Imagine this scenario: a filmmaker makes a movie that is completely unexpected, a massive risk that ultimately pays off in the eyes of the critics and the fans. After such a heroic feat, the world demands more and the director is asked to direct the ominous sequel. Now one of two things can happen.

The director tries his or her best to top the effort by making more of the same but pumping it up or tries to go in a different direction, opting for a film that will on some level avoid direct comparison because of its stylistic divergences.

Many directors have faced this scenario; most have come away with a critical slaying of some sort.

Just ask the Wachowski Bros about their "Matrix" movies as they tried to take their original concept and try strategy number one. Or Christopher Nolan when he tried to make "The Dark Knight Rises".

In both cases, the filmmakers saw the usual words of "disappointment" set in as their follow-ups failed to inspire the same level of excitement. And these are just two of many other examples.

Sam Mendes is going through the same thing with "Spectre."

After directing the magnificent "Skyfall," a film that took 007 tropes and threw them out the window, he was faced with this same situation: make a more grandiose version of "Skyfall," following the same ideas that had made that movie such a work of genius; or should he opt for a Bond film that moved in a different direction?

The problem with Bond was that it would be the 24th in the long-running franchise. So any direction or decision made would immediately bring comparison to one of 23 other movies.

So what does he do? He decides to go with Option 2. And he succeeds.

As "Spectre" opens, Bond is in Mexico City chasing after some Italian criminal at the previous M's direction. After a brief romance with the Italian's wife, he learns of a secret organization that is having a major meeting in Rome. He arrives at the meeting, but in the process happens upon the mysterious Franz Oberhauser. A frantic sequence ensues and bond heads off for Austria to find yet another link to find out more about this organization. Meanwhile British Intelligence is undergoing a major overhaul with 00 agents seemingly on their way out of commission.

The film moves from one major action setpiece to another with arguably more than any of Daniel Craig's previous Bond films. We go inside a helicopter in Mexico; we see a car chase along the Tiber banks; we see a plane/car chase in the snowy mountains; hand-to-hand combat takes place on a train and there is also a frantic timer-sequence back where it all began. The open sequence in Mexico is rather exhilarating, especially with its extended "one-take" that starts the movie; the car chase and train battle are also among the highlights of the movie. To say that "Skyfall" lacks action or tremendous suspense is unfair to a film filled with lots of adrenaline-pumping fun.

Of course the plot itself is a bit unwieldy, but then again so was "Skyfall's" (how Silva planned the train exploding on the scene so precisely remains one of the most incredulous moments of any film). The major plot twists are pretty predictable to be sure, especially in reference to the villains. Oberhauser's motivation certainly adds layers to Bond's backstory, but we all knew who he was before entering the movie theaters; the title of the film gives it away. This of course makes certain elements in the climax lose some of their excitement, but yet it is refreshing to see Mendes take certain characteristics of the villain and reinterpret them in some way.

Then there is the love story with Madeleine Swann, the first true romance in this reboot series since the opening "Casino Royale." In many ways, it is fitting to see Bond finally enter into a truly meaningful relationship for the first time since losing his great love Vesper Lynd in that movie; it provides a nice bookend to the franchise, especially if rumors that Craig is finished are true. The romance itself works rather well, with Craig and Lea Seydoux's icy personalities matching one another gaze for gaze and line for line. The conclusion of their relationship is ultimately satisfactory.

There could be something to be said for Craig retaining that rigid demeanor, especially after all the tragedy that he's endured over the first three films; his characterization here is a bit more diminished in some respects, but it is that relationship with Madeleine, the first true love he has since the opening film, that seemingly taps into his conscience and makes him wonder what the future could truly hold for him.

At large, this is really what the film's overarching theme is over all - does Bond have a place in the world? The last film showed us how dangerous terrorism that controlled information could be. This film ups that to another level, with the terrorism now working closely with major government organizations; what could Bond actually do in this case? He can't realistically kill everyone and as Oberhauser shows, others will simply rise up and come after him.

The more "global" stakes of the film also puts the major supporting characters into action with Ralph Fiennes proving to be a major hero in this film. Ben Whishaw also gets his moments as Q while Naomie Harris is criminally underused as Moneypenny. After seeing her getting her hands dirty during the opening of "Skyfall," it is disappointing to seeing her relegated to walking around and following the men as they save the world. Same goes for the luxurious casting of Monica Bellucci, who winds up relegated to a plot device instead of a more substantial character. 

Dave Bautista's Hinx is a brilliant counterpoint to Christoph Waltz's Oberhauser. Waltz brings his trademark verbose style to the role; Hinx says one word in the entire movie. Oberhauser does not throw one punch in the entire film or do much really aside from lead everyone around; Hinx beats Bond to a pulp and drives fast cars.

Is "Spectre" better than "Skyfall" or "Casino Royale?" Depends on what you are expecting really. If you are expecting another ground-breaking film, then you will surely be disappointed. If you are looking for more of a hyper-charged throwback with more gravity-defying stunts mixed in with a bit more romance, then "Spectre" will surely not disappointed.