Review of The Godfather Part II (1974) by Stephen Z — 08 Aug 2015

What makes "The Godfather, Part II" such a great sequel is that it is truly a continuation of the story laid down in "The Godfather". It is neither better nor worse than the original film. Everything that was great about the first film is still true of this film; the great plot, the dark tone, and the first-rate acting. Al Pacino gives another successful performance as Michael Corleone. And while the absence of Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone is disappointing, it is made up for by the tremendous performance of Robert De Niro as a younger Vito.

Though the film runs almost three and a half hours long, you'll never once find yourself tapping your foot and looking at your watch; the story is just too interesting for that. However, even though the stories of Michael and young Vito are both fascinating and will keep you hooked, the way the film jumps between the two stories can be confusing at times. Nevertheless, as a sequel that is just as good as its award-winning predecessor, "The Godfather, Part II" is a highly recommended film.