| Moonraker [Region 2] |  | Director: Lewis Gilbert
Actors: Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale, Richard Kiel, Corinne Clery
Studio: United Artists
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $49.98
as of 3/18/2010 11:24 EDT details
Seller: ZoverstocksUSA
Rating:  219 reviews
Sales Rank: 302987
Format: PAL
Languages: English (Original Language), Italian (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 126 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5050070002324
ASIN: B00004SH4V
Theatrical Release Date: June 29, 1979
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
This was the first James Bond adventure produced after the success of Star Wars, so it jumped on the sci-fi bandwagon by combining the suave appeal of Agent 007 (once again played by Roger Moore) with enough high-tech hardware and special effects to make Luke Skywalker want to join Her Majesty's Secret Service. After the razzle-dazzle of The Spy Who Loved Me, this attempt to latch onto a trend proved to be a case of overkill, even though it brought back the steel-toothed villain Jaws (Richard Kiel) and scored a major hit at the box office. This time Bond is up against a criminal industrialist named Drax (Michel Lonsdale) who wants to control the world from his orbiting space station. In keeping with his well-groomed style, Bond thwarts this maniacal Neo-Hitler's scheme with the help of a beautiful, sleek-figured scientist (played by Lois Chiles with all the vitality of a department-store mannequin). There's a grand-scale climax involving space shuttles and ray guns, but despite the film's popular success, this is one Bond adventure that never quite gets off the launching pad. It's as if the caretakers of the James Bond franchise had forgotten that it's Bond--and not a barrage of gizmos and gadgets (including a land-worthy Venetian gondola)--that fuels the series' success. Despite Moore's passive performance (which Pauline Kael described as "like an office manager who is turning into dead wood but hanging on to collect his pension"), Moonraker had no problem attracting an appreciative audience, and there are even a few renegade Bond-philes who consider it one of their favorites. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 219
 Hi-def can't save this clunker December 6, 2009
K. Swanson (Austin, TX United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Not the worst Bond, but very close. Moonraker looks great in blu-ray, but as the saying goes, you can polish a turd but it'll still be crap.
Having seen every Bond film many times, some of them many dozens, I feel confident in saying, this one sucks. It was great the week it came out and I was a kid in the thrall of all things Star Wars-ish, but that's who this film was made for: pre-teens who have never read a Fleming Bond book and don't understand what this character is meant to be.
Here, Bond is pure cartoon. Other reviewers feel this is better than Live And Let Die and Golden Gun, but I say, not even close. Those two are campy but fun; this one is merely campy and stupid. Terrible script, jokes so bad they're not even wryly funny, and on. I hadn't seen this one since the 80s and realized why: it is indeed not worth watching except for Bond completists. The scenery here is lovely in blu-ray, but I can watch travel shows in HD if that's all I want.
Moore is obviously bored and as bad a Bond here as Brosnan ever was, maybe worse. But what to expect from a film that was, according to the producers (on the decent extras doc, the only worthwhile thing here), a complete Star Wars exploitation flick? Nothing, and that's what we get.
I would watch the first five Bond films a dozen times each before I'd get bored enough to watch ten minutes of this, and then only the first ten, as they're the only remotely decent thing here.
I love Bond films when they're smart and fun; Moonraker is neither, and blu-ray in some ways only highlights how cheesy this movie really is.
 A middling Bond movie November 13, 2009
E. Ennis
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Bond in space. With lasers. For me this is lower on my list of favorite Bond movies. The gadgets weren't that great, the music was not the best and the plot was even more over the top than usual. I am also not the biggest fan of Roger Moore's interpretation of Bond and his psyche. He is much more comical and soft than the Bonds before and after him. The Blu-Ray is a nice clean up of the picture, but there is only so much that can be done with the older movies before the special effects work becomes obvious. The soundtrack is probably the most improved aspect of this movie vs. the DVD. The color and contrast of the film is also greatly improved vs the DVD.
