THE GODFATHER: PART II (1974) | First Time Watching | MOVIE REACTION | Better Than The Original?

Is the sequel better than the original? We both watch The Godfather: Part II (1974) for the first time. Here's our reaction.
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[@Ryan-xu9zb]

The final scene shows how Vito was always about family, while Michael, they all walk away in the end leaving him alone at the table. He's literally alone at that time, foreshadowing him basically being alone at the end as well. Brothers all dead, Mother/father dead, Wife and sister alienated. He's alone, at what cost? Has everything in the world, power and money, but....all alone.

[@scottdarden3091]

It also shows Sonny introduced Carlo to Connie.

[@Theoneeyed_ghoul]

It also shows Fredo was his ONLY sibling who was supportive and kind to him about his sudden decision to leave college and join the military

[@KungFuTayo]

@@Theoneeyed_ghoul Forgot about that part! Love this movie.. Fredo was just a good guy in the wrong business..

[@matthewcastleton2263]

@@Theoneeyed_ghoulwhich is why is hurt him so much when he had him killed.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

No, Vito's mother didn't survive, the old lady at the dinner was his wife's mother.

[@andrewlillo8618]

yo siempre pense que era su abuela

[@barryscott8041]

Let's see, shotgun to the stomache....Left alone with men who intended to kill her .....Hmmm. Amazing survival story!

[@andrewjacksonbr]

This film illustrates the difference between Vito and Michael. Vito at his core is a family man and Michael at his core is a soldier.

[@LordBloodraven]

I did see the differences between Vito and Michael, but read it differently. Vito used his power and influence to improve the welfare his fellow Italians being persecuted in America. His wife was like his case manager, bringing neighbors to him with complaints of the abuses they were suffering. Michael was only focused on increasing his influence while not protecting his fellow Italians. And his wife, Kay, was never involved in the business, never bringing anyone to Michael for assistance outside their immediate family.

[@samuraibirds917]

​@@LordBloodraven Vito represented the old school Italian community while Michael represented the corporate business of America. Cold and relentless but above all, selfish.

[@travisgames6608]

Michael is a businessman at his core. Unlike Vito, who was a businessman, yet not as hardcore as Michael.

[@tmac9972]

What difference they are both the same, you over look what most people avoid that they are both ruthless killers, not family men not nice guys they are killers. You like most people act like they are plumbers coming home after a hard days work to feed thier familys, no they are men that murder.

[@Enoughdata]

Usually movies don't make me cry, but there is one specific scene in this movie that makes me tear up. When Vito and Clemenza bring in the carpet and put Sonny on the carpet, it really gets me. To see Vito looking down at his infant son really shines light in the first movie when he's at the morgue and says "look at how they massacred my boy", you know he still sees his son as a baby. And to see Sonny as a baby, knowing his fate and that Vito lives to see that just breaks me.

[@jeffdetmer4681]

Guys, the guy who stole the rug with Vito and hid the guns with him was Clemenza. The other guy who was with them was Tessio. The woman they gave the statue of liberty to was Vito's mother-in-law not his mother.

[@bellemane5839]

The two men often seen with Vito in the flashbacks are Clemenza and Tessio. In the first movie, Clemenza was the heavy set guy, which is why he’s eating in every scene in the second movie, and Tessio was the one that brought the meeting with Barzini to Michael at Vito’s funeral, revealing himself to be the traitor.

[@VictorPoncioni]

There's also Genco Abbandando, who became Vito's partner in the Genco Oil Company. He had a scene that was cut in the first film, right after Connie's wedding, where Vito goes visit him for the last time before Genco dies. Genco was also the first consigliere to the family and was replaced by Tom Hagen.

[@radicaladz]

The guy who played Clemenza was supposed to come back in this movie but he wanted more money and to be able to write his own lines. So instead they rewrote the role to be Frank Pentangeli instead and mention Clemenza died offscreen, with Frankie saying he doesn't believe it was a heart attack. On a similar note, Joe Spinell, who plays Willie Cicci - the guy who shot Don Cuneo in the revolving door in Part 1 and Frankie's underling who also gets pinched, the "buffer" guy - was supposed to be one of the bad guys in Part 3, but tragically died in his apartment a year or two before production - he had haemophilia and it's believed he bled to death after falling in the shower and smashing a glass shower door - so his role was rewritten as Joey Zaza and cast with Joe Mantegna aka Fat Tony from The Simpsons.

[@radicaladz]

Young Clemenza's actor is indeed Bruno Kirby from When Harry Met Sally; I personally know him best from Where the Buffalo Roam in which he played opposite Bill Murray as Hunter Thompson's long suffering editor Marty, and the TV movie Helter Skelter from the 00s where he plays Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor in charge of the Manson Family trial. He's also the voice of Stuart Little's fake parents along with Jennifer Tilly.

[@Entertainzor]

@@radicaladz So, thank god he died before Godfather Part III

[@keithmays8076]

@@VictorPoncioni Yeah, I remember him in the book. He was the one that got shot in the leg with the shotgun in Sicily. He always walked with a limp ever since that day.

[@stonerviking4079]

It was Frank's older brother that Michael brought to the trial. He figured that Frank couldn't rat on everyone in front of his brother because of the old school mafia honor code of not snitching. It worked perfectly as Frank saw him and changed his mind.

[@briangonigal3974]

That could well be the case, but is in no way mutually exclusive to the more common interpretation: "You have a lovely family here, it would a real tragedy if anything were to happen to them!" When Tom Hagen visits Frank at the end Frank does indeed say that his brother could have been a big shot & "had his own family" if he'd come to America, indicating that he was indeed in the game, but he also makes sure to get Tom's assurance that his brother is safely on the plane back to Italy, and when they ponder the future Tom further obliquely assures Frank that if he "does the right thing" his family wouldn't be harmed.

