Plot: What’s it about?
A valuable space shuttle on loan to Britain is being transported via the air, of course, when things take a turn for the worse, and the plane crashes into the ocean. In a strange turn, the space shuttle is missing from the debris when the crash site is searched afterwards. In an effort to smooth things over with the shuttle’s creator, Hugo Drax (Michel Lonsdale), the British government sends an emissary to meet with him and discuss the event. They don’t send just anyone however, they send agent 007 himself, James Bond (Roger Moore), to take care of business. When Bond arrives, he finds himself in the middle of numerous attempts on his life, but manages to escape intact and unharmed, as per usual. After such a series of events of course, Drax becomes a suspect in the theft of the shuttle, and as Bond delves deeper into the issue, he discovers he isn’t the only person on Drax’s trail. A C.I.A./N.A.S.A. operative, Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) is also on the case, so the two decide to forge (in more ways than one) a tandem to crack the mission. As the two scour the planet to find Drax, they begin to unravel the larger plans the evil genius has, and they find out they may have to go beyond normal Earth bound limitations to get their man.
This is another adventure of that super agent among super agents, James Bond, and this time Bond has to go further than he ever has before to stop the mad man who threatens the good life of the world’s citizens. Of all the Bond adventures, Moonraker is not one of the more highly regarded titles, but I don’t think it deserves all the criticism it gets. You’ll find all the normal Bond elements, such as incredible stunts, conniving bad guys, gadgets galore, and of course, lovely ladies, but for some reason, folks seem to think this installment of the Bond series is just plain silly. I’ll buy that this one is filled with outrageous sequences, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Bond adventure. The outer space factor isn’t that important, since only the final portion of the film takes place there, but that seems to be what people hate about this movie. I don’t think this is the finest Bond movie, but I do feel it is one of the most fun additions to the series, to be sure. If you’re a Bond fanatic or just love this movie, take the plunge and purchase the disc (or the whole set), you’ll be glad you did. But for others, a rental might be a good idea before you make a buying commitment.
This film was directed by Lewis Gilbert, who is no stranger to the Bond saga, having directed two other Bond films before this one, The Spy Who Loved Me and You Only Live Twice. Since Gilbert has experience outside of the Bond series, his additions to the series seem more like normal films, but I don’t think that’s always a bad thing. They still pack a wallop, and deliver all the action and thrills we’ve come to expect from 007. The man behind the persona of James Bond in this film is Roger Moore, who donned the crown for his fair share of films, that’s for sure. Moore adds wit and comedy to Bond in his efforts for the series, a touch I happen to like a lot. Is Moore my favorite Bond? No, but I like his entries in the series quite a bit. Other main roles are played by Lois Chiles (Broadcast News), Richard Kiel (Happy Gilmore), and Michel Lonsdale (Ronin). Kiel returns to the series as one of the coolest Bond foes, with Lonsdale playing an adequate lead bad guy. Chiles is striking as Goodhead, although she’s not as simmering as some other Bond girls. Returning in this Bond adventure are Lois Maxwell, Bernard Lee, and Desmond Llewelyn.
Video: How does it look?
Moonraker is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The colors look bright and vivid, without errors to deal with, and the flesh tones appear normal and free from distortion. The contrast levels are correct also, with no detail loss to be found and accurate shadow layering present as well. Being a twenty year old film, I didn’t expect the transfer to look this good, but MGM has released Moonraker in fine form here. The source print looks very good, with little wear signs and the compression is flawless, no artifacts to be seen here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc contains a remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 track, but the packaging doesn’t inform you of this. So, rest assured you’ll find the 5.1 track on this release, and not just the 2.0 track listed on the box. As with most remasters, this one lacks the true punch and scope of an original 5.1 mix, but it does a fantastic job with the material. You’ll notice plenty of surround use, from the excellent score to the more action driven scenes, the speakers will working double time to keep up. The sound is always natural though, and never seems forced. The dialogue isn’t lost in all the surround use though, and all the innuendo and one liners sound off loud and clear.
Supplements: What are the extras?
As has become the tradition with MGMs banner series, this issue in the Bond series is loaded with the goods we all love. The insert booklet contains some nice production notes and photos, and the disc houses the theatrical trailer and a wonderful still photo gallery, which is well organized and easy to use. Next is an audio commentary with several crew members, including director Lewis Gilbert, screenwriter Chris Wood, and a pair of producers, William Cartlidge and Michael Wilson. This is a great track filled with insight into the production, a must listen for fans of the film. A twenty minute featurette is also here, which takes a look at some of the larger scale special effects sequences from the series, and makes for an interesting watch. The final supplement is a forty minute documentary, Inside Moonraker, which consists of cast and crew interviews, and gives an in depth glimpse into the film.
