“The Godfather Part II (1974)” Review

But you can never lose your family.

Why did I watch it?

To see if its reputation – as being one of the few sequels to be better than the original – is justified.

Did it meet expectations?

Well for a start it turns out to be a prequel as well as a sequel which I wasn’t expecting. The prequel strand runs through the film and features Robert De Niro doing his best Marlon Brando impression as young Vito. And some more beautiful Sicily with considerably more restraint shown on the use of Verdi’s La Forza del Destino this time.

That’s good, since the sequel part is considerably less engaging.. This sees Pacino’s Corleone junior, now the family CEO, involved in a rather complicated deal on the eve of the Cuban revolution.

Net result: while it does have its moments, when you compare it to The Godfather, well, it’s no Toy Story 2.

You should watch it if…

  • You either want a sequel or, especially, a prequel to The Godfather

You shouldn’t watch it if…

  • You don’t want your sequels and your prequels all mixed up together

Up next: The Green Mile (1999)

About Simon Wood

Lecturer in medical education, lapsed mathematician, Doctor Who fan and garden railway builder. See simonwood.info for more...

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