[@richarddefortuna2252]

Omerta.

[@PFitz-sh4ms]

I think because Frank knew his brother was so tough he couldn’t be forced to do anything against his will. That fact he chose to appeared with Michael at the trial was a sign to Frank that his brother genuinely believed Michael was not responsible for the hit.

[@dduval59]

Always took it as Michael threatening Frank to bring his brother there.

[@msw8966]

The fact is that Michael brought him to the trial to say see you talk and you won't see your brother anymore.

[@jamessinacore6991]

The scene when Kay tells Michael about the abortion is, in my opinion, the best performance I’ve ever seen Al Pacino, or any other actor for that matter, give. The change in expression from concern to absolute infuriated is amazing! Al Pacino is my favorite yeller of all time. No one yells like Al. I could see him bringing grown men to tears by merely yelling at them. Incredible actor.

[@davorjuric1309]

Agree.

[@michaeljames6817]

Al Pacino has had some great performances, I think he was best in Donnie Brasco.

[@jamessinacore6991]

@@michaeljames6817 Donnie Brasco was a great one too, but that scene in GF2 has always blown my mind. My Italian dad was also capable of those intense looks and terrifying shouts, so, maybe it’s just a sentimental thing. Lol.

[@lewstone5430]

That scene made me hate Kay.

[@benntura]

Pacino has a great yelling scene in Glengarry Glen Ross. He rips Kevin Spacey’s character a new one.

[@Geth-Who]

Also, if you were raised Catholic, you reflexively follow the rhythm of that Hail Mary prayer to the end, and it becomes clear that they let him finish. The gunshot comes right after the second you'd hear the 'amen'.

[@Geth-Who]

Even more than the first film, this movie's focused on Michael's descent into psychosis from betrayal after betrayal. He's so *cold*. He's a soldier, and he brought a soldier's logic to dealing with the Five Families at the end of the first movie, which permanently changed the landscape of power and the flow of how it worked. His determination to kill 'only my enemies' is only ever going to make him more enemies, but he's either not seeing that or refusing to acknowledge it.

[@TacticalSandals]

It's not paranoia if people are out to get you. I do not think he was psychotic he did horrible things but he always had his own reasoning behind it and protecting the family there was nothing really "crazy" about his actions.

[@timmoleft7147]

@@TacticalSandals Yeah - even his own Brother was prepared to betray him. And the guy who was supposed to be family - Hyman Roth - was trying to kill him.

[@Geth-Who]

@@TacticalSandals It really does bring home that, to excel at that kind of world, you have to be the kind of person that any normal human would consider a murderous paranoid megalomaniac.

[@TacticalSandals]

@@Geth-Who unfortunately that is the type of personality that generally excels in the corporate/business world.

[@Cream-2128]

@@timmoleft7147 Roth was never supposed to be his family. He basically says in the beginning of the movie Tom is the only family he can trust.

[@zooks527]

What a lot of people don't realize is that Fanucci wasn't a "Don", he was a solo shakedown artist who pretended to be hooked up. One tell is Vito's comment about knowing bookies who didn't pay the juice. Also telling is that Fanucci had no one around him in any location. It was all a con on Fanucci's part.

[@macksun]

Interesting analysis 🤔

[@petermartinijr.1012]

Don is a made up term used in the book, but Fanucci was with the Black Hand, witch was the precursor to Cosa Nostra. Cosa Nostra is the American equivalent to the Sicilian Mafia. I know people interchange Cosa Nostra and Mafia all the time, I do it also, but they are not the same thing.

[@petermartinijr.1012]

You must be from around the Chicago area. You said "juice". In NYC we would say "vig". I was watching the making of Casino, and one of the technical advisors, a former mobster, said in the original script they kept saying vig, and he told Scorsese to change it to juice because in Chicago they say juice & not vig.

[@zooks527]

@@petermartinijr.1012 Just outside Boston, from an Italian neighborhood, one grandfather from just outside Rome (the man was not a fan of Sicilians). I originally typed "vig", then figured that the term was old enough that many people likely wouldn't get it.

[@zooks527]

@@petermartinijr.1012 Fanucci SAID he was, but no one ever took any action against Vito afterwards, and it's clear that the neighborhood knew who had offed Fanucci. Actually, at that point in time, I believe "Black Hand" was also a term used for the action of kidnapping for ransom. It came to be applied to those who did it.

[@allyourmoney]

28:54 In the late 60's Al Pacino was a theater actor in New York and he had a reputation for explosive emotional outbursts. Audiences were mesmerized. They nicknamed him "the hand grenade" & people would buy tickets to any show he was in just to see him go off on stage.

[@timfoley332]

Micheal asks his mother if you can ever lose your family. She says no. He replys that times are changing. Vito did things to avenge, protect and keep his family together. Because of more expansion in order to gain eventual legitimacy Michael ends up losing his family and in the last scene is left alone just as he felt alone at the dinner table when he by joining the Marines was being his own man. But in the end despite all his efforts he loses what is the most important thing

[@lewstone5430]

Absolutely. Michaels killings in Part 2 feel more revenge oriented, not good. He should’ve listen to Tom on that one.

[@Fardawg]

In case you didn't realize it, it wasn't Michael who had Frank attacked. They used Michael's name during the "assassination attempt" to set Michael up and turn Frank against him.