 Great 007 Title for Blu-ray fans October 21, 2009
Christopher Cerullo (New York)
Moonraker is actually the first Moore 007 title I've ever purchased. Despite some obviously dated effects (e.g., several "matted in" 'aereal' scenes), this was a very pleasant surprise in every way in terms of both the film itself and the quality of the Blu-ray. Lots of action, plus a cool plot, and some funny lines from Mr. Moore and the very entertaining "Jaws" character that always turns up no matter where 007 goes! I think the space scenes give it a nice added hint of sci-fi that you don't always get in Bond films. I actually enjoyed the film so much and the beautiful cinematography (particularly in Rio de Genaro) that I watched it again as soon as it was over just to look at the stunning image quality! If you're both a bond fan and a real sucker for excellent image and sound quality, this Blu-ray disc is a treat! I only have a 720P plasma, and this film from 1979 has better image quality than some more recent films. (E.g., Just saw Blu-ray of Bram Stoker's Dracula from '92. A much newer film, but of course perhaps due to artistic intent, with a decidedly softer image. Certainly Better than a standard DVD, but nowhere near as sharp as Moonraker). The 5.1 HD Master Audio track is also quite robust and pretty directional for its age. Many of the scenes boast almost 3-D-like image quality, with jaw-dropping color and detail (check out the scene where 007 is on a boat looking through a telescope. The lens almost "jumps" out of the screen.) The aereal scenes and scenes in Rio de genaro and Venice have to be seen to be appreciated. The detail in the buildings and scenery is outrageous! Blu-ray is here to stay... simply the most amazing video medium ever... Like a great car you want to keep driving, the more I experience Blu-ray the more I appreciate it. I'm buying films I've never owned before because of it... now all I need are "Jaws", "War of the Worlds '05", "Titanic" and the "Jurassic Park" series to come out...
Bond on DVD sterioids September 24, 2009
G. Thomas (CA)
Way better than the DVD quality. If you're a Bond fan, you'll like this one. Blueray brings out everything..color...sound...theatre quality for sure.
 Very Enjoyable Bond September 7, 2009
Gary P. Cohen (Staten Island, NY USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The mention of "Moonraker" usually elicits controversey. Serious Bond fans usually despise it due to its far-out premise of sending Bond into outer space at the conclusion. Yet, if you just want a relaxing and entertaining film, "Moonraker" is wonderful entertainment. This was Roger Moore's 4th Bond film, the Bond film right after his personal triumph in "The Spy Who Loved Me," Moore's best Bond and one of the most lavish and entertaining films in the series. "Moonraker" is nowhere as good as that film, but it is fun nonetheless. If anything, the main problem with "Moonraker" is that it tries to give the audience too much, usually to the detriment of the film. There is a gondola chase scene in Venice that concludes with the gondola driving up into St. Peter's Square and Moore driving through hundreds of tourists that makes me cringe everytime I see it. There is a totally unnecessary scene of Moore being attacked by a large python and dispatching it with a CIA device that he should not logically have. This scene and the previous one should have wound up on the cutting-room floor.
However "Moonraker" does have academy-award nominated special effects, wonderful location work, a beautiful all-American leading lady in Lois Chiles and a wild confrontation between American Marine Astronauts(?) and the villain's stooges in outer space. (Sort of like the underwater fight-scene at the conclusion of "Thunderball" transferred to outer space.) In an attempt to outdo the pre-credits sequence of "The Spy Who Loved Me," "Moonraker" has Bond being pushed out of a plane without a parachute. This is a terrific and exciting sequence. (One thing "Moonraker" has an did not need was the return of Richard Kiel as "Jaws." The attempt to turn him into a good guy at the end was ridiculous.")
"Moonraker" was a smash hit in the summer of 1979 and received mostly positive reviews from the likes of The NY Times and Rex Reed. It played to sell-out crowds.
The picture and sound on this blu-ray are excellent. There is an excellent Roger Moore commentary. Most of the special features have been seen before including a terrific "making of" documentary, another great documentary on the special effects of the Bond films, vintage interviews, etc. The special features are very good.
In conclusion, "Moonraker" may not be the most realistic Bond film, however it is still a marverlously entertaining motion picture.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 219
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