Where all other Bonds end, this one begins…

James Bond (Roger Moore) tries to find out what happened to a missing space shuttle and the traces lead to an industrialist (Michael Lonsdale) who is planning to start a new civilization in space. The eleventh Bond flick followed the contemporary space trend, which was a bad idea. If you want to know why, just check out the moronic laser battle in space that looks like it belongs in a different franchise. The film does have a few good action sequences, but it’s an obvious copy of The Spy Who Loved Me with countless similar ingredients.

1979-Britain-U.S. 125 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Lewis Gilbert. Song: ”Moonraker” (performed by Shirley Bassey). Cast: Roger Moore (James Bond), Lois Chiles (Holly Goodhead), Michael Lonsdale (Hugo Drax), Richard Kiel, Corinne Clery, Bernard Lee… Desmond Llewelyn.

Trivia: James Mason was allegedly considered for the part of Drax. Lee’s final film as M. Followed by For Your Eyes Only (1981).

Quote: “James Bond. You appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season.” (Lonsdale to Moore)

Published 2006-11-14 14:55