[@matthewcastleton2263]

Yes. Hyman Roth was the one behind everything

[@peteyn.y.7960]

I’ve always very slightly preferred the original BUT to be honest it’s a toss up. This is a Masterpiece!! 🔥

[@walnutsandbeastiality866]

As Idris Elba rapped in their song called "Boasty" with Wiley: _,,I came to rap it up, do my ting_ _Shabby put me on the gram enuh, remix ting_ *_Hold tight Wiley with the Pacino flow_* *_Godfather Part Two, call me De Niro"_*

[@the_vile_one.]

Vito's story is my favorite part of this film. Vito was such a great character, and Deniro really did him justice. Looking forward to part 3 🙂

[@jamesalexander5623]

Don't .... But it is a Must Watch!

[@galvinklatt5273]

Coppola is masterfully juggling so much. The scale of the film is much bigger than the original, but the attention to detail and performances remain. This film feels a lot darker too. I really enjoy the flashback scene at the end to see Michael before he turned into a monster.

[@DemonBoy3223]

Very poetic and ironic, how Michael ends up all alone, back then during Vito's birthday party and later when sitting on his Lake Tahoe bench. "Did you do it?" "Yes." "What did it cost?" *_"Everything."_*

[@MrAitraining]

Godfather 2 is a beautiful film. Much larger in budget and locations. Francis had a lot more clout with the studio than the first one, and Nino Rota's music score is amazing.

[@InjuredRobot.]

Checking under the eyelids at Ellis Island was to check for signs of the eye disease 'Trachoma' as well as others. The main reason for quarantine was tuberculosis and I believe diphtheria.

[@dabe1971]

The two best pieces of acting have no words, just eyes - when Pacino realises Fredo betrayed him and when he gives the order to Neri to kill him.

[@petermartinijr.1012]

The Moe Green character, the guy shot in the eye toward the end of Godfather 1, was loosely based on Bugsy Segal. Hyman Roth was loosely based on Meyer Lansky

[@robertcuminale1212]

I grew up in Miami. Lansky was a character. He'd have a medical person with him and they'd have oxygen just in case. Lansky was really deported from Israel. He was trying to exercise his "right of return" guaranteed to every Jew. I doubt that Israel would have reused him. His occupation would be seen as the result of a Jew living in the Diaspora in an antisemitic environment. More likely they were "encouraged" by the US Justice Department. I used to wonder why Lansky stayed with the corrupt life. His lifestyle didn't reflect it. Capone was convicted of tax evasion precisely because he lived a life style that was way over what his reported income could have supported. I saw Capone's house twice. I was a telephone repairman with Southern Bell. Off Biscayne Bay there are tiny islands connected by causeway to the mainland. They were high security gated communities. The houses were connected to the gate house and they would call ahead to see if your visit was legitimate. Miami was a great place to work as long as you only had to work in North and South Miami. Unfortunately I was transferred to a district that included Hialeah, Opa Locka and Liberty City. I left the company and went to work in New York cabling the World Trade Center.

[@Mantis_Toboggan_MD.]

​@@robertcuminale1212 A famous 20th century Austrian politician once wrote about the real aim behind the creation of Israel was - “to establish a central organisation for their international swindling and cheating. As a sovereign State, this cannot be controlled by any of the other States. Therefore it can serve as a refuge for swindlers who have been found out and at the same time a high-school for the training of other swindlers.”

[@mikoajczarnecki3388]

I think the last scene when Michael stays alone and his family leaves the room to welcome Vito shows is a symbol of how Michael is pretty much alone after he ordered to kill Fredo, who by the way was the only one showed support when Michael announced that he joined military.

[@KurticeYZreacts]

The last dinner scene also showed that Fredo was always fair to Michael. That they were at one point good friend brothers. Breaks my heart. Pt3 imo shows how traumatized he was by his decision to take out fredo

[@snowdenwyatt6276]

The actor who played Fredo (John Cazale) died from lung cancer when he was 42. At that point he had acted in only five films. All five were nominated for Best Picture, three of them won.

[@kellifranklin9872]

He’s a legend.

[@jamessinacore6991]

That is my favorite piece of Hollywood trivia. John Cazale was a great actor. So convincing in his roles. I hope they get around to watching Dog Day Afternoon soon; another Pacino/Cazale masterpiece in my mind.

[@AneggoctopuS]

I always feel so sorry for Michael from this one. He tried his best, in his own stupid way to deal with the threats to his family but in the end he was so lonely and everybody fears him. It was his own fault yet the time has changed completely. The crimes in this era is totally different from the time of his father, the politics pressure and that tradition of Italian affairs had also lost in time. He had to deal much more troubles from the foreign forces that his father may never went through and on top of that nobody supported his back as much as his father's time. It was a real tragedy to watch everything turns down slowly and inevitably in the end. It always breaks my heart. This film makes me feel an end of an era, that nostalgic feeling of the loss of the past goodness despite how much a man struggles.

[@steelers6titles]

It was Michael's decision to enter into a life of crime. His father didn't want him to do it. He didn't have to do it. He is a liar and cold-blooded killer. I have no sympathy for him.

[@Kenny-ep2nf]

The ending of this movie rubs it in our faces that Michael is truly all alone after all that went down

[@pizzaisthebest1493]

Thanks for the great reaction! I'm not sure if I fully agree with the idea that the ending flashback shows that Michael has always been his own man. I think the flashback reminds the audience that Michael didn't want to end up in the family business, that he didn't want to be like his father. It reinforces the tragedy of his character arc; he became what he didn't want to be. However, I also think you're right. The flashback shows Michael's willingness to go his own way. He's always made quick and decisive decisions, and we see that in the way he runs the family business.

