Written by Ian Fleming, Christopher Wood, Gerry Anderson
Directed by Lewis Gilbert

For years, you could put me in the category of those who didn’t consider themselves James Bond fans.  Back when I was growing up, the films weren’t frequently shown on network television, and right about the time I was of an age where I could go to the movie theater myself… Well, unfortunately, Moonraker marks the point at which I came to discover the Bond franchise.

This was probably the most commercial film ever made in the franchise.  It pandered to so many different interests including the recent (at the time) Star Wars phenomenon as well as the anxious awaiting of the launch of the first U.S. Space Shuttle into space.  In addition, it brought back a villain from the previous film, Richard Kiel as “Jaws”.  Although Kiel and the character do work better in Moonraker, it still has the same feeling of being out of place the way the character of Sheriff Pepper was when he was brought back for a repeat performance.

A space shuttle, code name Moonraker, is stolen in dramatic fashion in the opening sequence.  There’s then an attempt to kill Bond on board a private jet.  The fisticuffs are dramatic and also serve to bring back Bond’s nemesis from the previous film, “Jaws”.

Bond is sent to California, following the trail of where the shuttle came from before it was snatched.  There, in a house that resembles Versailles more than a California mansion, he meets the ultra-rich Mr. Drax (portrayed by Michael Lonsdale).  Bond is also introduced to the lovely astronaut/scientist Dr. Holly Goodhead (portrayed by Lois Chiles) and then nearly killed in a flight simulator.

From there, Bond follows the trail to Venice.  The lovely Dr. Goodhead is also in Venice.  There is a rather short chase scene through the canals that has some moments that evoke a smile and a cute homage to what was then a very recently popular science fiction film in the combination of a secret room Bond uncovers.

These moments of brightness are unfortunately tempered by the entire tone of the film.  Back then, I was dazzled by the special effects which are terrific, especially for the time period.  Now they just seem dated.  The story itself is so terribly implausible at every turn that it goes way beyond the usual suspension of disbelief.  It’s pretty impossible to believe that Drax could steal the shuttle as well as being implausible that he would have to in light of what he has managed to achieve in space as part of his nefarious plot.

I can’t imagine the reaction Roger Moore must have had when he saw the script.  Either he totally miscalculated and thought Moonraker with all its cultural references would be a great deal of fun, or with every page he found himself rolling his eyes.  After this film, I would have been looking for a fast exit from the franchise, but Moore went on to portray the super-spy three more times in the series.

Roger Moore is also starting to really show his age here.  In more than one scene, I could tell he was very made up to try and appear younger.  He was 52 at the time this was released, and although he doesn’t look his age, he does seem a bit too old to be seducing some of the very much younger women.  Perhaps this is the reason that there seems to be so little real chemistry between Bond and the icy Miss Goodhead, but I believe the reason has more to do with the overall story than the performances of the two actors.

The dialogue in Moonraker, particularly between Bond and Goodhead is clunky.  Usually Bond has some sharp comments and double-entendres which aren’t quite as obvious as some of the dialogue between the two of them here.  I was also less than impressed with the theme song, unlike other entries surrounding this one in the series.

The DVD release is decent.  The commentary is excellent although there’s nothing from any of the actors who participated in the film.  I understand why, believe me.  The two featurettes that go behind the making of the film are pretty good as well.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t make Moonraker worth watching.  Unless you are such an avid Bond fan that you need to see every film in the series, this one is better written off as a bad dream of Bond’s after a poorly made martini and too much spicy food.


SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Audio Commentary with Director Lewis Gilbert, Executive Producer Michael Wilson, and Associate Producer William P. Cartlidge Screenwriter Christopher Wood
• Inside Moonraker
• The Men Behind the Mayhem

Previous film in the series: