Moonraker- A Feast For My Eyes

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  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia, PAPosts: 753MI6 Agent
    Firemass wrote:
    So jealous that you were around in the 70's to see the classic Moore films released. Guess younger folk will say the same in time about the Craig films.

    If I could go back in time to see a Bond film in the cinema... it would be Moonraker.

    Same here. It would be that or Thunderball. Both movies had so much hoopla surrounding them. Thunderball is when Bondmania really went wild after the success of Goldfinger and the premier looked absolutely insane. With Moonraker, it came after the amazing Spy Who Loved Me and they nearly tripled the production value so it seemed that everyone was insanely hyped to see what all the Bond team would throw at us.
  • UltimateTruthUltimateTruth Posts: 140MI6 Agent
    So jealous that you were around in the 70's to see the classic Moore films released. Guess younger folk will say the same in time about the Craig films.

    Moonraker is next up on me and my fiance's Bond marathon. Can't wait B-)
    Yeah, I was 13 in the Summer of 79. I also remember seeing FYEO in the theater twice because I liked it so much the first time (The panoramic Cortina scenes are AWESOME on the big screen !). Octopussy was my first proper "date" with a chick....(No pun intended)
  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia, PAPosts: 753MI6 Agent
    Octopussy was actually my parents first date :))

    Thank goodness that night went well!
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    I remember the summer of 1981 when I was 17.

    I went to the cinema to see FYEO with my french penpal and after I have left the cinema, I knew that I would be a James Bond fan for the rest of my life!

    Never have I seen such an action-packed movie, marvellous music, Roger Moore at his peak, beautiful ladies, an incredible Lotus and extraordinary locations.

    My first collectible was to stop one of the people, who was putting ad posters in the neighborhood to get one of these posters from him.

    Years later I made it to go skiing in Cortina and I could never get enough from the panorama and the sound of the church bell. It's a magic place - particularly when you are on top of Tofana and look down to the Cortina valley.

    I don't recall my first cinema screening of Moonraker (yes, that's odd - maybe I have missed it?) but in the aftermaths of FYEO, there was a cinema in town that played the previous 007 movies in a raw, each one for one week and I went to see all of them.
    I remember that I was driving with my bike 20 km oneway to the cinema for Moonraker because I did not have enough money to fill up my car :D
    It was well worth it!
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Cool memories, thanks for sharing. -{
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Seeing You Only Live Twice at the movie theater for the first time was a magical experience.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Seeing You Only Live Twice at the movie theater for the first time was a magical experience.
    I first saw YOLT at the theatre on a triple bill with Goldfinger & Thunderball. Talk about a joyful overload!!!

    The only longer time I spent in the cinema with a series of movies was the Go-Ape-For-A-Day festivals I attended...
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • PMNPMN LeicestershirePosts: 24MI6 Agent
    First saw Moonraker on a cruise ship in 1979. My Dad worked for P and O and could get discount on cruises so we had a holiday on the SS Canberra. Moonraker was the big film on board and was screened about eight times in two weeks. I saw every screening. The thrill of seeing a newly released Bond film again and again for free was wonderful.
    Years later, I saw Tomorrow Never Dies on board P and O's Oriana but it was a pan and scan video
    projected on to a pathetic little screen in a huge theatre. Terrible.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,317Chief of Staff
    Seeing You Only Live Twice at the movie theater for the first time was a magical experience.

    +1.
  • HowardBHowardB USAPosts: 2,744MI6 Agent
    Moonraker is a fine film from a visual perspective and has its moments but not one of my favorites. The new Blu Ray release and big widescreen TV's I'm sure do the film much more justice as IMO it really suffered on TV and video.

    My first Bond film in a theater was "Goldfinger" in 1964. I was 7 yrs old. My father took me. The theater had a little over 1,900 seats including a large balcony and a huge screen that had a giant, plush drape that made it feel all the more majestic when it slowly opened exposing the screen. The theater was almost full, and the audience was transfixed....no side conversations and the other rude behavior that pervades at most multiplexes these days. I couldn't imagine a better way to see a Bond film much less one's first.
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    The only longer time I spent in the cinema with a series of movies was the Go-Ape-For-A-Day festivals I attended

    Now that's what I call magical! :))
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Now that's what I call magical! :))
    6 1/2 hours of Bond leaves one weary, but 10 hours of Apes results in soda caffeine shakes & severe popcorn tummy. :))
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    Aside from all the amazing special effects and set designs, Moonraker also has exceptional filmmaking from the ground up.

    Take for example M's office. The camera is at M's level while seated, then rises as he stands up and follows him across the room and then goes in for a closeup on Moneypenny all in one fluid motion.

    The transitions between scenes are also clever and smooth. A bell tolls as Corrine dies and the camera pans up towards the sky and then cuts to the bell tolling in Venice. Or the camera does the closeup of the Amazon river map and we hear the jungle sounds before Bond actually gets there.

    Great use of POV shots. The scene with the observation lenses in Rio are all masterfully done with movement and focus. When Bond swings around and suddenly sees Holly is brilliant. We also see great close up of Chang's face in the mask as well as Chang's POV looking at Bond thru the mask. Or Bond walking behind the vase in the museum and see his distorted POV of the room. The attractive tour guide pauses for a brief moment and we know that handsome 007 has caught her attention.

    Nice mirror shots! Whether it's Bond walking into Corrine's study or Bond in M's office. Mirrors are used creatively and appropriately and further enhance the magical surreal quality of the film.

    Of all the Bond films, Moonraker is perhaps the most fluent in cinematic language. The whole film just breathes with life.
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Firemass wrote:
    Aside from all the amazing special effects and set designs, Moonraker also has exceptional filmmaking from the ground up.

    Take for example M's office. The camera is at M's level while seated, then rises as he stands up and follows him across the room and then goes in for a closeup on Moneypenny all in one fluid motion.

    The transitions between scenes are also clever and smooth. A bell tolls as Corrine dies and the camera pans up towards the sky and then cuts to the bell tolling in Venice. Or the camera does the closeup of the Amazon river map and we hear the jungle sounds before Bond actually gets there.

    Great use of POV shots. The scene with the observation lenses in Rio are all masterfully done with movement and focus. When Bond swings around and suddenly sees Holly is brilliant. We also see great close up of Chang's face in the mask as well as Chang's POV looking at Bond thru the mask. Or Bond walking behind the vase in the museum and see his distorted POV of the room. The attractive tour guide pauses for a brief moment and we know that handsome 007 has caught her attention.

    Nice mirror shots! Whether it's Bond walking into Corrine's study or Bond in M's office. Mirrors are used creatively and appropriately and further enhance the magical surreal quality of the film.

    Of all the Bond films, Moonraker is perhaps the most fluent in cinematic language. The whole film just breathes with life.

    100% agree {[]

    I put Moonraker on the other night and was blown away (as usual) by the incredible cinematography. IMO it was one of the first really, really well shot Bond films.

    All your examples I agree with and feel the delight you experience(d) too.

    Another example I'd pose is the shot of the Chateau through the trees at the pheasant shooting, stunning.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I too watched MR again just a few days ago, to appreciate it it needs to be watched on as
    big a screen you can get. As it's spectacular , and loses much of its impact on a small screen. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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