[@TennSeven]

The guy helping Vito steal the rug is Clemenza, the "leave the gun, take the cannoli" guy from the first movie. The character didn't appear in this movie because the actor who played him had some disagreements with the studio.

[@ttrdf]

that part when the stolen rug and they put baby sonny on it, he started to cry and he became ill shortly after is just one of many great scenes in the movie that might go over people's heads. Michael's eyes when he overheard his brother saying that ola told him about the place. Also, Ola was attending the party, which clearly his brother was there too, and when the two met, he noticed that Ola made a point that they NEVER met.

[@estersilva7804]

Wow! This sonny thing makes total sense... Like a prelude or something like that

[@kellifranklin9872]

The acting in this film is so great. John Cazale was just brilliant as Fredo. Had he lived he would have been a superstar. And yes, young Al Pacino is scorching hot!

[@paulinegallagher7821]

I read somewhere that Al really respected John as an actor and learned a lot from him.

[@jeffmendelson8039]

You guys did a really good job in absorbing this film upon first viewing. Yes, I agree with you both regarding the appeal in Vito's backstory in the second film. The difference between the 2 main characters is that, while Vito and Michael were both very smart (and extremely ruthless in their own way), Vito always based his emotions (and ultimately his actions) on his family and the shrewd way that he could create, and use, the respect of others for his own gain. Michael, on the other hand, used his cunning and lust for power and revenge to control his actions (even at the expense of his own family).

[@petermartinijr.1012]

What most people do not realize, Robert Deniro is not really Italian (Italian American) even though he plays a lot of Italian Americans in movies. The last name stuck, but he is mostly Irish American. The fact he played the role speaking only Italian, except for 1 line, with a Sicilian dialect shows what a great actor he is.

[@chitownreak]

young vito by himself and michaels last shot always leaves me in tears i think its because of the loneliness and emptyness they both feel,and that last scene of the brothers at the table arguing reminds me of my battles at the dinner table with my brothers

[@peeramidwithin3823]

A masterpiece prequel and sequel.

[@nielgregory108]

What the family's didn't understand, including his own, was that Michael went to REAL war and experienced things the mobsters could never imagine. THAT is what makes Michael so formidable.

[@LA_HA]

Plus, Michael is very logical, like a machine. He understands things and situations. Vito is very social. He understands people and how they think and feel. That creates the characters, their personalities, and how they deal with others and their ruling styles

[@adamwarlock1]

Very perceptive, but there's also another side to it. The families knew that it wasn't a war you could come home from, it was a life that you chose, and if that was going to be a good life you had to stay within boundaries. So Michael, following his total war logic, wins his campaigns, but loses the things that make life worth living.

[@ramudon2428]

Leopoldo Trieste acts the heck out of that scene as signora Colombo's landlord coming to see Vito.

[@jjstraka1982]

With the influx of reaction channels in the last year, you guys are far and away the best. And yes, Godfather II is the perfect sequel, so many stunning shots, scenes and performances.

[@mckeldin1961]

Enjoyed watching this through "newbie" eyes! (Ditto the first one). The Frank Pentangeli character, I believe was originally supposed to be Clemenza (the heavyset capo from the first film, and seen in Part II as a young man... the one who steals the rug for young Vito). The actor Richard Castellano was either unavailable or was asking too much money (I've read conflicting things) so Coppola and Puzo just tweaked the script and invented Pentangeli as a successor to Clemenza (who has died off screen). Also, supposedly Brando was going to make a cameo in the final flashback scene, but he never showed up!

[@peterengelen2794]

true!

[@petermartinijr.1012]

No Frank Pentangeli was not Clemenza, but the actor who played Clemenza refused to be in Godfather 1, so Pentangeli was a replacement. They say Richard Castellano refused to be in part 2 was because of money, but the real reason was he didn't want to play a snitch, and also he did not want to gain so much weight again. The actor gained weight to play in part 1, but he was not normally heavy like that. Just a little trivia, growing up the guy across the street from me was Richard Castellano's 1st cousin.

[@peterengelen2794]

​@@petermartinijr.1012 didn't you read Biff's reaction, 'cause you're actually repeating exactly what he was saying?!

[@bunpeishiratori5849]

I think this movie would have been so much better if it had been Clemenza. It would have bookended so nicely with the other storyline with the young Clemenza. it was obvious that that was what was intended. As it stands we have this brand new character from out in left field. And it just feels a little weak. to me anyway.

[@dabe1971]

35:09 Coppola rigged the door so it wouldn't open as he wanted the guy to improvise a nervous reaction. The Don's associate pulled the nail that kept the door from opening as he opened it for him.

[@jamessinacore6991]

I never knew that, but that’s an awesome piece of trivia! Thanks! Lol

[@ketorising81]

Part 2 is my favorite because of the split timeline. Oddly enough, it does more to flesh out Vito as a character than what they allowed Marlon Brando to do in part 1. Also, seeing Michael go from having the role of Godfather put on him in part 1 to embracing it in part 2 is really one of the first downward spiral stories I ever saw.

[@ryanje8147]

There is something important they didn't realize during the flashback scenes. Those 2 guys Vito was hanging around with were the young Clemenza and Tessio from the first movie.

