Moonraker (1979) * * *

Directed by:  Lewis Gilbert

Starring:  Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Richard Kiel, Michael Lonsdale, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn

Moonraker is James Bond back when Bond movies meant absurd fun.     The Bonds following Roger Moore's departure transformed gradually into such stoic, serious fare one would think having a blast in a Bond film suddenly became a violation of international law.     Moonraker, which capitalized on the uptick in science fiction fantasy propelled by Star Wars, takes place in a plethora of exotic locations and even aboard a large space station.     Bond learns quickly how to defeat the bad guys even in outer space.

In Moonraker, Bond is on the trail of Hugo Drax, a megalomaniacal billionaire who could give Daniel Craig a run for his money in absolute stoicism.    His plan:  Destroy the Earth's population with a deadly gas launched from his custom built space station and then repopulate the planet with his genetically superior master race.    Supposing repopulation is even possible, would the gas affect the soil and its ability to grow food?    Or the water?   Or the air?    What will Drax do with himself once his people are reestablished on Earth?   I am putting much more thought into Drax's plan than Drax himself.

The villain's plot in a Bond film is as relevant as Marvin Martian's latest scheme to blow up the Earth.    The villains exist to be brought down by Bond in increasingly creative ways.    It isn't cool anymore to just have Bond shoot the guy and end it.    No, the villain must meet his demise in ways in ways you wouldn't wish on an enemy.    Or maybe you would.    And the women in Bond films of yore, like the one played by Lois Chiles here, had memorable, if not politically correct names such as Holly Goodhead.   Or Pussy Galore.    Or Tiffany Case.  

I miss James Bond.    The Bond who understood how silly all of this was and jumped headlong into it.    The Bond who playfully uttered his lines with a grin.    The Bond who, despite being a parody of himself, was nonetheless a target of future satires like the Austin Powers trilogy.    If you consider how many times James Bond saved the world by the time Moonraker was released in 1979, it is baffling how the villains still don't recognize him when he enters their lives under a false identity.   You would think they'd have his poster plastered all over their lairs. 

Roger Moore was the playful Bond miffed that these villains are interrupting his opportunities to score.    He was happy to get all of this over with so he could get back to the rumpy pumpy with his leading lady, who by the next film would be completely forgotten.    Since Moore left the role, Bond films tried in vain to keep up with their imitators, which was a mistake.    The character was reimagined as a more contemporary tough guy who all but snarled at the screen.    No more sly in-jokes.    The locations remain exotic, but they don't spring to life.    James Bond became more turned on by chases and violence than sexy women who were allowed to have fun themselves.   

I doubt James Bond will ever return to the Bond of old.    I'm not a "it was better in the old days" kind of guy, but with Bond it was better.     We may have come to a point in which Bond has simply outlived his usefulness and has become indistinguishable from every other action hero.    I noticed I'm starting to sound like my review of Spectre, even while writing a worthwhile recommendation of Moonraker.