The Godfather: Part II

First off, you've got the one-of-a-kind Marlon Brando, but there's this other guy who acts as a vital link—once he becomes Robert De Niro, he becomes absolutely massive.

Off-topic, but man, that big shot from back in the day has really lost his edge over the last decade or so. Half the roles he takes now are just him making fun of himself. It's kind of sad...

I just gave it another watch, and honestly, it hits just as hard every single time.

The storytelling, the direction, the cast—it’s all absolute perfection.

That said, I’m curious: has anyone here actually sat down and read the book the Godfather series was based on?

I haven't read it, just watched a snippet, but I guess Pacino in that movie is 😍

rapidviper54 said:I'm curious if anyone here actually read the book that *The Godfather* series was based on? [/B]

So, I read the book... the one they turned into THE GODFATHER... 🙏 ... and man, they deviate quite a bit. For instance, Luca Brasi is basically a cold-blooded killer in the novel—he even burns some newborn baby alive or something—whereas in the movie, he comes across as this kindhearted guy.

The book also has like fifty pages dedicated just to some woman's surgery—honestly, I can't even remember the details anymore. 😳

👋 🙏

Part 2 is alright, I suppose, but if you’re holding it up against Part 1, it just feels completely lackluster. Not to mention, they basically just handed those three the win on a silver platter without them even earning it.

I have a question about the first movie. At the start, Michael Corleone seems totally uninterested in the mafia business—he basically says, "That's my family, not me"—but then he suddenly changes his mind and dives headfirst into the family "business." It feels especially weird when he volunteers to take out those two guys. I guess his transformation happened way too fast without enough buildup. Does anyone else feel that way?
I suppose his father, Don Vito, getting hurt might be the motive and the trigger, but still...

Sean Nguyen4 said:I have a question regarding the first film. At the very beginning, Michael Corleone shows absolutely no interest in the mafia business—he even claims, "That's my family, not me"—yet he undergoes this incredibly abrupt shift in perspective and dives headfirst into the family "business." I find his decision to volunteer for that double assassination particularly jarring. It feels as though his transformation occurred far too rapidly, lacking a sufficient sequence of events to justify such a pivot. Does anyone else share this impression?
I suppose the wounding of his father, Don Vito, could serve as the catalyst and the primary motivation, but even so...

If someone were to shoot an elderly person right in front of us on a street in Chicago, wouldn't we all likely undergo a sudden transformation ourselves? 😛

Sean Nguyen4 said:I have a question regarding the first movie. At the start, Michael Corleone seems totally detached from the mafia business—he basically says, "That's my family, not me"—but then he undergoes this sudden, drastic shift and gets pulled right into the family "business."

It’s an easy enough explanation, really... it’s just in his blood...

Oh man, when Robert De Niro dropped that line today: "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse..." ahhh! 🙏 🙏 🙏

Sean Nguyen4 said:I’m guessing injuring his father, Don Vito, could be the motive and the catalyst, but still...

That's exactly the point! He always knew he was destined to be Vito's successor. While Vito was healthy, it wasn't really his concern, but once that shooting happened... you know how it goes. 🙂

Roger Allen3 said:Man, when Robert De Niro dropped that line today—"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse"... god, just thinking about it... 🙏 🙏 🙏

De Niro is a legend... 😎

Roger Allen3 said:That’s really the point, because he always knew he was going to be Vito's successor. While Vito was still around, it wasn't much of an issue, but after that shooting... you know how it went. 🙂

Yes, Godfather! 🙂

To be perfectly honest, I spent the entire movie just waiting for little Michael to return to the Corleone family to get his revenge on Don Vito. That whole sequence felt a bit underwhelming to me; they really should have paced it better. It was supposed to be the film's absolute climax! Instead, it felt too rushed—just showing up, stabbing him in the gut, and tearing him apart, then bolting out of there. They even wounded someone else in the process! Honestly, they should have just shown up and given him an offer he couldn't refuse, rather than doing 🙂

And besides, Don Vito is left half-dead, barely breathing...

Roger Allen3 said:If I’m being perfectly honest, the entire movie felt like one long buildup to the single moment when young Michael would finally return to the Corleone estate to settle the score with Don Vito. That’s why the whole sequence left me feeling a bit let down; the execution just lacked the narrative weight it deserved. It should have been the cinematic peak of the story, but instead, they just had him walk right up, jam a blade into his gut, and tear him apart... then just bolt out of there. They even wounded someone else in the process. Honestly, they should have gone there and presented him with an offer he couldn't refuse, rather than resorting to something so blunt 🙂

And besides, Don Vito is practically half-dead, barely clinging to life...

My name is Vito Corleone.

Corleone. You took the name of this town! And what's your father's name?

My father's name was Antonio Andolini -- and this is for you.

👍

rapidviper54 said:I just watched it again. It honestly leaves me breathless every single time.

The story, the direction, the cast—it’s all just perfection. Absolute perfection.

I am curious, though. Has anyone here actually sat down and read the book the Godfather series was based on?

I've read not just the first one, but the second as well... and while the third isn't my favorite, it's still quite respectable!

Though I must admit, I struggle to stay focused on reading books sometimes.

Melissa Myers5 said:My name is Vito Corleone.

Corleone. You basically named the whole town after him! And what about his father?

His father went by Antonio Andolini -- and this one's for you.

👍

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 De Niro is king!

Melissa Myers5 said:Part 2 is fine, but compared to Part 1? It’s nothing. Not to mention they just handed them the trilogy on a silver platter.

Look, when it comes to the reviews, he definitely gets more mileage out of the awards count,
(one of the few who actually topped the original)
though if you ask me, Part I still wins (especially because of Brando)
the third one is already leaning too hard into commercial territory.

jadeangler43 said:Look, if you're judging by the number of statues, the sequel actually comes out on top,
(it's one of those rare cases where the remake beats the original)
though I still think Part I hits harder, mostly because of Brando...
by the third one, it starts feeling like a big commercial cash grab.

Personally, I think the second one is just as good as the first. It just hits different. Darker, more violent...

I don't get why Michael let Frank Pentangelli die. It makes zero sense to me.