[@matthewcastleton2263]

Yes. That’s how Vito knew them and why they became part of his organization

[@jannaromine5908]

I fell head over heels in with Pachino back then. There is a fantastic documentary about him going back in his early acting days. He really did quite a bit of great stuff before "The Godfather" Another great movie y'all should really watch is "Scent of a Woman" or "Dog Day Afternoon" if you haven't seen them. I have to admit I still have the crush. Just wish he hadn't changed character so much over the years. I don't remember where I saw the documentary, I'll try to find it.Amazing🐾🐥

[@shawnpilgrim2355]

If “The Godfather” is a 10/10, “The Godfather Part II” is an 11/10.

[@gerrherrr198]

Agreed.

[@craigcassidy6078]

Can't argue ..

[@mondegreen9709]

"These go to eleven..."

[@kellifranklin9872]

Agree completely!

[@travzimmerman1340]

@@mondegreen9709 Well, it's one louder, isn't it

[@billross7245]

I think the last scene of Michael just represented how isolated he became.

[@NJAsmodeus1]

They were inspecting they eyelids for scaring or active infection signs of Trachoma. A, now rare in US, eye disease that can lead to blindness that is very contagious. “Beware the buttonhook men.” The inspectors who if you had signs of it didn’t get into country at all or had to be treated before entry.

[@Eowyn187]

No it was typhoid

[@NJAsmodeus1]

@@Eowyn187 the symptoms of typhoid do not effect the eyes. Trachoma is an actual eye disease that was tested for in ellis island at that time in the exact manner showed in the film. the test for typhoid is a blood test and was developed and in use as early as 1896. a quick google

[@Xehanort10]

19:59 Michael knew Roth tried to kill him but when he talked to Roth he made him think he thought Pentangeli ordered the hit so Roth wouldn't suspect him.

[@firebugjohnnypyro]

Another great movie with Deniro, Cazale, and Christopher Walken is The Deer Hunter. That one is a MUST see. It also has a very young Meryl Streep.

[@cshubs]

Like Schindler's List, it's the kind of movie you might only want to see once. Intense stuff.

[@SJ-GodofGnomes21]

Michael Pepple, Meryl Streep credits the beginning of her success to De'Niro in this film. Her part was originally much smaller, but De'Niro saw her act was so impressed he lobbied for her part to be expanded.

[@shevawn1973]

I saw the "Deer Hunter" once. Long ago in the 70's. It shook me so deeply I swore I'd never watch it agsin, I haven't.

[@terryemery4348]

Yes, please react to Deer Hunter.

[@DemonBoy3223]

It's amazing to think that Coppola had successfully managed to juggle two different storylines in one movie without it feeling convoluted or confusing. I once heard that after viewing an initial rough cut of the film, George Lucas had apparently recommended to Coppola that he should remove one storyline. I do love how it shows Michael's further descent into ruthlessness (all thanks to his having been a WW2 soldier beforehand), and how it parallels with his father Vito's initial rise to power via his own ruthlessness and was even vengeful himself, showing how time and age can change a person overtime. Maybe after finishing the Godfather series, I'd highly recommend Coppola's other masterpiece, *_APOCALYPSE NOW_* which is honestly my favorite from Coppola, specifically because of the character of *Colonel Kurtz* and his fascinating critique on the Government's handling of the Vietnam War (which is true); that and the hellish *three years* it took for Coppola to make the film from shooting (1976) to release (1979), it even has its own documentary *_Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse_* which documents just how nightmarish the shooting really way.

[@BigPete44]

Ok guys gonna request a “FEW” Must Do Movies!! 😂 “Goodfellas” (1990), “A Bronx Tale” (1993), “Donnie Brasco” (1997), “Casino” (1995), and I feel “Gotti” (1995) With Armand Assante is Underrated!!

[@davidwilson3568]

Departed?

[@BigPete44]

Yes! For sure!! 💯

[@riggs666]

I love "Donnie Brasco". "Carlito's Way" is really good too.

[@ericmarley7060]

Shoutout to John Cazale for only staring in like five movies, being incredible in all of them, before he died. What an actor.

[@DominusLuna]

I've seen this movie so many times and I never realized that that was Uncle Junior.

[@EricAKATheBelgianGuy]

Lee Strasberg, who plays Roth, was a longtime theatre teacher who is credited with popularizing "method acting" and being the director of a famous acting school called The Actor's Studio. Al Pacino was one his students.

[@williambrady9578]

Part 2 is my favorite. Its incredibly rewatchable and it has a level of depth that is isnt present in the first. Also Pacinos performance is amazing.

[@kiele21]

They were screening for trachoma in the immigration scene. Today trachoma is rare but in the 18th and early 19th century it caused blindness.

[@MrGpschmidt]

The rare example of the sequel being greater than its equal. The film's origin story of Vito is very much the reason overall that it is an even better film (if you had to make a choice; I feel they're both masterpieces of storytelling and production). Nice job on seeing Michael is powerful because of personal family reasons while it can be argued Vito's choices from the beginning were altruistic (for the better good of the 'hood than his own for the most part). Some fun facts: that's Danny Aiello as the assassin in the bar for Frankie's botched hit; the Senate subcommittee consists of Peter Donat (who would go on to portray Fox Mulder's estranged father on THE X FILES and legendary filmmaker/producer Roger Corman (who gave Coppola his big break in directing the horror film DEMENTIA 13). John Cazale sadly died 4 yrs later from cancer but his short career showcases his talents in this series as well as Coppola's THE CONVERSATION (a must see and Paramount only agreed to finance it if he did this sequel!), DOG DAY AFTERNOON (reuniting with Pacino) and THE DEER HUNTER (sharing the screen with De Niro - both naturally not together in this film even though they are in it :D ) Great job - frankly you don't need to see the last film but I get why you are.

