The Spy Who Loved Me (film) big budget was not wasted. Interestingly, while the sets and gimmicks were the most spectacular to date, Bond and the other characters are toned down (there's a minimum of slapstick humour) so that they are more realistic than in other Roger Moore films. Moore gives his best performance in the series ... [Bond and Anya Amasova] are an appealing couple, equal in every way. Film is a real treat – a well acted, smartly cast, sexy, visually impressive, lavishly produced, powerfully directed mix of a spy romance and a war-mission film." Janet Maslin of "The New York Times" considered the
James Bond in film plan changed within weeks of the 1977 release, following the box office success of the 1977 space-themed film "Star Wars". With a budget of $34 million "Moonraker" cost more than double any of the previous Bond films, although both Broccoli and United Artists agreed to the costs because of the profits from "The Spy Who Loved Me". Lewis Gilbert was again appointed as director, and a number of the crew from "The Spy Who Loved Me" also joined the production. Gilbert and Tom Mankiewicz wrote the initial story, but Christopher Wood turned this into the final screenplay. Many of the