air shaft under the launching pad? It seems such a good way to destroy the launching facility.Even so, I give this movie 5 stars. I love watching it. I love seeing the old Ford trucks and 1960s/1970s buildings. That's a '5'!

Worked perfectly!

Als James Bond Fan ist dieser Film natürlich ein absolutes „Must have“,die in keiner Sammlung fehlen darf.Einfach klasse Film.

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