[@tyslaseelo]

One of the great things about the table scene at the end is how many ways it can be interpreted, none of them wrong. For me it underlined how far Michael descended and became the very thing he wanted to avoid. After everything that transpired, with Michael becoming even more ruthless than his father in running the family, we're reminded of a time when he distanced himself from the business. Coming right on the heels of Fredo's death, something I don't think Vito would ever have done or condoned, his fall to the dark side has been completed. He had crossed the point of no return. It's ironic that his core instinct was to protect his family, yet that outwardly noble motivation turned him into a monster. Like you, the young Vito scenes are my favorite of the saga, but both movies are still amazing from start to finish. I really like Godfather 3 as well, but it does have it's flaws - with some of the worst ones not being Copolla's fault. But I'll save that conversation for the right reaction video.

[@TheRedPeril]

“He lies to his wife” “Sure that’s all you remember” You guys are so normal 👌🏻 Ps: I’ve seen Sopranos and Godfathers on more than one occasion and never noticed that was Uncle June. I don’t have a good eye for faces, don’t ever play Guess Who with the wife. You’ll get creamed 🤣

[@righteouslydefiant5362]

When Vito went to Sicily with his family they were visiting with his wife's family,,,,the "grandma" he referenced was his Mother in law

[@johnnyzeee5215]

Great review. 2 chilling times Michael says " ....Nothing....". To Sen. Geary at the office meeting, and to Freddo, after his betrayal. The best.

[@arturo805]

"That's why they call them asses" That' joke does make sense if you really think about it. Hahaha

[@TimDownsAnimation]

I always saw that final flashback scene and Michael's pensive face as "Oh no, I've SERIOUSLY messed up." His brothers and sister were so happy and friendly with him only right up until he told them he was going against the family's plans for him. He thought he was escaping, but it was really just the beginning of the end for him. It's almost like if he hadn't gone against the grain by enlisting, he actually wouldn't have become the ice cold brother-killing mob boss he is now. If he had just toed the line and made the family happy, he probably wouldn't have ever gotten that involved in the business. Also, I think while Vito was a more compassionate and respectful don than Michael, he was still a dark character. He could have gone his whole life being relatively small-fry with his successful olive oil company and just one unanimously praised murder of that jerk Fanucci. But nope. He had to travel all the way to Sicily and kill an old powerful boss out of revenge. Wouldn't surprise me if that were the start of Vito's true rise since that must've left a huge power vacuum. So Michael even has THAT in common with Vito, despite trying so hard to distance himself from it all.

[@Fardawg]

The old boss in Sicily, Don Ciccio, was clearly on his way out anyway. I doubt it caused much of a power vacuum, especially not in the US. I don't know where it is mentioned, but apparently Don Tommasino (the one who gets shot and later hides Michael in the first film) took the local position of power after the assassination of Ciccio. Ciccio seems to have been only a local big shot in Corleone, nothing so powerful as to cause a big stir in larger organized crime.

[@9529jake]

The sad part also is Fredo was the only one that was happy for him and supportive at the table. Which makes it even more messed up that his life ended at the hands of michael.

[@ernestitoe]

I believe the attempt to strangle Frank Pentangeli (which means "five angels") was a calculated botch. The assassin mentions Michael's name and apparently tries to kill him, only he really doesn't try. This leaves Frankie shattered and turns him against Michael, so he's willing to be a witness against Michael until his brother gives him that "don't be a traitor" look. Either that, or it really was a botch and Hyman (not hymen) Roth, having heard about it, was quick to take advantage of the situation.

[@rubenlopez3364]

Frank's brother was there more to show his family that he had betrayed the oath of the Costa nostra and this was a great dishonor to the entire family which he did not want his big brother to witness. After his testimony Tom tells him "Your family's honor has been preserved"

[@Tim_Raths]

I'm glad you guys recognized the actor that plays Junior on The Sopranos was in this film.

[@chefskiss6179]

"...When Harry Met Sally AND City Slickers..." Yes, and ironically, lol, The Freshman (1990). Well worth watching as a palate cleanser/chaser, it too stars Bruno Kirby AND... Donald (Brando) in a cute meta flick. You don't have to do it 'officially' for uTube, but if ya wanna watch it on yer own time it is fun.

[@fadzilnoir]

That final scene actually shows that Michael has always been the "Outsider"

[@f1playlist308]

One of the greatest movies! You guys should also watch Mystic River (2003) great cast, Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins and Lawrence Fisburne

[@peteyn.y.7960]

💯🔥

[@katebrennan7953]

I've seen that movie a hundred times.

[@matthewdunham1689]

That's a rough movie but also a masterpiece.

[@fantaf4126]

@@matthewdunham1689 It surely is a masterpiece. Type of movie that would get a good reaction

[@hoofhearted8251]

Yeah I think Sean Penn won an Oscar for his performance, it was also directed by Clint Eastwood.

[@MartinSparkes-BadDragon]

I'd recommend reading the book on which this series is based. Adds a few extra details in backstory. Like the ex cop who shot barzini was Michaels equivilent of Luca Brazzi

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

The opening scene is on Ellis Island New York harbor.

