Powerful Sequel

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2003)

Francis Ford Coppola was in his prime as a director in the 1970s with GFI and II, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now. This is probably one of the best sequels ever made because like all good sequels (Empire Strikes Back, Rocky II, etc.) it borrows from the original but has its own unique story that is more than the recycling of former themes, structures and philosophies.
Spoiler Warning.
GFII tells parallel stories of the young Vito Corleone and of his son Michael. Coppola does a good job of knowing when to flash back and flash foward. We see Vito as an orphan coming to America, establishing his influence by killing the local Don, building up his business and getting his revenge on the Don who ordered the death of his father, brother and mother. Michael tries to legitimize the family business by buying casinos, creating ties to political figures and investing in the Cuban government which will become communist at the beginning of 1959. We see his personal life deteriorating as there is an assassination attempt that his brother, Fredo, was somewhat responsible for.
The lighting and music is great in this film. I liked the acting by Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and especially Lee Strasburg as Hyman Roth. It's a movie that could stand on its own.

Most memorable scenes: The images of the Statue of Liberty, the young Vito stalking Don Fanucci before killing him, Pacino's reaction to finding out Fredo is the traitor and later finding out his wife had an abortion, and the sequence that sees the death of Pentangeli, Roth and Fredo leading to a flashback that features men who have been murdered or alienated by Michael, except for Sonny. Michael talked about not becoming a man like his father and years later we see he has become a much worser being. He sits on a lawn chair and reflects upon the decisions and their consequences as the film fades darkly to the credits.