Review of The Godfather Part II (1974) by Bradley W — 26 Feb 2015

The Godfather: Part II is not only one of the greatest sequels ever made, its one of the greatest films in American cinema. Francis Ford Coppola equally has outdone himself that not only matches the first film in story and characters, but in acting as well.

We lose Marlon Brando, but in exchange we get the marvelous Robert DeNiro who has stars in one of the finest performances of his career. Al Pacino plays a much more strict and siniste role in this film, and some of the best scenes are where he loses control of his temper and shows his much darker side.

The script is brilliantly crafted to show both the current standings of the Corleone family, and the history of their beginnings by showing Vito Corleone's childhood and rise to power. I loved this, but I think showing the orgins of their family is what really made me fall in love with this film.

I was totally engaged in discovering how it all began, and I loved watching DeNiros peformance drive it all. The story in modern times with Michael Corleone was incredible as well, and I loved seeing the mob business happen and all the betrayals that Michael must deal with.

Some consider Michael to be a villain but I diasgree. I see him as a man who was corrupted by the crime business, and is just a complex and desperate man. I also love the settings in the film, they put us into these memorable and vast areas that really stick in our heads.

The first film is one of my all time favorite films and one of the greatest treasures in cinema, and The Godfather: Part II is equally incredible, one of my all time favorite films, and I am glad people hold it in high regard as much as the first film.