Moonraker

Name: Moonraker
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: June 29, 1979
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Roger Moore

1979

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 65 Ratings

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5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 65 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: June 29, 1979 | PG

Starring: Roger Moore

Summary: James Bond, Agent 007, investigates the mid-air theft of a space shuttle and discovers a plot to commit global genocide.

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 126 min

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Critic Reviews

Frank Rich

Broccoli serves the audience a space-shuttle hijacking, a jumbo-jet explosion and a protracted wrestling match between two men who are falling from the sky without parachutes. All this happens before the opening credits. From there, it's on to gondola chases in Venice, funicular crashes in Rio and laser-gun shootouts and lovemaking in deep space. Meanwhile, beautiful women come and go, talking (ever so discreetly) about fellatio. When Broccoli lays out a feast, he makes sure that there is at least one course for every conceivable taste...The result is a film that is irresistibly entertaining as only truly mindless spectacle can be. Read full review

Jay Scott

THE BOND by which to compare all other Bonds is Goldfinger and by that standard Moonraker, the 11th chapter in the exploits of Agent 007, is second-best. But, by the standards of most of the other candy served up as summer fare, Moonraker is marzipan - it's so insubstantial it melts in your mouth, but its flavor is distinctive and you can't get enough of it. [30 June 1979]

Vincent Canby

Moonraker begins with one of the funniest and most dangerous (as well as most beautifully photographed and edited) sequences Bond has ever faced. Read full review

James Berardinelli

While parts of Moonraker are rather silly (a trend during Roger Moore's tenure), solid special effects, well-executed action sequences, and a strict reliance upon the "Bond Formula" keep this film among Moore's better entries as the British superspy. Read full review

Gary Arnold

Moonraker, the newest James Bond spectacle, is a cheerful, splashy entertainment. The curators of the Bond museum do not surpass themselves with this exhibition, the 11th in the series, but they haven't fallen down on the job either. Moonraker is a satisfying blend of familiar ingredients, from the highly polished to the barely adequate. [29 June 1979, p.C1] Read full review

Dave Kehr

More impressive than entertaining. Read full review

Pauline Kael

This one doesn't look too bad, but it has no snap, no tension. It's an exhausted movie.

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User Reviews

Kai82

Dec 23, 2020

The eleventh James Bond movie and the most science fiction inspired one even to date. The producers were influenced by Star Wars and its great commercial success. So it was decided to adapt to this and let parts of the story happen in space. For comparison: The Ian Fleming novel MoonrakerThe eleventh James Bond movie and the most science fiction inspired one even to date. The producers were influenced by Star Wars and its great commercial success. So it was decided to adapt to this and let parts of the story happen in space. For comparison: The Ian Fleming novel Moonraker has nothing like this in it and some parts were later used for Goldeneye (An in name only adaptation if you need a label). The story starts when a Moonraker type space-shuttle is stolen in midair from a shuttle carrier aircraft (The carriers exist in real life and are modified Boeing 747s). James Bond is set to investigate this and starts by asking billionaire Hugo Drax whose Drax Industries build the shuttle for help. His investigations lead him to a much bigger menace. More I wont spoil. The story is good for franchise standards. It has a lot of good twists and is entertaining. I like the science fiction elements but these are not mandatory for me. The next movies never used these again and I can not say that I missed them nor that I hated them. The concept and ideas for the plot / menace are really good and the climax is well done. The actors are fine for me. Roger Moore delivers as always. Michael Lonsdale as Hugo Drax is an interesting antagonist. He is smart, a clever schemer, awfully rich and gets the things done he wants. He is probably in my top 10 James Bond villain list but not in the higher ranks. However Richard Kiel as Jaws is high on the list. He became a fan favorite in the last movie and returns which is remarkable. He is still intimidating, indestructible and has an engaging smile:-). He gets even some bit of development here and I like also Blanche Ravalec in this regard too. Some of his best moments are in this movie (circus tent, carnival or cable scene). The humor is also quite remarkable as some of my favorite jokes of the franchise are from this movie (The Eiffel tower joke alone is remembered by every James Bond fan). Normally I would not point this out in a James Bond movie but the special effects look really good and have aged well for that time. The soundtrack is O.K for me but not remarkable in comparison. Overall it is an enjoyable James Bond movie with great humor and memorable scenes. Slightly misses my 10/10 rating but I re-watched it quite some time.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

alejandro970

Jun 25, 2022

Now, a mission on the dark side of the moon; but without Pink Floyd. The fact that creative liberties have been taken is easy to forgive for the typical action sequences of the long-running series. And if you pay attention you will see nods to more than one "space" movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Kian3000

Jul 18, 2021

Moonraker is a pretty good James Bond film. This movie is campy but this is an enjoyable and entertaining movie. Roger More was great as James Bond. The fight choreography is good. The problems that I had in this movie were the main villain's plan had no logic on what he was doing and itMoonraker is a pretty good James Bond film. This movie is campy but this is an enjoyable and entertaining movie. Roger More was great as James Bond. The fight choreography is good. The problems that I had in this movie were the main villain's plan had no logic on what he was doing and it felt like a Saturday morning cartoon. The other problems that I had in this film were I didn't like the changes they made to Jaws and there is one fight scene were James Bond is fighting a martial artist and I didn't like the clothing and the weaponry he was holding, I preferred if the Karata guy wore a ninja outfit and was holding a metal bladed Kanata instead. Overall I recommend you seeing this movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

gracjanski

Sep 19, 2021

Nice settings and landscapes, especially Venice. But the story, action scenes and effects are not so good.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Masada

Aug 11, 2019

It's silly but it's Bond. The space thing is ludicrous and riddled with faults that wouldn't fly in this day and age, showing its age. Despite that the action, gags and quips are on point.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

FilipeNeto

Feb 18, 2018

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 wasDirected 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.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

imthenoob

Nov 12, 2019

Their attempt to take advantage of the recent sci-fi craze crashed hilariously. Moonraker is Moore's worst film and it is certainly in the running for worst Bond film period. The plot is virtually exactly the same as the Spy Who Loved Me but set in space. I don't know what they were thinkingTheir attempt to take advantage of the recent sci-fi craze crashed hilariously. Moonraker is Moore's worst film and it is certainly in the running for worst Bond film period. The plot is virtually exactly the same as the Spy Who Loved Me but set in space. I don't know what they were thinking but wow, This movie sucked.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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