“I don’t feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies.” This isn’t a good sequel, it’s not a great sequel. It’s a WORTHY sequel. The intertextuality is off the charts. It takes everything that made the first film great, and builds upon it. The story is broadened, it's more complex, and more ambitious. It’s expanded to the point where it feels real and raw. The world building is immaculate. In spite of the runtime the momentum this movie builds is simply astonishing. Michael Corleone is one of the best and most fascinating characters ever written. Personally I feel as though the character development and all the arcs in this film are just as strong if not stronger than they were in the first film. The characters and story are just so captivating in this film. It logically builds on everything, provides more to the story without becoming redundant, as well as more context to the character of Vito Corleone, his story, as well as the entire Corleone crime family. Despite the lack of action, I was always captivated by the performances and the drama that was presented to me. And that’s really what this film is, it’s a family drama more so than a crime drama I think. The Godfather was a lot to soak in as an experience, but this film is it’s own beast. There’s so much good quality writing and character development within these two films, that warrants so much analysis that it could drive you mad. Despite our characters having all the desires, we're always presented with the idea that they always feel as if internally, they're empty, or missing something crucial to complete themselves. There's an emotional battle with identity that this film explores that truly hit me because it's probably a fear we all have in the back of our minds. Losing who we are to become something we truly at our essence are not destined to. Michael is consistently trying to mold into a figure that his father once was and he fails to live up to. Al Pacino channels aspects of Marlon Brando's original performance and retains some of the elements of his iconic character, but always makes his role his own. Nothing about what he does feels like an imitation, this feels like a character acting out in his father's shadow & the path the character is taken on is insanely gripping. Michael was a broken man, pretending to be something he isn’t at his core, despite his legacy. It’s truly brilliant character writing and I think it’s some of the best ever put to screen. This is a huge movie, but I can't help but think that this doesn't just beautifully continue the story of the original which stands as an all-time classic. In a way, I think it's slightly superior. Francis Ford Coppola had the insurmountable task of continuing the story of one of cinema's greatest achievements and he somehow found the formula to successfully carry on that legacy on practically every level. He expands the story outwards but also manages to make everything feel reserved & contained, as intimate as the first film. Coppola manages to take a narrative that may come across as repetitive and brings out a story of true tragedy, loss & betrayal. The Godfather: Part II is everything a sequel needs to be. It takes a classic story in a logical but fascinating direction. I personally don’t know if I like this one more than the first or not. Realistically I think they’re just as good as each other. Hopefully the conclusion can be just as well constructed and satisfying as the first two films are. Please do not let the extremely long 3 hour and 22 minute run time put you off from watching this excellent film.