Moonraker
Dir: Lewis Gilbert
1979
*****
Eon's original intention for Bond number eleven was to follow up 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me with Ian Flemming's eighth novel of the series, For Your Eyes Only (the end credits of The Spy Who Loved Me even state that "James Bond will return in For Your Eyes Only"). However, after the success of Star Wars and the popularity of the sci-fi space film in the late '70s, it was decided that Flemming's third novel, Moonraker, would be a better choice. It would be the last of Flemming's original novels to be adapted into film, although there are very few similarities, indeed 2002's Die Another Day would use more ideas from the novel than Moonraker ever did. Flemming had always intended Moonraker to be a film, his novel being adapted from what was originally a screenplay that he sold and subsequently bought back when it remained unfilmed. It wasn't until 1979 that a budget large enough would be available to give it the treatment it deserved. The budget was far bigger than any Bond film before but it remained the most financially successful film of the series until 1995's Goldeneye. Moonraker isn't a sequel to The Spy Who Loved Me but it often feels like it is. Richard Kiel's Jaws makes a popular return as does director Lewis Gilbert and the overall feel of the two film are very similar. Jaws was made a good guy after Gilbert received thousands of letters from children asking him to return the character but as a good guy so he wouldn't be killed off. Everyone was happy to see Jaws return but his turning good has since divided opinion and the film has been criticised for this, its overblown production, rather ridiculous story and for its camp humour. Personally it is what Bond is all about. I love Sean Connery's Bonds but when push comes to shove, if I want to chill out in front of a film with a big bag of popcorn, then this is what I choose. It's the Bond film most spoofed too, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me being the most famous case in point and also the best of the comedy trilogy. It's easy to point out the mistakes of Moonraker but I believe it is impossible not to love. It has a laser fight in Space, Bond and Jaws fighting between cable-cars, a dreamy theme tune, the best double-entendre of the entire franchise ("I think he's attempting re-entry")....a hovering gondala......seriously, what's not to love? It also sees Roger Moore arguably looking his most comfortable in the role. Imitation is the highest form of respect, spoof is a form of imitation in many ways and Moonraker has been spoofed many, many times.