Since this is the first time in over 25 years that we'll have had back-to-back Bond films with the same director, I thought I'd start a conversation about what the anticipated result of this will be.
The first two Bonds were directed by Terence Young, and many agree that the 2nd was better than the first. "Dr. No" set the standard but "FRWL" deepened the concept, with a more dense, spy thriller plot without the "camp" elements of a mad scientist villain with a physical deformity, sci-fi related plot, and the like.
Few would argue that Guy Hamilton's sophomore Bond effort, DAF, is better than GF. As far as back-to-back Bonds go, LALD, while it's Mendes's favorite (I think it was the first one he saw, and one always has a soft spot for one's first), and despite some clever goings-on, is IMO more boring than DAF. At least DAF has a couple of good action sequences -- the fight in the elevator, the oil rig ending -- while I struggle to think of a good action scene in LALD.
Lewis Gilbert's sophomore Bond, TSWLM, is regarded as one of the series' best. His back-to-back follow-up MR is, rightly or wrongly, oft-maligned. They're basically the same movie with various elements working better or worse in either and the increase of camp in the latter.
John Glen's first Bond, FYEO, is regarded as one of Moore's best; the follow-up, OP, one of the weakest.
Campbell experienced successes with both of his Bonds, basically reaching about the maximum expectation for either time period regarding what you could do with the character and with a Bond film and how far you could go with either. CR, because it broke the mold, is generally more highly regarded.
My personal opinion is that, on the surface of things, SP looks to be going to great lengths to replicate the success of SF, so I think the films will be quite similar, with SF likely having the edge.
It's also the actor's 4th film, which often follows the vein of "bigger = better" (MR, DAD). SP has the largest budget ever recorded for a Bond and the shooting schedule is longer, so IMO we're in for a bigger film but possibly also the longest yet.
How do you think Mendes's 2nd Bond film will turn out?
Dave
Edited by rubixcub, 26 June 2015 - 07:11 PM.