The Godfather Part II (1974, R)

Hmmmm, it's getting late, I've just done my homework, and now I need to do something else to do.  What could be better then writing a review for the Godfather Part II?  Having watched this epic gangster movie for the first time I few days previously, I decided it was time to write a review, after letting the film to dwell on me completely.

The first Godfather film was not only a great gangster film, but also a hands down great movie as well, because everything about it was so great.  In fact, the Godfather is definitely one of the greatest movies of all time.  It followed the rise of young Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) as the new Don of the Corleone Sicilian crime family.

Part II tells two different stories; in fact, it serves as a prequel and a sequel to the original Godfather.  One story follows the story of the young Vito Corleone (Robert de Niro), and how he rose up to become a powerful crime lord.  The other story explains how Michael causes his own downfall.  The combined stories take 200 minutes to unfold.  And quite frankly, director Francis Ford Coppola films it perfectly.

Pacino gives a brilliant performance in the lead role; in fact, he probably gave a better performance here then in the previous installment.  I think it's obvious that he got robbed of the title for Best Actor at the Oscars.  De Niro, on the other hand, won Best Supporting Actor.  No doubt, De Niro, a younger actor at the time, gave quite an accomplished performance.  Robert Duvall, as the step-brother Tom Hagen, gives a notable performance as well.

The first half of Part II is immensely entertaining and engaging.  By the time things begin to stretch out at 2 hours, however, the momentum begins to wind down a bit.  By the time it was at 180 minutes and still running, I do not deny that I waiting for the credits to role.

So Part II is long, almost too long, but it's very well directed by Coppola.  The script was co-written between Coppola and Mario Puzo.  Hands down, Part II delivers directing and script-writting to equal the first installment.  All in all, I liked the first Godfather slightly better then this one, as such being more original and tightly packed.  Even so, the Godfather Part II is one of the must see movies of all time.  It's a grande pic that you can't afford to miss!
                                             **** ½/5