The selection of Moonraker as the eleventh James Bond epic came as a surprise to 007 fans who were informed by the end credits of The Spy Who Loved Me that For Your Eyes Only would be the next Bond film. Producer Cubby Broccoli, inspired by the phenomenal success of Star Wars, felt the time was appropriate to send Bond to his one remaining unexplored frontier: outer space. As the trailer would later boast, "Other films promise you the moon. Moonraker delivers!"

The plot concerned Bond’s attempts to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mysterious disappearance of U.S. space shuttle on loan to the British. The trail leads to billionaire Hugo Drax, a megalomaniac who plans to use the shuttle to transport his confederates to a city he has built in space. Here, he hopes to rule over a master race, while unleashing satellites to destroy the earth by means of a deadly nerve gas. Notably, Drax is an Equal Opportunity Dictator, as the "master race" includes beautiful, and corrupt, individuals from all races.

The return of the Jaws character, used properly in The Spy Who Loved Me, is also a step in the wrong direction. Here, he is a Herman Munster-clone, who poses no formidable threat to anyone. By the way, just when will Bond learn that punching Jaws in his metallic teeth only causes damage to his own hand? The low point of Jaw’s involvement with the series occurs when he falls in love with a buxom lass named Dolly. The two of these characters do more damage to the Bond image than anything that Drax could ever dream up.

It is not fair, however, do dwell on the shortcomings found in Moonraker. In fact, the film contains many positive aspects and it never commits the cardinal sin of being dull. Drax, as played by Michael Lonsdale, speaks in a monotonous tone that barely conceals a treacherous air of malevolence. He is also a man of dry wit, earning the biggest laugh in the film when he advises his henchman to, "Take care of Mr. Bond - see that some harm comes to him."

Bond’s love interest is Dr. Holly Goodhead, played by Lois Chiles. Goodhead, a CIA agent planted in Drax industries, reluctantly sides with Bond to track a missing shuttle. Chiles performance is pleasing, and her character represents the essential Bond woman for the 1980s - beautiful, intelligent and self-reliant. Another prominent love interest is Corrine, portrayed by French actress Corinne Clery. When he first meet her she is a humble employee in the Drax empire. She builds an affection for Bond that results in a night of lovemaking, but with tragic consequences.

There is a spectacular climax in space in which Bond destroys Drax’s space city with the aid of U.S. armed forces as well as Jaws, who has a last minutes change of allegiance. The filmmakers could have pursued this lucrative path and ignored the protests of Bond enthusiasts who demanded a return to more believable thrillers. However, despite the worldwide financial success on Moonraker, Eon admitted that its slapstick content was artistically wrong. In For Your Eyes Only, Bond would be brought "back to earth" in one of the best Bond films of the Roger Moore era.