Moonraker

Plot

A multi billionaire’s personal space shuttle is stolen, and the MI6 task Bond in discovering its whereabouts. Along the way he is joined by a CIA operative, undercover as “Dr Goodhead”

He quickly discovers that the owner Drax, isn’t what he seems, but what is his end goal???

Direction/Cinematography

Directed by Lewis Gilbert, who returns from the previous film. This will be his last film directed in the franchise. Not as solid as the last film, with it more leaning to the absurd, especially in the last act.

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Cast/Characters

Returning for his fourth outing is Roger Moore. At 52, he’s slowly starting to show his age – but still gives as good as he can.

This is Bernard Lee’s last appearance as M. Lois Maxwell is back as Moneypenny, and Richard Kiel returns as Jaws.

New cast include Lois Chiles as Goodhead (no subtlety with that name), and Michael Lonsdale as Hugo Drax.

Breakdown

In the final Bond film of the 1970’s, we have Roger Moore back for his fourth outing. Even at 52, he still shows that he’s in his prime… but his age is slowly starting to show – and this is problematic with Bond’s countless bedmates here.

This is a rather by the numbers Bond film, with the villain revealed early in Hugo Drax – who has plenty of ‘too and fro’ with Bond. He is actually one of the more frightening Bond villains, with his assassination of one of his employees (and bed-mates of Bond). He is one step ahead of Bond for most of the film, changing his secret lab to a stunning library etc.

The action is less impressive that the last few films, with clear attention put towards the laughable final act, where Bond goes to space – to stop Drax’s plan (to poison everyone on earth, and repopulate from a space station he’s built). I thought I was watching Star Wars at one stage with all the laser beams flying around! Even with all this, the third act doesn’t have the excitement that previous films have had, and comes off rather boring.

There are a small handful that are ‘okay’ like the cable car fight sequence, and the race through the Venice canals, but nothing practical like we’ve seen in the past.

Jaws is back again, still seemingly un-killable, and a good foible to Bond. He has plenty to do this time around, and even gets himself a love interest in Dolly (and yes, despite the Mandela Effect that we all remember, she does not have braces!) Even I thought she did, and was shocked to see she didn’t!

Overall

A by the numbers Bond film, with a villain who has so much more potential – especially given his brutality at times.

Moore is.. not terrible but his age is starting to show.

The final act in space is the start of the absurd Bond moments, but it makes you miss SPECTRE just a little.

3/5

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