[@richarddefortuna2252]

I really think this film shows the differences in how both Vito and Michael established themselves. Vito grew up among like-minded immigrants who understood him in a much different way than the non-Italians he later interacted with, like Johnny Fontaine's band-leader and Jack Woltz, the movie executive, would, whereas Michael interacted almost exclusively in a much wider, much more diverse, world as he tried to have "the family" operate legitimately, and he always had troubles trying to reconcile what he saw watching his father as he grew up versus what he had to do - or felt that he had to do - in his time. But Vito grew up among immigrants and ultimately took care of them and their world - which is why he didn't want to get into the drug trade - but that world grew into something beyond the neighborhood - which is why he was shot. Michael never had a chance to establush himself with the support of like-minded or "family-minded" people who would respect him in the way his father was respected. By his time it was, as Connie so bluntly acknowledged, all about the money. Michael was aware of that as he tried to "assimilate" his "family" into legitimate business - hence the band that couldn't play "Finiculi, Finicula," (a Neoplotal folk song, in any event, and not Sicilian, but the pount was made) - but, as the Senator noted, the establishment would never accept him either, regardless, despite the evident sameness in their respective operations. So, as much as Michael tried to do right by his family, as Vito did before him, the nature of the family had changed forever, and Michael could never achieve his uktimate goal and was always disappointed and alone as a result. Late night rambling musings, so take it for what it's worth. This one bears repeated viewings to get to its heart, for sure.

[@michaeljames6817]

The first one is a lot more memorable with more iconic scenes and dialogue. You can quote it all day and so many of the scenes you can picture clear as day. Both have great stories but from a filmmaking perspective i like the first one more.

[@bunpeishiratori5849]

Thank you. I find it tiresome hearing everyone claim the sequel is better. It seems to me that they are programmed in advance to think that. And then they repeat it and the cycle continues.

[@vaahtobileet]

@@bunpeishiratori5849 or maybe they just like the sequel more.

[@Kickinthescience]

@@bunpeishiratori5849 so are they programmed in advanced to hate part 3 and say it’s the worst in the series?

[@scoobie331]

2:58 "Brucia La Terra" is a folk-song from Corleone, the English version is called "Speak softly, Love."

[@ANARKOTEROR]

My understanding is that Vito's plan was to have Sonny as the head of the family and Micheal as the clean guy who finally redeems the family for the future generations. Michael losing a son, makes it a bit extra traumatic due to not being able to execute that plan. Vito didn't seem to be keeping secrets from his wife, Michael ended up making an outsider out of his own wife...

[@jeffburnham6611]

But Michael did have a son, Anthony. You saw him at his First Communion. He also had a daughter; Mary.

[@ANARKOTEROR]

@@jeffburnham6611 That's the point; his hope about legitimizing the family in five years didn't pan out and he needed a clean son and a mobster son to repeat the Sonny-Mikey dynamic of his father. Kay fucked it up...

[@ANARKOTEROR]

@Brad1980 Micheal looked Americanised and didn't appear to revere those customs during his sister's wedding; he was making a big deal out of it due to more practical and machiavellian reasons, I think...

[@MG-jv7pe]

Michael didnt make Kay an outsider, she was an outsider already since she wasnt Sicilian. Appolonia wouldn't have been asking all the questions like Kay bc she's Sicilian and knows what's up.

[@ANARKOTEROR]

@@MG-jv7pe True, but I doubt he was expecting to find himself in a position where he'd have to deny what happened to Carlo, looking her right in the eye. He admitted the situation to her during the "Who's being naive, Kay?" scene; Kay accepted on the condition that it'll all be over within five years and Michael can't be honest about things not going as planned. Vito's wife or Apollonia wold know better than to ask anything(because what do they care), but if they did; it wouldn't be revealing a secret to bring them up to speed.

[@thomasgriffiths6758]

One of the FBI agents is actor Harry Dean Stanton, he played the prisoner in The Green Mile who they used to run practice executions on. He was a close friend of the director Francis Ford Coppola.

[@barryscott8041]

Stanton was in tons of TV westerns, and movies, like "The Missouri Breaks" w/Jack Nicholson and Brando

[@ChicagoDB]

Try: “The Freshman” starring Matthew Broderick, Marlo Brando [plays a ‘Don Vito’ish Godfather], Bruno Kirby [from this] and Penelope Anne Miller…greatly underrated film in my opinion.

[@xn9tj]

ive also never thought of pacino as hot or particularly good looking ever til i started rewatching his 70s movies he is SO damn fine in Serpico

[@soundguy78]

Skippy! Popcorn! Godfather II! A movie offer I can't refuse.....😎🍻🍷🚬👀🔫🔫🔫

[@davedalton1273]

That was not Merle, who was played by Troy Donohue, sometime heart throb in from the early 60s. Fun Fact: the Little Italy scenes were shot in Cincinnati. Little Italy no longer resembled the ethnic neighborhood of 1917.

[@gordondavis6168]

The Godfather saga shows what would have happened if Luke Skywalker became evil. Both Luke and Michael had families that tried to protect them from the sins of the father and their families’ past. Luke met his challenges with compassion, trust, and ability to forego power while Michael did not. Michael adopted his father’s methods but in a more brutal way. With Michael, not even family members are safe.

