Review of Moonraker (1979) by Jacob F — 20 Oct 2017

If you go into Moonraker expecting a typical globetrotting James Bond film with a spectacular space finale, then you'll come out elated, because that's precisely what it aimed to be, and precisely what it is.

Basically a beat-by-beat retelling of The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker is certainly a step down from that classic in all manners except its absolutely superb villains in the dryly sarcastic Hugo Drax and the returning sensation Jaws, who here implausibly turns to the good side after falling in love.

Besides that bizarre plot point and the inexplicable inclusion of the infamous pigeon double take scene, Moonraker emerges as a thoroughly underrated Bond film and a fine example of goofy over-the-top Bond with a spectaculary space battle to finish the film out.