Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, John Cazale

Continuing saga of the Corleone family as they move to Nevada and make the casino business their major income source under the leadership of the increasingly paranoid and malevolent Michael, whose rei...( read more  read more... )gn as the 'Don' is juxtaposed against the parallel tale of his father's escape from Sicily as a young boy and his subsequent rise to power in New York's Lower East Side during the turn-of-the-century.

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96% liked it

356,207 ratings

Critics

98% liked it

54 critics

R, 3 hrs. 20 min.

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

Release Date: December 20, 1974

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DVD Release Date: May 24, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (21,207)


  • September 7, 2009
    It's funny how well this film worked so well after the departure of Brando but that's where both De Niro and Pacino stepped up in a film that really made their careers. Even though the pair never have a scene together, its almost like their in competition. This is a far superior ...( read more)film than Godfather Part 1 but for me, It will always be the late great John Cazale who makes part 2 so damn good.
  • June 22, 2009
    Whlle not as consistently "solid" as The Godfather, this second installment of the Corleone family saga is still an riveting piece of work.

    And fans of the first film will no doubt appreciate the opportunity to not only a little "follow-up" on the Corleones, but also to get a ...( read more)little back story on how their Empire came to be in the first place.

    I felt like the editing could have been a little smoother and that it lost a little of it's momentum following the "Intermission". But it was still a great film and definately well above "par" as far as "sequels" go.
  • May 3, 2009
    Some see this as less a sequel, but more of a continuation of the first. Some see this as the greatest sequel ever made. I don't fall into either side, but I do know this is some damn fine film making.

    The film is split into two major stories, both being played out at the same t...( read more)ime. One is a prequel of sorts, about Vito Corleone (played in most scenes by Robert De Niro, who deserved the Best Supporting Actor) and his rise to power from humble beginnings and a troubled past. The other focuses on his son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino, improving on the already magnificent performance from the first film) in the present time of the film, trying to keep the family's businesses and ventures going while figuring out who he can trust.

    A lot of what I said about the first film, in regards to Michael, can be said here, so this review will try and focus on other aspects
    So, with that said, the perils of keeping business afloat and keeping a family life hit harder here than they do in the first installment. Michael suffers betrayal in business by family (through Fredo, his brother) and what he sees to be betrayal by his wife (Diane Keaton, reprising her role and doing well again) after she tells him she had an abortion, not wishing to bring another child into a den of sin and lying to Michael, saying it was a miscarriage.
    That scene is one of the more powerful scenes of the film, with Michael slapping her in disgust and getting furious. However, unlike his late brother-in-law, he can keep himself in check (and in my eyes, he's still a better man).

    Michael also faces a new challenge with an investigation into the dealings of the family is ongoing, thus creating more stress for the Don. On the flip side, back in Vito's day, once he's disposed of the local Mafia kingpin, he earns the respect of the neighbourhood, thus solidifying a position of power he would hold for years to come.

    What I like most about this film is the relationships Michael keeps, particularly with Fredo (John Cazale, one of the other standout performances as is Robert Duvall as Tom Hagan, one of my favourite characters of the whole saga). Fredo is seen as a good hearted man, if not overly intelligent, who is jealous of younger brother Michael. After his betrayal, Michael goes through several stages with him ranging from sorrow at what Fredo has done, to just downright disowning him and then eventually welcoming him back to the fold. The scenes between Al and John are great and it's a pity John passed away after only doing a handful of films.

    I still strongly prefer the former film, due to how Michael starts off an innocent bystander in his family's dealings and then ends up running the show himself. That said, put the two films together, you have a powerful story. The third film would deal with paying for the sins he has committed but that is to be left for another review.

    I would also like to add that the first two films have made a spectacular leap in mediums to the video game industry and are a joy to play.
  • April 25, 2009
    The Godfather Part II may just skim off the edge of the original Godfather but this one definetely exceeds more on the 'Movie To See Before You Die' factor. The story of Michael Corleones soul loss is awesome, but what really is brilliant is the 'prequel' part of the film. Robert...( read more) DeNiro plays a young Vito Corleone and this goes on to tell you about how a happy family can be totally driven apart by corruption. The comparison is great of how Vito Corleones empire was built on love, honour and respect, but Michaels was built on volatility, brutal dominance and the unbelievable lack of loyalty. Possibly the second greatest film ever made
  • April 1, 2009
    fucking fredo!*
  • November 18, 2009
    very difficult to understand, may be a good movie, who knows, mujhe to samajh hi nai ayi
  • November 14, 2009
    no further comment..
  • November 13, 2009
    What makes the film great is how it contrasts Vito Corleone's rise to power - essentially a decent man who fights against oppression - with the merciless quality of his son Michael, and his betrayal of the "family" values which give him his legitimacy.
  • November 9, 2009
    Excellent movie to watch.very exciting.
  • November 3, 2009
    One of the best of the best.

Critic Reviews


October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The stunning text of The Godfather is replaced in Part II with prologues, epilogues, footnotes, and good intentions. full review

View more The Godfather, Part II reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • kotaybam2005
    May 21, 2009
    the best movie of all times
  • rayman0071
    June 12, 2007
    This was not even to be part of a sequel but it surpass the original in many ways. No wonder the film won 7 Oscars including Best Picture of 1974.
  • phexid06
    March 20, 2007
    It is hard to say....but I must be honest this is one case where the second film tops the first...the fact that this film reaches so far back in time to bring a whole new meaning to the story is compelling enough. Combined that with some great actors and you have a movie that will last for years to come.
  • dsoul
    March 4, 2007
    Amazingly enough its better than the original. We voyage into the past and see how Vito (Robert De Niro) became the godfather. In the present time Michael ( Al Pacino) is going through some incredibly hard times, from an assasination attempt to being placed under investigation by the Feds. This movie is awesome, the more I think about it the more this movie stands out as a masterpiece. Who could ever forget the making of cinema history when Michael confronts his brother Freddo during a new years celebration...kisses him on the lips and tells him .." I know it was you Freddo".. goddamn that was friggin genius. My god Francis Ford Coppola was at the top of his game when he did this, not to mention Al Pacino & John Cazale. Seriously this movie is the reason to disconnect the phone, get some popcorn ready, some wine and watch the trilogy back to back.
  • DiamondRain
    December 27, 2006
    I can't believe no one has commented on this!
    It is a wonderful masterpiece!

    It is one of the few movies I could keep watching over and over.

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