Godfather II is a more contemplative film than the first one. It goes deeper into the minds of both Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone than I would have expected.
We see how Michael Corleone just can't let go of his need to eliminate his enemies and alienates everyone close to him. It feels like Tom Hagen would be afraid of him even if he was given permission to go to Las Vegas.
Even the assassinations at the end did not feel like a return to power for Michael as in the first movie, but like a king paranoid of his own brother who was already beaten.
I would have liked the scene of Sonny Corleone telling Vito that he saw him kill Fanucci to be included. I think it would have shown how Vito also made mistakes with his family.
Overall, this film is a masterpiece. The lighting, the way the scens were shot, all of it makes it a masterpiece in addition to the story. It does feel like we will never get another movie like this.
We see how Michael Corleone just can't let go of his need to eliminate his enemies and alienates everyone close to him. It feels like Tom Hagen would be afraid of him even if he was given permission to go to Las Vegas.
Even the assassinations at the end did not feel like a return to power for Michael as in the first movie, but like a king paranoid of his own brother who was already beaten.
I would have liked the scene of Sonny Corleone telling Vito that he saw him kill Fanucci to be included. I think it would have shown how Vito also made mistakes with his family.
Overall, this film is a masterpiece. The lighting, the way the scens were shot, all of it makes it a masterpiece in addition to the story. It does feel like we will never get another movie like this.