Moonraker: Critic Reviews

It's one of the most buoyant Bond films of all.

Moonraker is a movie by gadgeteers, for gadgeteers, about gadgeteers. Our age may be losing its faith in technology, but James Bond sure hasn't.

Lewis Gilbert directed, but the real auteur of the series is production designer Ken Adam, whose spectacular chrome and plastic sets define Bond's world and technological ethic.

Christopher Wood's script takes the characters exactly where they always go in a James Bond pic and the only question is whether the stunts and gadgets will live up to expectations. They do.

While parts of Moonraker are rather silly, solid special effects, well-executed action sequences, and a strict reliance upon the 'Bond Formula' keep this film among Moore's better entries as the British superspy.

Broccoli just keeps piling on the goodies: lush Ken Adam sets, gadgetry and gams galore, super stunts and effects.

Primo kids' stuff, but under-satisfying for adults. [Blu-ray]

ludicrous but enjoyable hooey

One of the silliest and worse ones in the series.

An ill-conceived and frankly quite silly Bond-meets-sci-fi experiment.

The gadgets are up to the usual Bond standards, but fancy effects do not a movie make, and 007 is less satisfying floating around in space than when his feet are more or less firmly planted on the ground.

Bond meets Star Wars in one of the series' sillier outings.

Moore is in full swing

You know you love it.

The space-age plot is spread dangerously thin, the fights all tend to slapstick, and the wanton destruction has become rather too predictable. But it's held together by likeable performances.

It's exactly that ridiculousness that makes it so enjoyable.

Another buffoon 007 by Moore

A classic Bond movie; girls, action and style

Moonraker is a freefall of fun-filled entertainment.