Review of The Godfather Part II (1974) by Sean S — 26 Nov 2012

A sequel that simply feels like more of the original with none of the shortcomings and concessions usually made in sequels today. There's slightly more on offer here, following two storylines in two different times--Vito as he escapes Sicily and his family's death wish to settle in New York City and his rise through the ranks and connections to found the Corleone crime family; and Michael as he struggles to run the family amidst an attempted assassination, threats on his life and associates going behind his back.

Al Pacino's Michael goes from becoming a character the audience could sympathise with to someone who orders the death of his other older brother, Fredo, for conspiring against him, and disowns his wife, Kay, for disliking the family's business and aborting his son.

There's a lot of things that made the original great recreated here with no loss in quality or feeling, but its characters are less likable (although that is the point) and the film just a little bit too long.