[@donnyouttheway4091]

I like part II more. I like how it was somewhat about the contrast between Michael, Vito and Sonny mainly. To me , Michael was the Don and Sonny all in one. He could be cool about things and really plan it out. Then he could just act off impulse or anger/frustration like Sonny would. Which in turn made him a different type of person

[@stiofanmac2124]

The greatest film ever and Pacinos best performance for such a young actor he was so epic in his coldness plus the beauty of deniro everything about this masterpiece was 🤌how the Mr thinks this is not the better film of the first two is crazy but hey he thinks friday the 13th is ''good'' 😐 the Mrs knows her stuff This is without question the greatest film ever put to screen...good job Mr&Mrs Movie for reacting to this classic piece of art..now do ''The Deer Hunter'' (Deniro Walken 'fredo' ) probably the most beautiful/horrific film of that era you will laugh and cry its deep. 10/10 for this reaction.👍

[@chard681]

"That's where junk in the trunk came from" It was right there on the remark about "asses" and you missed it 😂

[@BigPete44]

Chris Cuomo I mean FRED0 is sleeping with the fishes!! 🤨😂🤣. This is classic! Will watch later! Happy Friday Mr, Mrs and all out there! 😎

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

The concept is basically the descent into darkness of a character. Similar to Walter White in Breaking Bad. At the beginning of Godfather, Michael is like "this is my family, Kate. Not me". And by the end he's fully in it. And at the end of Part 2 he's a complete monster. It started to be about protecting his love ones and then it became about taking out all his enemies. Something could be said though about him saying "it's only business" though. That say....killing his brother for example was not personal cause he loved him and he would not have done it, even as revenge. But he acted in a way that the code was asking that as a leader of a crime organization from the Maffia, you simply cannot let this go. It's always about perception and sending a message. If you don't do that, you are not gonna be respected and you'll be taken out yourself.

[@anthonyvictor3034]

I narrowly prefer Part 2 over Part 1. The two parallel narratives are important. Note how at the end of it Vito is still seen as sympathetic, despite what he does. Both he and Michael have defeated their enemies, but In Michael’s case he has lost his family. All hinges on Fredo’s murder…Michael had a redeeming chance, to spare Fredo but he doesn’t. That last image of him staring out, probably at the lake where Fredo was shot, is one of total power, yet total aloneness. It is an image of a person who has literally damned himself. Keep this in mind when you watch Part 3. Not, imho, as good as the others, but still a very impressive film.

[@SJ-GodofGnomes21]

This film is a masterpiece, not only the film but it contains some of the best technical acting of the 20th Century with De'Nirp as a young Godfather.

[@smthcrazy]

Cool review and hey, you guys are Dons in your own right!

[@jnagarya519]

Re. hugging Fredo: Hold your friends close, and your enemies closer.

[@juniorsoprano86]

I was spectacular in this.

[@InjuredRobot.]

You certainly were, but you still never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

[@boosuedon]

This is as close to a perfect movie as I have ever seen! Every aspect of movie making! Acting, writing, lighting, set design, story, photography, continuity. One would have to be extremely picky to find a flaw here.

[@guscarlson7021]

At Ellis Island NY, they were mostly concerned with people bringing in Tuberculosis, Cholera, and Typhus. The eye check was for Typhus I believe.

[@NJAsmodeus1]

Trachoma not typhus was the eyes

[@murph69yum]

Favorite moment: Coppola mutes the last line of Fredo's Hail Mary prayer. For those who may not know, the missing line is, "Now and at the hour of our death. Amen." He lets us fill that in in our minds with a slight pause right before the gunshot. A brilliant choice. John Cazale died way too young. He did 5 films. All were nominated for Best Picture: The Godfather, GF2, The Deer Hunter, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Conversation.

[@cd-vq6dz]

I'll say it again, if you, or anyone else, is going to watch part 3, and I'm assuming you are, do NOT watch the "Coda" version. The "Coda" version is not the original film that was released in 1990 in theaters. The ending is different and it ruins the film. Part 3 is sorely under rated, although it has justifiably grown in stature over the years. If you watch Part 3 just watch the original simply titled The Godfather Part III.

[@Kingfish95]

I second this. The theatrical release has a few powerful scenes that were ultimately cut out of the CODA and its ending is much more profound, in my opinion.

[@Brian-qn7fn]

Absolutely. The theatrical version all the way. I agree that it is underrated.

[@briangonigal3974]

And I cannot emphasize enough that this is completely WRONG. You can't really argue this point without getting into spoilers but the relatively minor change at the end most definitely does not "Ruin" the ending, it just leaves implied what was previously implicitly shown, in the process changing the emphasis of the ending in a way that if anything deepens it. But more importantly the only other really major change to the film, the re-arranging of the order of the opening scenes, which switches the cause & effect nature of the opening events of the film, is a distinct improvement. The only other changes are little bits here & there that are trimmed out which do seem to help the movie to flow a little better, and they were even able to cut a few of Sophia Coppola's more distractingly bad acting moments. Even so, the result remains an extremely flawed film. You can see the potential for real greatness there, but the script needed several more passes, it really feels like what they filmed was an early rough draft, with large chunks of the plot left just crude outlines.

[@johnscott4196]

If Michael had forgiven Fredo he could have salvaged a lot of his humanity and old personality but he could never have trusted him. Might have even endangered his own children

[@HighLordBlazeReborn]

Wife's mom, not Vito's mom.

[@brianhansen6189]

She laughed at “Hymen” like she’s Beavis

[@MrsMovies]

Just call me cornholio.

[@Ian-lx1iz]

(41:39) That's Vito's mother-in-law (not his mama back from the dead!). She was sitting next to her daughter right in back of the car just prior to this scene.

[@barryscott8041]

Vito's Mom was shotgunned and left alone, with men who meant to kill her. Dead forever. Very simple, you know.......I don't get the confusion about that!

[@perrywarner648]

I look at the first two movies as a piece rather than pick a favourite, though together or alone they are the greatest cinematic experience in movie history. No other masterpiece comes close to either of them.

[@brianhansen6189]

Back to the Future III > Back to the Future II

[@MrsMovies]

I completely agree!!

[@MensaGiraffe]

At 42:47, the Sicilian Don yelled "I went to the book store!"