Moonraker was an attempt to make a Science Fiction James Bond movie to very mixed results. First, it continued the trend of bigger and bigger and more unrealistic plots. This time the bad guy was Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale) Who had a plan to wipe out the Earth’s population and re-start society in outer space. This was almost the same as the previous movie the Spy Who Loved Me when another rich man intended to end humanity and re-start it, but that time underwater. Moonraker also started making fun of itself such as the killer Jaws who was also introduced in the previous film falling in love. Overall, Moonraker was a sign that the Bond films were becoming a parody of itself.

Things don’t start off so bad. In fact, they follow the usual Bond pattern. A space shuttle gets stolen. Bond is sent to investigate. He meets Drax. He meets the main Bond girl Dr. Goodhead (Lois Chiles). Drax tries to kill him. Then half way through things start going south. That begins with Jaws trying to kill Bond and Goodhead in a tram. Jaws walks out of a crash, sees a woman who smiles at him, and then he’s in love! Then Jaws does some more ridiculous things later on. Plus there's a giant space battle with shuttles and lasers, etc. If youconsider it within the history of Bond films it showed things were going off the rails.
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This is the one where Bond goes to space.

After a space shuttle is stolen off the back of a 747 James Bond must travel to the ends of the Earth and beyond to stop a madman's plot to destroy life on Earth and repopulate it with his "perfect" humans. There's a Japanese kendo master, a knife throwing Venician assassin and fan-favorite Jaws in the mix along with the usual mix of gadgets, super vehicles and exotic locales.

The final space battle pitting U.S. Space Marines against evil henchmen is shorter than I remembered but still impressive in a late-70s FX sort of way. This was the first Bond film I saw so I may have given it a higher mark than it deserved. Still Moonraker is certainly the height of the campy era of Bond films and if that's what you're looking for this one will deliver.

Starring: Roger Moore (James Bond), Lois Chiles (Dr. Holly Goodhead), Richard Kiel (Jaws) Runtime: 2 hours, 6 minutes

Another globetrotting extravaganza in another Bond film. This time we trek with Sir Roger Moore as 007 on location to Paris, London, Guatemala, Italy, Brazil, the USA, as well as outer space. Moonraker has a Sci-fi bent, so if you enjoy Space Shuttles, you are in luck! Dr. Goodhead and James pilot a shuttle called a Moonraker to save earth's human inhabitants from a megalomaniacal space dictator Hugo Drax plotting to decimate humanity on earth while also colonizing space.

Sadly, During the filming of Moonraker, Sir Roger Moore needed a kidney operation, but production only halted about a week while he had the procedure. You would never know while enjoying this film that he had had a medical affliction pop up during the production, as he carries himself with a Brit's fortitude.

Jaws the giant from the prior film "the Spy Who Loved Me" shows back up in Moonraker, and is still after Bond but quite unexpectedly the two- Jaws and 007- reconcile at the end. You don't see reconciliation that often in good guy vs. bad guy films, but it lends a unique dose of humor to Moonraker.

In summary, I'm especially glad to have seen this for the fabulous scenery and action.

All Bond movies are ridiculous. His good fortune is outrageous. Coincidences, timing, happenstances, ubermensch prowess at almost everything, successful sexual aggressiveness, etc. A male hormone caricature.
So when people say Moonraker jumps the shark cuz space laser fight, I say they're being arbitrary.
Thumbs down to the pigeon double take, just silly in 1979 and silly now.
Thumbs up to most of the rest. Quality production.
anecdote: I saw Moonraker and The Black Hole in 1979, as a preteen. For years afterward, I mixed up Michael Lonsdale & Maximilian Schell in my memory. Deranged bearded nemeses in space.

Moonraker (1979) attempted to cash in on the sci-fi craze that was sweeping the country after the enormous success of Star Wars. In fact, after The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), the next film announced was For Your Eyes Only, but that film was shelved until 1981 in order to make this goofy (yet respectable) Bond film. If the goal was to make a sci-fi experience through and through, then the creators failed, because the 'sci-fi' element is present only toward the end of the film. And why (WHY) was Jaws brought back? He has no place in this film, and his sophomore outing threatens to diminish the great performance in The Spy Who Loved Me, as he's goofy here, and even expresses infatuation for a woman. That's not the Jaws we know; he was much more serious and intimidating in the previous film. While this film has its share of over-the-top and unrealistic scenes, it still manages to sport some serious scenes, and the settings are first-rate. The special effects are good for the time as well. The blu ray picture and sound quality are pristine, and the special features are very good. Overall, I recommend this blu ray for fans of the James Bond franchise; I wouldn't say this film is for die hard fans only- it's essential.

Not the best Bond film (in my opinion On Her Majesty’s Secret Service wears the crown), but in spite of its flaws, this film provides plenty of lighthearted (if rather silly) fun throughout. The various filming locations are great and the action scenes are fun. The acting is quite awful at times, and the plot is totally unbelievable. Yet, in spite of its numerous flaws, I can’t help but enjoy this film in a mindless nonsensical sort of way. Fun to see Jaws switch to the good side (reminds me of Darth Vader’s transition in Return of the Jedi). Very silly movie, so only for those times where you can put your logical side on hold and are willing to dive head-first into totally campy mindlessness.

The title says it all! I was surprised that the movie didn't do well at the box office but it's probably because it came out during the "Star Wars" craze. I actually enjoyed this film a lot because I like Roger Moore as James Bond. I also liked the role of Holly Goodhead, played by Lois Chiles, who is, not only beautiful but also brave and smart, just like James Bond. I also like the fact that Richard Kiel returns as the steel-toothed henchman, Jaws. It's good, though, that he finds love during the movie and at close to the end, changes sides & even speaks. I also enjoyed the gadgets that Bond is given during the movie. Also, the crew did a fantastic job in working on the film, especially when it shifted to outer space. I also liked the special features, especially the "Inside MOONRAKER" and "The Man Behind The Mayhem" featurettes. So, I recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of James Bond, Roger Moore or both because, believe me, it is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!

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'!